Love Came Down at Christmas
This week, we observe the advent of love.
Below, you’ll find one scripture, one poem, and a blessing. I don’t offer much commentary but invite you to ponder them each throughout your week.
The scripture comes from John’s first letter. We don’t know who the recipient of the letter was, and scholars aren’t actually confident John wrote it, but it is viewed as authoritative and loved for this passage we read today – about God who is love.
Our poem is an old treasure written by Christina Rossetti. It’s been turned into a hymn, but we rarely sing it. This poem is heartfelt and offers a simple proclamation of holy love.
I hope the pairing brings stirs your heart for and with love this advent season.
1 John 4:7-17a – God is Love
”My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.
My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.
God is love.” (1 John 4:7-17a MSG)
Christmas Tide
By Christina Rossetti
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love Incarnate, Love Divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
A Blessing for Your Advent of Love
Child of God,
May the love of God overwhelm you
May God – who is love – be visible to you
May the babe in the manger
Sent for you from God
Speak of love so amazing, so divine
It makes you pause and pray
And this Christmas,
May love be yours
May love be mine
Amen.
Rev. Kelsey Sherazi 