By Michele McGrath, Long Beach, California, USA

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.

Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a sibling are liars. The commandment we have from God is this: those who love God must love their siblings also.

I recently watched an episode of the TV comedy “The Big Bang Theory.” Penny and Leonard are in a romantic relationship. Leonard tells Penny he loves her. Penny is not ready to say those crucial words back. Leonard becomes frustrated when Penny later exclaims how much she loves chili cheese fries! Love is an overused word. It is used to mean so many things that it can cause confusion.

Today’s passage from 1 John reminds us that love is the foundation of our faith and practice as Christians. It makes clear the connection between loving God and loving others. It says it forward and backward. If we love God, we’ll treat each other lovingly. If we do not treat each other lovingly, it shows we do not truly know God and reveals us as liars if we claim to love God but persist in taking actions that knowingly hurt others.

What does “Easter people love” look like in action? It is the Christian disciple who takes a genuine interest in getting to know their neighbors, even when those neighbors come from different religious, ethnic, or economic backgrounds. It is the person who gives a week of their hard-earned vacation time to serve at a youth camp. It is a congregation that is willing to go through the process to become a Welcoming and Affirming Congregation, creating a purposefully affirming space for our LGBTQIA2S+ siblings longing for a safe place in a faith community.

For 1 John, love is a verb. How are you putting love into action in your life and congregation today?

Prayer Phrase

“…my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28).

Spiritual Practice

Light

Close your eyes and become centered with your breath. As you breathe gently in and out, reflect on the statement, “The light of God is in all things.” The light has a bright, soft beauty and radiates God’s healing love. The light of God reaches you and permeates you with a deep sense of peace. Rest in the light as it surrounds and fills you. Thank God that you live in God’s light, and it lives in you.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.