Love

While the use of the word love in our modern world may be linked to our favourite sport, a tasty food source or even the infatuation of early romance, Advent calls us to a different concept of love. 

As an example, for the parents reading this, our love for our children is a faint echo of how deeply God loves us. He loves all of humanity with that love. Even when we turn our backs on Him, He continues to love us. He loves us so much that He sent His Son into our world to die for us. This is where we find the heart of love: sacrifice. 

Affection, care, concern, attraction, and intrigue can all ignite a relationship, but it is self-sacrifice that is at the core of love. A parent who gives up sleep to change and feed a baby shows love. A spouse who makes dinner even when he/she is exhausted shows love. A child who spends their allowance on their sibling’s Christmas present shows love. And this week is all about love. 

With Christmas only a week away, it could seem like the focus is on presents, food and celebrations, but it’s really about love. It’s about giving up something that we want, whether sleep or time or objects, so that others can be better off. 

Saint Thomas Aquinas gave us a great place to start when he said: “To love is to will the good of the other.”

So, let’s do it!

Adapted from Themes of Advent: Love