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God Is Love

This meditation is based on a passage for December 25, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: 1 John 4:7-16

Reflection and Question: In all of Scripture and Christian literature, there is no finer meditation upon the meaning of the great commandments to love God and to love our neighbor than this passage. John is clear: “God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God.” This is true of LGBT Christians who know that God is love, who love and who expect to be loved because, as the preacher here says, “Beloved, God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.” Christina Rosetti reminds us, “Love came down at Christmas.” To whom does the love in Jesus not extend? Anyone?

Prayer:

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign.
Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine;
Love to God and neighbor, love for plea and gift and sign.
(Christina Rosetti, 1885, The Methodist Hymnal, 242)