Pentecost: Love is Work

Last time we noted that God is asking us to step out of the security of our safe ‘boats’, built of our expectations and plans. The Spirit that blew through the upper room at Pentecost still blows through our lives and asks us to respond by letting go.

At the beginning of this series we encountered Laurie Brock’s words about Loving the Violent Wind [of the Spirit]. She warns, “The love of Jesus rocks the ships of our own schemes, running them aground and forcing us to enter new communities, to open ourselves and souls to new insights, and to act boldly to serve all in the name of Jesus. Walking, preaching, living, this love is work.”

I don’t know about you, but I really don’t like the idea that ‘Jesus rocks the ships of our schemes, running them aground’. I prefer to think that I have everything neatly figured out. I’m perfectly happy with the status quo (mostly). As noted last week, we can get trapped in our own expectations and plans. We may be willing to call on God when things really get out of control, but not before.

The country-Western song Jesus Take the Wheel epitomizes our attitude toward letting God take over. Carrie Underwood sings, “Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass/She saw both their lives flash before her eyes/She didn't even have time to cry/She was so scared/She threw her hands up in the air/Jesus take the wheel/Take it from my hands/Cause I can't do this on my own/I'm letting go/So give me one more chance/Save me from this road I'm on/Jesus take the wheel.” Only when we are really stuck do we call out and say, ‘Jesus take the wheel’. 

When we realize we aren’t in control, we hear Jesus say, ‘I give you a new commandment that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another’ (John 13:34) This new commandment turns our plans and worlds upside down. We can no longer view anyone as ‘other’ or mark them ‘different’ for we are called to Love one another, as I have loved you.
The quote from Desmond Tutu, below, puts this kind of love in perspective, "God loves you! And God's love is so great, God loves your enemies too."

Br. Luke Ditewig of the Society of St. John Evangelist, notes we are called to have Agape Love for one another. “This is tough love, not a feeling of the heart but a resolve of the will. It’s the love God has for all of us, love no matter what. It’s the love Jesus had for his disciples and what Jesus speaks of [in John 13:34].”

Brother Luke agrees with Laurie Brock. “Love though it’s really hard work. Following Jesus is not easy.” Then he notes, “Yet Jesus always acts first. We give out of presence not absence. Having been blessed abundantly, we bless everyone. Having been loved abundantly, we love everyone.”

How can we possibly love everyone? Br. Luke asks readers to remember “how it all began, how Jesus invited you into relationship. Remember people who have been Jesus in the flesh for you…Remember how Jesus has loved you no matter what…Jesus doesn’t suggest or invite. He commands. Love one another. Love though you don’t like.”

Did you notice that last sentence? “Love though you don’t like.” We aren’t asked to LIKE everyone, or to tolerate differences. We are to LOVE one another! And that is indeed hard soul work. 

Love happens when we allow the Spirit to ‘take the wheel’. As Brock says God calls us to “new communities, to open ourselves and souls to new insights, and to act boldly.” I wonder what new insights we are closing our eyes to by not being open to God’s charge to LOVE. There are probably communities of new friends that we don’t know yet. And infinite ways to serve one another that we haven’t yet thought of. That is when, as Brock suggests, ‘love [can be] work’.

Br. Luke closes by stating, “The way is we love others no matter what.
The truth is Jesus loves us no matter what.
The life is being restored, through love, as Jesus loves, no matter what.”

Can you ‘let Jesus take the wheel’ and be open to new things in your life?

Will you allow the Spirit to act, and offer Agape love to others, no matter what?

How can we make loving, as we are commanded to do, a work of joy?

Next time, we’ll consider how loving in this way puts us at odds with society.