Being Loved to Love

       My niece loves the Backstreet Boys music.  She has since she got her first album.  Now some people might contest that because of her level of disability but if you take the time to get to know her, you'll soon find you agree.  Even though she can't talk, or dance, or play their beats, she loves the Backstreet Boys and she'll let you know.   She had a hard time sleeping the night before their concert and absolutely had a blast sitting way up front when they sang at the Minnesota State Fair.
       How easy we find it to express "love" for music, food, and for things:  'I love cheesecake.'  'I love chocolate.'  'I love football.'  But once we are beyond early childhood, it becomes harder to express love for specific people.  Easy to say to mom when you are four, "I love you" but to say, "I love you" at 25 to a companion?  Even naming the other person becomes complicated, like the nuances of companion, partner, lover, or spouse and friend is not the same as boyfriend or girlfriend.   Issues of trust, safety, security, promise, and permanence make the whole matter so serious and complicated that it can become difficult to use those words.
       Yet if you read the letters of Paul closely, especially the beginnings and the endings you will find the words of a man who is head-over-heels in love with God and with those in the Church.  How can he love so many people?  He writes at the beginning of the book of Romans, "To all God's beloved in Rome who are called to be saints" (Romans 1:7).  Paul loves those who follow Jesus (the meaning of the word saint) because God loves them (us).  His letters are full of correction (and preaching) but they are also full of encouragement and of thanksgiving for the work of others.
       In a world of training in awareness and sensitivity about sexual harassment (unfortunately much needed), Paul's words can sound strange in our ears.  In Philippians 4 (verse 1) he writes, "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved."  Paul writes these overflowing words of love to the entire community, thanking God for their faith and work and encouraging them to continue.  His love is so great that even at his most serious and pompous, he can't help but show it.
       Does this mean God is asking us to love each and every motley member sitting in the pew?  Before we get there, we have to start where Paul starts.  Paul's faith convinces him that God loves him in spite of all his weakness and even forgives him of all the terrible things he has done.  You see, Paul spent his earlier life persecuting and even being proud of killing people for following Jesus.  Paul knows how bad a person can be because he has been there and so his joy at being loved by God is overwhelming.  Love everybody? 'Why not!' Paul answers, 'God loves even me'.
       Perhaps that is Paul's secret.  Instead of coming at each other from the perspective of judgment, Paul sees himself as the first to be condemned.  Instead of looking at other people negatively, Paul sees them through God's eyes of love.  Like my niece, Paul loves with his whole body and soul with complete abandon.
       Can we love all these people God has called?  The trick is to look at each other through God's eyes, filtered by amazing, overflowing, never ending love.   Read Ephesians 4:30-5:2