Love Triumphant

Context is everything they say. It’s winter again in Oregon, rainy and cold and apparently going to be colder. Bulbs are up and looking like they want to bloom soon, but freezing nights are coming this week so we’ll see how that goes. It seems like I’ll have to bring my Meyer lemon tree into the garage for a few days after all. We are about to have some construction begin so things are a bit in an upheaval, but it will pass. What matters is the love we share, the hugs, the smiles, the laughter, the knowledge of love, that love surrounds us and strengthens us and nurtures us. I have never known love greater than the love I am experiencing now. Love triumphs.

Luke’s Gospel (6:27-38) continues Jesus’ discourse addressed to his disciples, but also to the crowd that has gathered. It is a discourse about love and action. The discourse is punctuated with action words, commands really: love, do good, bless, pray, give. It is the measure of love as the outward manifestation of God’s presence in each of us. It is the pathway to inherit the kingdom: “you will be children of the Most High.”

Of course, the context makes the message tougher. Jesus says to love your enemies, bless those who curse you. He means that we must be on guard not to let love lapse within us, not to let the absence of love overwhelm us. We must keep the love lighted in our hearts like a beacon under any circumstance. It is a kind of tough love after all that we are enjoined to embrace.

But the essence is the ultimate clause (6:38) “the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Love must be everything, always.

The other scripture appointed for today (the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany) provides yet more context. The story of Joseph’s triumphant discovery by his brothers (Genesis 45:3-11, 21-28) is the revelation of a common truth, that what is, is what was meant to be. It is an instruction yet again to embrace love , because love clears away the fog. Psalm 37 reminds us to be in love with love, to trust, to take delight, to commit and above all to be patient. 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50) is Paul’s discourse on resurrection. As usual the concluding clause has the key “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” because flesh and blood are perishable. But love is imperishable. It is love that is the key to inherit the kingdom. Paul, of course, is using midrash on Jesus’ discourse.

Well the world out there is an amazing place, sometimes confusing, sometimes implacably beautiful, always fascinating, always presenting the possibility of grace to those of us who can learn to walk in love.

Often it is difficult to find a nonobvious way to relate the scripture to LGBTQ spirituality. The key must be that word “nonobvious,” because if there is an LGBTQ perspective on the message today it is the very normality of the lives we lead as people who love, as people whose love is powerful, as people whose love is triumphant.

7 Epiphany Year C 2022 RCL (Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37: 3-12, 41-42 Noli aemulari; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38)

©2022 The Rev. Dr. Richard P. Smiraglia. All rights reserved.