I just love Holy Week. Actually, I love the entire Lenten season. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, and the weeks leading up to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and finally Easter Sunday. This is such a powerful time of reflection and appreciation upon what Jesus really did for all of mankind.
After the incredibly powerful, spiritual, emotional and worshipful services we experienced this past Thursday and Friday, I’ve feel the Holy Spirit surrounding me more so than usual. Maybe I’m more in tune to it now, but whatever He’s doing, it’s awesome.
I’ve spent a great deal of time contemplating and comprehending the love Jesus has for us. Oh sure, we all “know” about His love; we know his ministry, his miracles, his mission…we can each tell the story of Easter; of the trial, the prison, the decision, the crucifixion. But stopping to really consider what happened is something that has put into perspective just how much Jesus suffered, what he sacrificed, for us.
His love is beyond measure,
beyond fathoming, beyond condition. I
have come to understand how this type of love should – better, must – be applied to our daily loves.
To love without condition…to care
for people so much, to desire for their lives to be filled with joy and
happiness, with well being and good health, that we’re willing to sacrifice in
our own lives. To put those people and
their needs above our own. To love the
way Jesus loved us.
How many relationships in our
lives have conditional love? Probably
more than we realize. The manager who
would love the employee more if they just got to work a little earlier. The son who would love his dad just a bit
more if he’d let him stay out past 11pm on a school night. The mom who would love her daughter more if
she’d just finish her masters degree. The
girl who would love her childhood friend greater if he’d just call more
often. The man who would love the
homeless if they just took a shower. The
woman who would love the mentally ill if they just stayed out of sight.
Jesus loves unconditionally –
this goes for everyone. Not just the desirable people, not just
friends and family who are easy to get along with, not just kids who obey the
rules and parents who are lenient. Everyone. Look at his ministry…Jesus hung out with
thieves, murderers, lepers, tax collectors and prostitutes. And he loved
them.
People aren’t perfect. We can be difficult, challenging,
argumentative, strong willed and stubborn.
We can be mean, hateful and cruel.
We can be damaged mentally, emotionally and physically. We are messy.
But we aren’t undeserving of love, and these “ailments” aren’t holding
us back from giving love to others, from helping clean up the mess.
This Holy Week has give me the
motivation to have what I’d like to think of as a New Year’s Resolution (maybe I’ll
call it an “Easter Promise”) to work harder at loving unconditionally; helping
where I can, understanding the challenges of others, and just working to meet
people where they are, instead of putting conditions and expectations on
them. We could all use a little help; we
could all use a little love.
After all, I’m fairly certain Jesus
showed us in many ways – especially by giving the ultimate sacrifice – nothing
cleans up a mess like love. Happy
Easter.
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