Love Grows

“A new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).

The word “καινὴν” is best translated as “fresh.” Jesus gives us a “fresh” commandment… to love one another. It’s almost as if Jesus was anticipating some of his followers getting bogged down by the intricacies of the law. It’s easy to lose sight of love if we obsess about purity. I’m sure purity has a role in religion, but the minute it takes precedent over love, then we have lost our center. If we do not start with love, then we are not starting with Jesus.

Love, of course, goes far beyond just words. Love is lived. We are called as Christians to testify to love in a variety of ways. For example, we love others by boxing 13 tons of food and distributing them to families in need. We love others by responding to disasters when mother nature strikes. We love others by walking alongside migrants as they struggle to navigate the challenges of assimilation, discrimination, and racism. We love others by working to mend our broken world in hospitals, treatment centers, homeless shelters, and soup kitchens.

As a church, we do not hold back in naming the cries of all God’s children, especially the vulnerable. Jesus used the image of a vine and branches to illustrate our connectedness to Christ. “I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5). Interestingly, it is the vine that grows…not the branches. As branches, we do not really do anything. As branches, all we have in common is that we are attached to the same vine. Christ’s love is what connects us to one another.

I promise, God’s love is strong enough to hold us together. Love is sufficient to free us, granting us the courage to lift up others and seek justice for everyone. At Lamb of God, our Outreach Ministry is comprised of two branches, mercy and justice. We have a busy calendar of Faith in Action events filled with opportunities to alleviate suffering in the world… that is mercy. We also have a Justice Team that meets to discern how Lamb of God is called to resolve the root-causes of suffering… that is justice.

I invite you to pray and participate. Let your passion drive you. If Lamb of God is lacking somewhere, then I suspect God might be calling you to step up. There is a place for you here, for everyone here. Once we begin with love, we let the vine grow where it grows. If you know anything about vines, then you know that they tend to grow unpredictability and uncontrollability. Tethered to God’s love, we will grow and grow.

Starting with love,

Pastor Lucas