I am proud to say that I have never watched an episode of “Love Island” nor am I likely to. I don`t think that anyone could ever accuse me of being a prude but too often “love” is confused with “lust”. Banter, whether it is amusing or not, cannot excuse behaviour more recognisable in the animal kingdom.
So, if Love Island doesn`t help us understand what love is, (and as Tina Turner might say “What`s love got to do with it?!”) then what does?
At weddings, my somewhat cynical sense of humour often comes to the fore. I have a second-hand book of quotations which has proved invaluable, containing as it does, such gems as:
“Love is an island of emotions, entirely surrounded by an ocean of expenses”.
Lord Dewar
“Love`s like the measles - all the worse when it comes late in life.”
Douglas Jerrold
“Love is a grave mental disease”.
Plato
“Enough of the cynicism already” I hear you cry, as probably many brides and grooms have done, silently, over the years!
If we turn to scripture however, we discover a more positive and life-enhancing view of the subject. My old book of quotations also includes:
“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” Proverbs 15 vs 17. (Or as The Message has it, “Better a bread crust shared in love, than a slab of prime beef served in hate.”)
“Love is the fulfilling of the law” Romans 13 vs10.
Of course at this season of the year, we turn our thoughts to the true source and the meaning of love.
We read in 1 John 4 vs 8,
“Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
But how do we know that God is love?
The next few verses give us the answer:
“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.”
I realise that today`s reflection was not supposed to be either a bible-study or focus on a hymn, but I can`t finish without referencing a carol from my childhood by Christina Rossetti.
Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, Love divine;
love was born at Christmas,
star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus:
but wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
love for plea and gift and sign.
Alan Kennedy