Community of Love
Tony E Dillon Hansen
Reflection based upon 1 John 5:1-6, Psalm 98, John 15: 9-17
Opening prayer
Last week, we read about loving God because God loves. Then it follows for us - you and me to love - in the same way.
“There is no fear in love… it casts it out.” There are plenty of things in the world that cause anxiety and fear, but love conquers all.
Thus we are to put away fear and turn to love.
1 John reminds us that we are “children of God”. Thus we are to love the children. We love when we love God and abide in love of Christ.
That is John 15: 12 “This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this.”
Why do this loving??
“To bear fruit” when you love you share what God has given to you with those around you. That is bearing fruit because you are giving what grows to those and you in turn grow.
“And this is the victory that conquers the world: our faith.” Our faith in that love for us is so strong that others will see the light and life within you - it catches onto them and they feel the light and they share it with others as well.
So this love radiates and builds communities of togetherness rather than division. This builds communities that recognize the blessings bestowed not just for the self but for each other and that we are part of something much larger and greater than us: that we are children of God - in a community of love.
Isn’t that what we need now?
Some of you are questioning, some nonchalant, or worse, some dismissive.
Beloved, since God loves us so much, we are also ought to love one another.
Why because there is power in love.
When my son came home hurting and crying, I didn’t throw cold water onto him, but instead, I held him and let him cry. I hurt with him in those moments. We didn’t move for good long time as he just let it out.
Beloved, sometimes, we need to let it out. We don’t need to hold it in because love is also letting people know what is inside not hidden behind the taunts and threats of a broken world.
Our response isn’t to fuel the flames or the hurt, but instead for us to share love - to calm the hurts, the worries or calm the upset. We may or may not be able to fix what happened, but our response is love.
Then, there are the times when we are glowing with happy. It is there that we ought to include instead of exclude. For what brings us to this moment is more than just oneself, but when we achieve, when we get to the point success, we can look back and find there was help along the way there.
As a cyclist, making it up to the top of the “DAM” hill by Saylorville Dam is a tough climb for oneself, but exhilarating to make it. Most times, there have been people riding with me. Individually, each one of us could be thinking “I had to endure the climb” or “I am going to make it” or whatever motivates someone to keep going.
Collectively, we were cheering each other and then celebrating the result. I also thought how the Spirit was riding with us too and then celebrating the result.
There were a couple of flats in the middle of the climb (not fun), but we helped each other 1) not get left behind but instead 2) repaired, 3) helped get up and 4) get going again.
That is the power of love - “don’t need money, don’t need fame, don’t need credit card to ride this train…and it just might save your life.”
This is not just an eighties tune, but real measurable and tangible impact to each of us. Yes love can heal and save lives.
Include, repair, get up and go or Invite, heal, live and love even more.
Also, we don’t share love by calling each other names and attacking. If our world is to get better at talking to each other, we have to be willing to ask “how does what you say reflect what you do?” How does that share your values and your love? Or Interesting point tell me more because a conversation rarely happens when we fight.
That isn’t to say “give jerks a pass”, but that see how they are thinking and how that thinking reflects what they believe their values are. When we listen and learn, we grow. When they describe and when they hear our values in their values, they will see opportunities to grow as well.
When we grow, and learn about each other’s values, we have grow and we share that love - not cancel them.
Community of love isn’t fight or flight - my way or the highway - it is finding what makes us community - together.
Communities that argued over politics have farmers and neighbors offering equipment to help clean up town after the tornado.
In this community of love, whether it’s your family, a neighbor, people at the gym or on the trail, or the homeless person on the street, we can be that gift of love to someone who needs it.
Perhaps, we need some of that gift from someone for ourselves?? For us who are in the middle of that climb, (aka our personal struggles) and wondering if we can make it…
The answer is you are not alone and you have me, you have each other, to help you. Most importantly, you have the Holy to help you. Go ahead and let it out, feel the care of the Spirit with you, and then perhaps, we can “climb that hill” together.
It is in these moments when bonds are created. It is in the moments of love when we are more than oneself. It is in these moments, we learn how we grow stronger through love.
Thus, in order for us to receive, let us also be willing to give what we have. Don’t give into fear, but instead, let the love that has been given to you, live through you. Let love ripple into the people around you.
When we do, when we truly believe in the power that been given to us.. when we let the Spirit guide us, amazing can happen and we can find celebration.
“With a little help from above, you can find the power of love…” in this community of love. Let that community of love bear fruit in you and with you.
Beloved, that love, that fruit is…
Thanks be to God
