The Power of Love

There are few events that bring people together quite like a wedding does. Especially one of such magnitude as the royal wedding. It was virtually impossible to not see it on the news, hear about it on the radio, read about it across social media, and see the reruns of the wedding throughout the weekend.

This wedding will go down in history.
And with it, the sermon of Bishop Michael Curry.

He passionately preached to the entire world about the transformative power of love. He asked us to all imagine what it could look like if love was the way:

“When love is the way, then no child will go to bed hungry in this world ever again.
When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook.
When love is the way, poverty will become history.
When love is the way, the earth will be a sanctuary.
When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields, down by the riverside, to study war no more.
When love is the way, there’s plenty good room – plenty good room – for all of God’s children.
Because when love is the way, we actually treat each other, well… like we are actually family.”

Many have preached love, from Martin Luther King to The Beatles, yet the most complete example of love is found in the life, teaching and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus.

Bishop Curry reminds us of Jesus’ teaching that dignity and justice start with love. Unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive love – that’s where change starts. It starts within us and it spreads to those closest like fire. As that fire of love is fed, it spreads farther, burns brighter and changes everything it touches.

This Sunday was also Pentecost, 50 days after Easter, a time when the Church recognizes the Holy Spirit is with us and empowers us to live out the teachings of Jesus. How fitting that we are reminded to follow Jesus’ example of love and that we aren’t alone in this mission all on the same weekend!

Let’s be reminded and renewed in our mission, with love as the fire to be “The Hand of God, in the Heart of the City.”

Peace