“God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but will have eternal life.” John 3:16
One of my favorite movie scenes comes from “Fiddler on the Roof.” In this scene, Tevye, the father has just given permission for his daughter to become engaged. He said he gave her permission because “She loves him” (He did this without telling his wife, Golde, and so they have a conversation. Of course, this is a musical, so it’s in a song.
“Golde…Do you love me?”” She replies, “Do I what?”. He asks again, “Do you love me?”. She answers, “Do I love you? ...For twenty five years I washed you clothes, cooked your meals, cleaned your house, given you children, milked your cow, for twenty five years! Why talk about love right now?”. He explains why. “Golde, the first time I met you was on our wedding day! I was scared”. “I was shy”, she replied. “I was nervous”, he told her. “So was I!”, she added. He goes on to say: “…But my Father and my mother said we’d learn to love each other, and so I am asking… do you love me?”. “You’re a fool!””, she replies. “I know!” He adds. “but…do you love me?”. Then she asks herself: “Do I love him? ……For twenty-five years I’ve lived with him; fought with him starved with him; twenty- five years my bed is his... if that’s not love, what is?!” Then Tevye proclaims “……Then you love me!”. “I suppose I do!”. Golde responds. “Then, I suppose I love you to.”. He replies. (They both sing together), “It doesn’t change a thing, but even so, after twenty-five years, it’’s nice to know.”
What is love without action? What is love without giving up something, or without sacrifice? Love is proven by what it does or does not do. In this the month of Valentines day and the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday, may we remember the great unending love that God has for us! He proved it in Jesus. Thanks be to God.
Rev. Mark Kindem
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