A Valentine Day reflection

The streets in Penang are starting to setup stalls to sell flowers and gifts for Valentine Day. At the same time various controversies being introduce by some "not-so-well-informed" religious experts who declares it is a Christian celebration. Well, the Bible (the central doctrinal reference for Christianity) never teaches about a specific day called Valentine Day and at the same time it was never observed as Christian festival.

Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the Bible central theme is all about God who love us so much, who gave Himself that we may life and life abundant. Well, since we are in the topic of Valentine Day and Valentine is always referred to a day where love is expressed, it appropriate to learn about the Christian view with regards to love.

There is one scripture reference that is the essence of the Christian faith and define the true love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). It simply speaks about "Unconditional Love". What is "Unconditional Love"? God, in his greatest show of love, sent his son, Jesus, to walk on this earth, to teach us, to show us how to live real lives, love-filled lives, and, eventually, to die for us. That is unconditional love.

What kind of love should we give in return? What should be our standard? The powerful words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Mark speak to the love standard Christians are expected to live by, not just on Valentine’s Day, but on every day of the year. There are two important focuses for our love.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” (Mark 12:31). Human love often seems complicated and frustrating, so it is comforting to have its complexities reduced to these two manageable realities: love God; love each other.

Valentine's Day honours human love with all its frailties. The Bible reminds Christians every day that God's love is real, eternal, and unconditional.

Be Blessed.