Title:- A Deadly Valentine
1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
You will remember that the expectant disciples, bereaved of their Master, were at one point huddled in Jerusalem expecting and waiting for the sending of ‘the promise,’ which Jesus had received from the Father. They were waiting for the gift and the gift was from a lover, even the fairest of ten thousand, Jesus Himself, given to His bride, the waiting church. Maybe Carol Ann Duffy in her poem “Valentine,” can give us a slightly different aspect on this gift of the Holy Spirit? Maybe? Here we go: -
Not a red rose or a satin heart.
I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
Like the careful undressing of love.
Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
A wobbling photo of grief.
I am trying to be truthful.
Not a cute card or a kissogram.
I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.
Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring,
if you like.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife
I like that, for you see this gift of the Holy Spirit is lethal to the old man. To the old man, this gift reeks of eye watering death, looks like an unmerciful blade and sounds like cold steel running across an oily stone. This gift is jealously, both possessive and gripping in its embrace; it is a luminescent scent wrapped in swaddling clothes, promising light, love and peace and then to our embarrassed surprise, it strips us to appear naked and completely undone before the Father. Maybe this gift is more than we bargained for? Maybe the gift is indeed not the ‘cutesy’ red rose or satin heart after all? Maybe this gift of the Holy Spirit really is more akin to a multi-layered onion? Think about my comments, for God’s love is tough love and He will do whatever He will, whatever He needs, whatever such jealous love demands, to possess us wholly and completely.
Oh and by the way, 'Happy Valentine’s Day!'
Listen: - Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame. Song of Solomon 8:6
Pray: - May the scent of Your sacrifice remain in me today my Lord, my lover, my faithful God and my Holy Father, in Jesus name, Amen.
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