Methodist Review

Methodist Review

For those of you interested in Wesleyan Studies. Enjoy!

Love Covers Multitude of Sins

   In February we celebrate the day of the “love birds” (honestly, love birds?!); we celebrate St. Valentine’s day. In many countries in Latin America we call it the Friendship Day (el día de la amistad), or Lovers’ Day (el día de los enamorados). This is a day where men and women express their love for those people in their lives who are very special. This is a day when most people celebrate “romantic” love. Yet, as with many Christian celebrations, there is always a deep story behind it.

   Here the story is that of a Saint, the story of a Christian martyr. Probably many of you know the story already but let me tell it again for the benefit of those that have not heard it before.

  The Saint celebrated on Valentine’s Day is that of a Christian priest and martyr called Valentio (or Valentinus). Valentio was martyred during the reign of Emperor Claudius II (also known as Claudius Gothicus).The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493); alongside the woodcut portrait of Valentine, the text states that he was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian soldiers and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by the Roman Emperor. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. Therefore, Claudius condemned Valentine to be beaten and stoned to death, when that failed he had him beheaded and his body buried outside the Flaminian Gate.

  The feast of St. Valentine was first established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who included Valentine among those "... whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God." This feast, however,  is no longer part of the Church’s celebrations.

  Certainly, we could have said much more about the life of Saint Valentio, but what I would like to highlight for us today is his uttered commitment to Christ. His life and dedication to God is marked by his action to marry Roman soldiers who have become Christians, an act that was punishable by Roman law. So, for all intents and purposes he was violating the “laws of the land,” “acting criminally,” and inciting others to do likewise. Doesn’t this ring a bell today?

  Some people today would consider Valentine's actions against God's will because he was acting against the laws of the land. We hear many people arguing that Christians are not suppose to act against the laws of the land because God so ordains (of course always basing the argument using Romans 13). But what one finds in Valentine, and many other martyrs of the Church (people love humanity), is the constant reminder that we must respond to a higher authority. Indeed, as Christians we must be certain that our supreme allegiance is to God and God’s will, and not to any government, nation, ideology, religious institution, or political party. This in any way implies that we should not respect our government, honor our public officials, love our Church or our country. I believe that these are not competing interest, unless one places equal value on both: God and other things. As the scripture reminds the believer, again and again:

No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Luke 16:13).

Indeed, we cannot serve competing loyalties, either we give our full allegiance to God or we give it to something else, in which case then our loyalties will be clearly established.

   Many years ago the Christian theologian Paul Tillich illustrates this point very eloquently. “The object of theology,” he said, “is what concerns us ultimately.” That which concerns us to the uttermost, that which becomes our ultimate concern is that which determines how we live our lives. In other words, that which makes us wake up in the morning (and I do not mean the clock), and gives meaning to our lives, should be the reality that rules our lives to the point that we are willing to give our lives for it. As Jesus showed us with his own life; out of love for the Father, and for us, He gave his life: ^“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13; see also 3:15-18).
   So, as we celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day this year, let us remember that to love one another is Jesus’ commandment, and that this commandment trumps any other demand form any government, church institution, ideology, nation, or political parties. For this is Jesus’ commandment, “that you love one another as [Jesus] have loved you” (John 15:12).
   If we act as Jesus has asked us to, it certainly will not win us many friends. “I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another” (John 15:17). Let us never forget that “if the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, - the world would love you as its own” (John 15:12-18). But since we do not belong to the world, because God has chosen us out of the world, therefore the world will hates us.

  Yet, as followers of Christ, we have been called to love as God has loved us. During this celebration of Saint Valentine, let us remember our first love: Jesus the Christ. If our hearts, minds, and strength are truly dedicated to loving God as Saint Valentio did, everything else will fall in place.
  This has been the experience of many Christians in Latin America and other impoverished countries around the world. The commitment to follow Christ comes with a hefty price tag; one's own life. In St. Valentine's Day, be a friend and a lover of all those for whom Christ died.

  Your servant in Christ,

Rev. Eliezer Valentín-Castañón

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