Beloved upon reading and reflecting on this epistle, I am reminded that in our world today, we are as far away from the theme of agape love in this text as the 1st century original hearers were in their Greco-Roman society.  

• Mexican children in holding cells at the border, where is the love? 

• Transgender persons denied their humanity in the Imago Dei, where is the love? 

• Army Lieutenants pepper-sprayed, handcuffed and told “What's going on? You're fixin' to ride the lighting, son” for missing a license plate (temp tags were in the window), where is the love? 

• Essential workers terrorized by customers who refuse to wear a piece of cloth on their face because it infringes upon their rights, where is the love? 

• Restrictive voter legislation passed making it a crime to hand out water while in line, where is the love? 

What the world needs now is love, not just in word, but in action. God loves us and we can see and feel this love in a beautiful sunrise, a song that touches our spirit, a warm smile from a stranger, vaccinated kisses from our loved ones and in our efforts to pursue justice. The prophet Micah reminds us, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8 NRSV) Remember my brothers and sisters in Christ, it was love, not nails that kept Jesus on the cross. Can you sing with me today? “Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me, the bible tells me so!”  Hallelujah & Amen!  “Where is the Love?” – The Black Eyed Peas 

-----written by Rev. Tracey Kenney