My beloved friends,
Since joining Trinity, I have found myself reflecting quite a bit on the way of love. While Lisa’s current sermon series focuses on each stop along the way – turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest – I am sitting deeply simply with the word love. Many of us often hear that following the way of love means following Jesus. And the deeper I sank into the word love, the more I was drawn into Jesus’ own words.
One of my favorite things about reflecting with scripture is that I always find myself led towards encountering something new. And this time was no exception. Jesus said, “[t]his is my commandment, love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13).
I hope that you’re willing to geek out with me for a today because I decided to do some quick exploring with the biblical Greek! The longer I reflected with this scripture the more I realized that when I read “to lay down one’s life” I often tend to read it somewhat literally – Jesus laid down his life on the cross. And we are called to embody the same sacrificial love. All true. And there is a bit more to unearth here about the greater kind of love Jesus is naming to his disciples. The phrase “to lay down” in Greek can also be understood as “to be open” or “to open oneself” – imagine an open book lying on a table. And the Greek word psuchē, often translated as “life,” can also be read as “inner life” or “soul.”
Now, let’s see how this sounds, “No one has greater love than this, to open one’s soul for their friends.” This language hits a bit differently – the greater love, the kind of love Jesus embodied, is completely accessible, vulnerable, and authentic, despite the risk. The work of justice and healing that our community is committed to is not sacrificial love for the sake of sacrificing. Rather, this work calls us towards intentional self-awareness, acknowledgement, and understanding of the risks that often hold us back from fully embodying love. Jesus understood the risks, yet loved so freely that it ultimately cost him his life. Following the way of the love means following Jesus. And Jesus calls us towards a way of loving that is not ruled by the fear of risk, so that we are truly able to fully open our souls for others as he did.
What does “open one’s soul” mean to you? And what risks often hold you back from embodying this love?
Be well, friends.
Deacon Megan