The most important love to remember on Valentine’s Day is God’s unending love for us.
Valentine’s Day is on Sunday and it’s hard to set foot in any retail establishment without being reminded of it. The grocery store has flowers and chocolates. Clothing stores have red and pink items plastered in their windows. Restaurants are running specials for couples.
Just out of mere curiosity, I did a Google search on St. Valentine and turned up some interesting information. First of all, little is definitely known about him. There’s lots of legend and there may have even been two stories that got molded into one.
But, here’s one that I found that grabbed my attention. Valentine was a Roman priest during the time of an unfriendly emperor, Claudius, who persecuted the Christian church. Claudius had decided to forbid marriage because, unattached soldiers were better fighters. They didn’t have families or loved ones at home to think about.
The culture at the time was very sexually permissive. Several wives were okay, but the one man and one woman deal wasn’t very popular. But, for whatever reason, there were those who were drawn to the Christian faith. Does any of this sound in any way familiar?
Of course, the Christian church, always encouraged one woman and one man, Christian marriage, so there was a priest, Valentine, who married couples in secret.
He was eventually caught and imprisoned. There are legends about his time in prison. The story goes that one of the men who was to judge him, Asterius, had a young daughter who was blind. Valentine prayed over her and healed her. Supposedly, Asterius became a baptized Christian and one account has 44 other members in his household converting as well.
One story has Valentine released, but then arrested again for continuing to stand by his faith. In 269 AD, he was sentenced to a brutal death of beating, stoning and decapitation. The Romans were always kind of blood thirsty. Supposedly, the last words he wrote were to the young girl he healed and were signed, “Your Valentine.”
Not all romance, chocolate and roses, huh? You have to hand it to good old American commercialism. But, Valentine has a different kind of love to teach us, a deeper love, one that spans the centuries.
Valentine decided what he believed in. His faith, surely bolstered through the Holy Spirit, made him willing to die for what God called him to do. He gave up his earthly life, knowing that he would spend eternity with Jesus.
I think it’s fitting that Valentine’s day comes during Lent, when Christians are taking some time to reflect on the sacrifice that Christ made for all of us. It’s a great reminder of the greatest love of all. It’s also a great reminder for us to all take stock as we walk towards Calvary.
What is it that we believe? What does our faith teach us to stand up for, to fight for?
So, as we encounter all of those hearts and flowers, over the weekend, let’s stop and take a minute to give thanks for all of those people who have stood up for their faith along the way, and most of all for Jesus, who represents eternal love, that never fades.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂