The Greatest Valentine

With the approach of Valentines Day, Facebook is running amuck with posts by singles and married people alike about their plan to stay away from Facebook on that day. Their wish is to avoid reading posts related to the holiday. They desire to avoid reading from all the singles who will post complaints about loneliness or even disgust with the holiday. I, as a single person, recognize and also deal with the loneliness associated with Valentines Day. For years I jokingly referred to it as “Singles Awareness Day” or “SAD”. But this year I have something far better to focus on. No, this is not an announcement that I have a “significant other” to celebrate with. It is not the hyper-commercialism of the holiday, not the pagan historical connections of the holiday, but something much deeper. And better.

This renewed focus will not be easy, but necessary just the same. The fact is I am already engaged to someone. I have a marriage supper to look forward to. This may sound odd coming from a male, but I am a bride anxiously awaiting my groom. And my groom loves me in a way no other person could ever love me. This groom knows my inner-most being; all the dark, dirty, shame-filled secrets of my life. But still he loves me perfectly, completely.

This is truly good news. Hard to fathom for certain. But Gospel just the same.

So for all of us who are a part of the Church, married or single, we have a love to celebrate which far exceeds any marital love experienced in this life. We have the love of Christ, our groom. Let us all take time to celebrate his love for us on this Valentines Day. Let us pray that our Groom would come quickly for us, his bride. Let us long for the day when we will sit at the table and enjoy the marriage supper of the Lamb.