Dear Spiritual Family,
Let’s begin this Advent Sunday with The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us
not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen.
Our Advent gift this week is Love. The prayer we just experienced came to us because of the Love that Jesus came to teach and model. Simply, no Jesus, no Lord’s Prayer. Of course, there are other Masters who came before and after his time in the physical, and their messages, in essence, were and are, Love.
Yet in this Christmas Season, we naturally turn our thoughts to him. Candlelight worship services, the carols we sing, writings like this one, manger scenes—all remind us of his coming and his ongoing and constant presence with us.
The title of this piece is Eternal Love. It was inspired by words over the triple doorway of the cathedral of Milan in Lombardy, Italy. There are three inscriptions, spanning the splendid arches. Over one is carved a wreath of roses, and underneath is the legend, “All that pleases is but for a moment.” Over the other is sculpted a cross, and these are the words beneath: “All that troubles is but for a moment.” Finally, underneath the great central entrance in the main aisle is the inscription, “That only is important which is eternal.” We thank our dear friend, Joe Adams, for sharing this with us.
What can be more eternal than Love? The Love that inspired Life. The Love that prompted the Souls that would animate Jesus of Nazareth and Mother Mary. What about the Love that is the real motivation behind our important relationships? And in this Season of giving, what about the Love behind each heartfelt gift? And long after the “pleasure” or even the “troubles” of this time, or any time for that matter, have passed, Love remains.
This Love is eternal. It is never diminished by time or form or by a passing from the physical. Love Is. And the Love that revealed Itself through Mary and Joseph and Jesus is no less present within our Souls. It is the very Essence of Who we are.
So, as we gather to sing the carols and light the candles and give and receive the gifts, let’s remember and deeply cherish the eternal Gift of God’s Love.
We Love You,
Rev. Steve and Mary
