On Valentine's Day (Page 6)
Valentine’s Day is yet another holiday that gets a bad rap even though it’s solidly in the Christian tradition. I understand the resistance. The observation today is a money-making scheme. If you don’t spend money on flowers, candies, expensive dinner reservations (and don’t forget the Hallmark™ card of sappy sentimentality) then you’re a stingy schlep with a heart two sizes too small. I don’t want to do all that either, mostly because it has little to do with love. We all know that love isn’t about buying things or some magic words that we say. Nevertheless, the holiday isn’t a bad one.
St. Valentine lived in the 3rd century in Rome. He found remarkable disfavor with the Roman Empire and was burned as a martyr. Not much else is reliably known, but plenty of legends have grown up surrounding him. According to one legend, while he was in prison St. Valentine healed the blind daughter of his jailor. The two struck up a friendship (or romance) and they corresponded with one another via notes and letters. He would sign his “Your Valentine.” Thus, the tradition of being someone’s Valentine.
Another legend stated that Valentine was a bit of a revolutionary. The Empire conscripted soldiers at a young age, but they had a rule about the married men not being forced to serve. The Church of this age believed in a pacifistic path of following Jesus and so Valentine took it upon himself to marry as many young couples as he could to prevent the young men from going off to war. So, he sort of had a penchant for aiding young lovers.
February 14th became is feast day, a day to remind everyone of love. Some feel a need to spiritualize this, refocus it to other kinds of love. That’s fine and good to remember family love and holy love. But far be it from the Church, or this minister, to look down upon romantic love. God created us to love, to desire, to revel in passion and sacrificing our good for that of our beloved. That kind of love is good and should also be celebrated. So observe the holiday, whether it’s by giving the kids in your class a card and a treat, whether it’s reminding your children that you love them, or if you’re blessed to have a partner, spend it with them. Love’s a good enough holiday.
And chocolate doesn’t hurt.
Valentine’s Day is yet another holiday that gets a bad rap even though it’s solidly in the Christian tradition. I understand the resistance. The observation today is a money-making scheme. If you don’t spend money on flowers, candies, expensive dinner reservations (and don’t forget the Hallmark™ card of sappy sentimentality) then you’re a stingy schlep with a heart two…
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Another legend stated that Valentine was a bit of a revolutionary. The Empire conscripted soldiers at a young age, but they had a rule about the married men not being forced to serve. The Church of this age believed in a pacifistic path of following Jesus and so Valentine took it upon himself to marry as many young couples as he could to prevent the young men from going off to war. So, he sort of had a penchant for aiding young lovers.