“For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love. ” (Galatians 5:6, The Message)
It is far easier to be religious than to love. Religion gives the adherent some sense of accomplishment: the kind of satisfaction that causes one to look in the mirror and smile. The exercise of love may leave the lover exhausted, perhaps even wounded. In the beginning, love was unencumbered. Love demanded nothing, and gave everything. Love was received with joy and returned without reservation. Love was the only foundation for relationships and the rule for human interaction.

No more. Love is confused by our attempts to submit it to our will. Humans hijacked love and held it hostage. Love was tortured to the point of being unrecognizable and then unceremoniously stuffed in a shallow grave.

Love wasn’t conquered, it didn’t die. Prevailing science seems increasingly determined to make every human experience a mere function of biochemical interactions and yet the existence of this inexplicable urge to do acts contrary to self-preservation or interests still remains.

And because love remains and adds to the testimony of its strength by its indomitable force, we hope and are—hopefully—in love.