Lent 2021: A Story to Live BySample

A broken hallelujah 

Reflection:

‘Love is not a victory march. It’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah.’ John Cale

I can’t tell you what John Cale was thinking of when he wrote this line (for the music fans about to correct me, it actually wasn’t Jeff Buckley or Leonard Cohen, but now’s not the time to go into that). But it makes me think of Christ. Because love’s arms were not raised in triumph; they were stretched out on the cross.

Love is strong because it is vulnerable; it overcomes because it serves; it is powerful because it does not strive for power.

Love doesn’t climb ladders to get ahead; it gets stuck in at ground level. Love is not desperate for the dawn; it sets up camp in the dark night of the soul and builds a fire.

Love does not dominate, segregate or accumulate. Love would rather get nailed to a cross in a posture of inclusion than take up a sword to conquer.

Love wins because it is willing to lose.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for love. For your love. For the love that sustains the universe. Help us to follow your example of love. Amen.

Author: Gideon Heugh