Let. When I chose the word “let” as the word to walk with me several years ago I had no idea how powerful a three let word could be. A dear friend created the plaque in the photo at the top of this post as a gift that Christmas.
In our fourth and final week of Advent, I invite you to take this word as your own this week. Let. Let in love. Let go and Let God. Let the change you want to see in the world begin with you. Let love be your motive. Let there be peace in your heart. Let God do for you what you cannot do for yourself. Let in the Love that is God in the flesh- Jesus. Let in the love.
Luke 1:26-38 includes the word “let”. Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s proclamation that she will give birth to the one whose kingdom will have no end is, “... “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”
The Beatles sang three words "let it be" describing them as “words of wisdom”. The lyrics to “Let it Be” include a promise, “there will be an answer”. It was a deep trust that allowed Mary to respond to this revelation of the Angel Gabriel, even as she was perplexed. She trusted. The answer may not have been at all what she expected. She let it be to her according to the words of the angel.
As we come to the end of Advent the focus for our last week is LOVE. Over the years these verses from The Message translation of 1 John 4:17-21 have walked with me as instructions on love:
To Love, to Be Loved
17-18 God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. 20-21 If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.
Mary listened. Mary followed. Mary loved. Mary let love have the run of the house. It started with a simple three letter word; let. Will you follow her lead? Will you let love be what leads and informs your life? Will you love the people you can see as a way of loving God?
The love that is God coming to us in the flesh- a love incarnate- is the love that I invite you to let in this week. Let in the love. Let it in. Live out this love. Let love have the run of your house. Let this love rule your heart. You don’t have to create this love- it is a gift, pure grace. You have been created for this; to love and be loved. Even though it is a Christmas hymn and we are not there quite yet… this song goes through my heart and mind- this is what we await, “Love has Come” .
May this Love that comes again and again and again be what you let fill your heart and guide your life.