Lonely Exile: A Daily Advent Devotional

Part Twenty Two: Love Takes the Risk

And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13, NRSVue

Today we begin the final week of Advent. So far, during this season, we have received the gifts of hope, peace, and joy and reflected on what they mean for us, today. This week we turn our attention to the greatest gift, the one that makes all of the rest possible: Love.

Recently a friend of mind shared this poem by Madeleine L’Engle with me, and it so beautifully captures the audacity of love, at Christmas and always. Let’s allow these words to guide our reflection on love during this last week of Advent.

The Risk of Birth
by Madeleine L’Engle

This is no time for a child to be born,
With the earth betrayed by war & hate
And a comet slashing the sky to warn
That time runs out & the sun burns late.
That was no time for a child to be born,
In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;
Honor & truth were trampled to scorn—
Yet here did the Savior make His home.
When is the time for love to be born?
The inn is full on the planet earth,
And by a comet the sky is torn—
Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.

Question for Reflection:
How have you experienced the risk-taking love that L’Engle describes here?