Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine and is celebrated on February 14. A number of martyrdom stories are associated with various Valentines connected to February 14, including an account of the imprisonment of St. Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire in the third century. According to an early tradition, St. Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailor. The Feast of St. Valentine, established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 A.D., was to be celebrated on February 14 in honor of St. Valentine who died on that date in 269 A.D. The day became associated with romantic love and further associated with “lovebirds” of early spring.
Today, florists and retailers love Valentine’s Day. Card companies charge and get enormous prices for Valentine cards, and candy companies sell enormous amounts of chocolate. I wonder what tradition you celebrate on February 14? Do you think about the promises you made when you married your sweetheart, and have you lived up to those promises? Today almost half of the marriages performed end in divorce. I wonder how many of us who are married have been faithful to our marriage promises. To challenge his Jewish Christian audience to perseverance and patience to continue in their faith in Jesus, the writer of Hebrews recalled God’s promises to Abraham. Abraham and Sarah’s status as senior citizens was no barrier to the fulfillment of God’s promise to give Abraham “many descendants.” (v. 14).
Are you challenged to trust God despite being weak, frail and human? Are you struggling to keep your commitments, to fulfill your pledges and vows? In II Corinthians 12:9, God promises to help us: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I pray that Valentine’s Day will help you remember the promises you made. May the cards, chocolates and flowers be a reminder of the love that God has for each of us, and may we be reminded that “God’s grace is sufficient for each of us.”
Prayer – God, thank you for being faithful in your commitments to me. Help me to be faithful in my commitments to You and others. Amen!
Hebrews 6:15 – “After waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”
By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Image: Adobe iStock
