February 14, 2023 – Valentine’s Day
“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes (and) endures all things. Love never ends.” 1 Cor. 13:4-8
On this day, February 14, 269 a young man named Valentine was executed in Rome for his faith (maybe). If he was in fact executed on this day in February, it was the day before the pagan festival to the goddess Februata Juno – a ritual that involved sexual promiscuity between boys and girls. So the question we must consider for this holiday we celebrate called Valentine’s Day is: was the legend of Valentine modified to replace the pagan holiday? Probably. The church has done this before. The truth is that there may have been two or three martyrs named Valentine who died in different parts of the Roman Empire at around this time. Here are some examples:
“…the Roman Valentine… A city gate on the Flaminian Way and a chapel near it were named for him. Several ancient Christian writers mention his name. There is no doubt he lived and was tortured before being beaten with clubs and beheaded. And yet we have no sure account of why. Some say this Valentine was a young man with a tender heart who aided Christians who were undergoing martyrdom. He was not even a Christian at the time. Arrested for his activities, he converted to faith while in prison and would not renounce it. Knowing he was going to die, he wrote letters to his friends saying “Remember your Valentine.” Another legend says that the Roman Valentine was a priest who defied the Emperor Claudius’s temporary order and secretly married couples so the husbands wouldn’t have to go to war. Claudius desperately needed more soldiers and did not appreciate this interference. A third legend says the Roman Valentine was a priest who refused to sacrifice to pagan gods. Imprisoned for this, he gave testimony in prison and through his prayers the jailer’s daughter was healed. On the day of his execution he left her a note signed “Your Valentine.” (Christianity.com website, Martyrdom of St. Valentine, Dan Graves)
During the Middle Ages it was a popular belief that birds paired up in mid-February. This may also be a reason that romantic love was associated with Valentine’s name. Whatever the truth behind the legends, St. Valentine’s Day has become a day we connect with romance and friendship. Here is a poem by E. E. Cummings for you to consider and ponder on this Valentine’s Day. It is titled love is more thicker than forget:
love is more thicker than forget — more thinner than recall
more seldom than a wave is wet — more frequent than to fail
it is most mad and moonly — and less it shall unbe
than all the sea which only — is deeper than the sea
love is less always than to win — less never than alive
less bigger than the least begin — less littler than forgive
it is most sane and sunly — and more it cannot die
than all the sky which only — is higher than the sky
This poem by Cummings is not easy to understand. Love is as hard to understand as this poem. But that is the point. To love is to open ourselves up to hurt, loss, and pain – but also endless fulfillment and joy. I believe this is what Paul is saying about G-dly love: G-d’s love endures until the end, it never ends – and nothing is greater than that. More importantly G-d’s love for us transcends the sky. So when we can share love with others that is grounded in G-d’s love, then our love will be genuine and long-lasting.
Pastor Dave
Lutheran Schreff 