Capitol Hill Christian         

Congregational Staff

Rev. Craig Robertson
 Pastor

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Stephanie Collins
Secretary

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Jessica Hove
Child Care

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Deb Carpenter
Custodian

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Phineas Pope
Pianist

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February is the month we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Here is link that talks about the history of how Valentine’s Day was created: www.walksofitaly.com/blog/art-culture/the-strange-but-true-story-behind-valentines-day. 

While this is not your conventional story about a Valentine’s Day that is filled with romance, it’s a fascinating take on a tradition that is widely celebrated on February 14 in many countries around the world.

Let’s start from the beginning. Who was Saint Valentine?

The better question is “who were?” Depending on who’s counting, there are between 12 and 14 Saint Valentines, including a Spanish hermit and a woman, Valentina. It turns out it was a common name during Late Antiquity. 

As far as anyone can tell, Saint Valentine of Valentine’s Day was one of two guys preaching the good word in Rome in the third century. One of these two was martyred on February 14, thus giving us the date for this eponymous day.

Geoffrey Chaucer has nothing to do with Roman martyrs but he has a lot to do with English literature, and that’s how he created a connection between Saint Valentine and love celebrations.

The first written connection between love and Valentine’s Day appears in his poem, “Parlement of Foules,” written in the late 14th century. He appears to have simply invented the correlation and chalked it up to poetic license, though it’s also possible that he was drawing from older courtly traditions.

So, Valentine’s Day is basically a sham invented by a poet to make his lines rhyme? 

Not exactly. Shortly after Chaucer mentioned love on Valentine’s Day, real life lovers began to send each other love poems on February 14. It is possible that these predate Chaucer, but we simply do not know. People have been writing valentines to their loved ones for over 500 years, so even if there’s no direct connection to a guy who was murdered by the ancient Roman pagans, it’s still part of a serious legacy of love. 

I thought it was just another Hallmark Holiday . . .

Not so fast. Modern Valentine’s Day is very much a product of various industries that benefit from it, namely stationery, chocolate, flowers and jewelry. Every year, billions of dollars are spent on these items. Even countries where western holidays are frowned upon or outlawed have seen an upsurge in Valentine’s Day gifts in recent years. In Saudi Arabia, where the holiday is illegal, there is a thriving black market for red roses and heart-shaped chocolates in February.

Interestingly in Japan (possibly due to a translation error in an early chocolate ad) women are expected to give chocolate to lovers, boyfriends, and even male co-workers. However, Japan also celebrates a gift-giving tradition on March 14 where they are expected to give white chocolates of equal or greater value to anyone who gave them chocolate in February.

Now that we have some background of where Valentine’s Day came from, let me remind you what the most important characteristic of Christian love is: being able to sacrifice ourselves, as Jesus did, for others/neighbors. To love someone like a Christian is to love someone unconditionally, sacrificially, and graciously.

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13 what Christian love is all about:

“I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all faith needed to move mountains, but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned, but if I have no love, this does me no good. Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth.  Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.

Love it eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass. For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial; but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear. 

When I was a child, my speech, my feelings, and thinking were all of those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways. What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face.  What I know now is only partial; hen it will be complete, as complete as God’s knowledge of me.

Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love."

Please try and keep all of this description of what Christian love is and what it calls us to do for others when we spend a lot of money for a card, candy, jewelry, and going out to eat.  May we love someone unconditionally, sacrificially, and as graciously as God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit reminds us how we are loved and how to share it.

Something to think about and do something about as we share God’s love, hope and joy with you!

Love you,

Spreading GOD’s
Love…
Hope…
Joy…
with YOU!