Love’s the Only House

I have listened to the Martina McBride song, Love’s the Only House, for over 20 years. I bought the CD back in 2020 and added the song to my Spotify playlist several years ago. I knew the lyrics, but it was only recently that I felt their impact.

The full line from the song is “love’s the only house big enough for all the pain in the world.” It is about empathy. It is about compassion. It is taking responsibility for our fellow human beings. Dropping our cynical nature and first reaction to judge. As noted in an earlier blog, we can’t judge someone by the chapter in their life we walk into.

We are not called to agree with everyone, or even like everyone. We are also not called to solve everyone’s every pain. But we are called to love others and that starts with an effort to understand who they are and their journey. Love is meant to comfort the pain, lessen the burden, and ease the isolation.

The Ronald McDonald House is the ideal example. The first house opened in Philadelphia, back in 1974. It was the beginning of a unique charity dedicated to caring for families with children who are ill or injured. The Ronald McDonald House creates a loving place for families to be more rested and less stressed, so they can focus on the health of their child. The House does not take away the family’s pain, just eases their burden and isolation.

The song lyrics include specific examples – a woman in a grocery store, teenagers walking around in a culture of darkness, an unwed mother. These are our neighbors. We find it easy to express love to our friends and family, sometimes even co-workers. We can be courteous and polite in public. However, are we really acting as a genuine source of love or more out of obligation? Especially with regards to total strangers. Loving America means loving Americans, all Americans.

In Chapter 19 of Leviticus, Moses is articulating the various rules of conduct in which Israel is called to be holy through obeying God’s precepts. The verses focus on love of neighbor. Then we read in Luke (10:25-28) about a Jew, a scholar of the law, approaching Jesus and asking: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replies with the question, “What is written in the Law?” and the Jew answers, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus acknowledges, “You have answered right,” says Jesus. “Do that and you shall live.”

The Old Testament ‘love our neighbor’ commandment was understood to be one’s fellow countryman. Jesus extended the love commandment to the outsider, the enemy, and the persecutor. To be His disciple we must imitate the example of our Father and express His love, even when we are not loved in return. In Matthew 5:43- 45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.”

Jesus said to his disciples in his farewell words, “In my father’s house are many rooms. I am going ahead of you to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there you may be also.” A house with many rooms, a room for each and for all, a house where all are welcomed. A house built with love, with holy love, God’s love. More than just a house, but a home, filled with joy, where all are embraced in the fulness of who they are as beloved of God.

God’s house is love, it is everlasting, and it is a big enough house for all the pain in the world. Jesus told his disciples that He was the way, and His way is one of love. We were commanded to love one another. We need to live each day with love for each of our neighbors. Love the best we can today, then get up tomorrow and do it again. Our houses need to host the loving spirit of Christ, they need to be big enough for all the pain in the world.

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