St. Valentine’s Day
By Pastor Roger Lemke
Special to The Eagle
Flowers, candy, red hearts and romance; that’s what Valentine’s Day is all about, right? Well, maybe not.
The origin of this holiday for the expression of love really isn’t romantic at all. The Roman emperor, Claudius, issued an edict that prohibited the marriage of young people. This was based on the hypothesis that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers because married soldiers might be afraid of what might happen to them or their families if they died.
At the same time, Claudius declared all Christians as illegal citizens and guilty of treason. All they had to do was say: “Caesar is Lord!” But all Father Valentine would say is: “No, Jesus is Lord!” Secondly, he continued to encourage young people to marry within the Christian Church. Rather than deny Christ or the sanctity of marriage Valentine was arrested and sentenced to death.
While he was in prison he was visited regularly by a jailor’s blind daughter. Eventually they prayed together, the young girl was healed, and the jailor and his family became Christians. It was on Feb. 14, 269, that young Valentine was put to death, martyred for Jesus Christ and his stand for Christian marriage. Legend has it that the last words he wrote to the young girl and her family was the same phrase found in our romantic missives: “From your Valentine.”
Therefore as we send our own love letters to special people let us recall that in our lives, as with young Valentine, there will be unfairness, unfulfilled longings, loneliness, and yet, love. Love more powerful than a tyrant’s sword and more lasting that the centuries.
And therefore let us resolve that nothing will stop us from loving God and one another for all eternity.
Roger Lemke is pastor of Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, 10360 Stringfellow Road on Pine Island. Sunday services are at 9 a.m. and Bible study is Tuesdays at 10 a.m. Call 239-283-1170 for more information.