People who are in love sometimes do amazing things.  Love is an energy which propels people to do things they didn’t think they could do, even humorous things.  A couple, very much in love, once told me that, in the early days of their relationship, she went to every one of his softball games (though she couldn’t stand the game) and he always went along on shopping sprees with her (though he didn’t really like shopping).  Why?  Because they wanted so much to be with each other.  Yes, for love—that makes all the difference.

The Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) has found its way into our collection of scripture books as a lovely set of poems relating the joys of human love.  But, both our Jewish ancestors as well as Christian tradition, have heard in its lines, the truths of God’s passionate love for his people.  And in this season of Advent, so close to Christmas Day, we hear the words in an altogether special way.

He comes!  Yes, the Savior comes.  But how?  In what way?  With what motivation?  Our reading answers that:  the Savior comes with passionate, loving abandon, “springing and leaping across mountains and hills.”  He comes with speed, overcoming obstacles, determined—nothing can stand in the way of his coming.  Love  is the energy which propels such behavior.  Such is the Savior’s passion to be with us.  Lovers do amazing things.

Coming—to me? To us? With such passion?