Today marks the beginning of the Lent season for those who follow the revised Christian lectionary. This period is observed with the Ash Wednesday service, and it involves fasting for 40 days to prepare for Easter.

This year is special because Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day fall on the same day. This coincidence has made me think about the concept of love and dying in a different way. Valentine’s Day is a day when we celebrate our love for those close to us, while Ash Wednesday is a reminder of our mortality.

During the Ash Wednesday service, the preacher marks a cross on the forehead of each congregant, saying “Remember, man, that dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return” (Genesis 3:19). The words “death” and “love” hold great significance for me, and I want to meditate on John 15:13 for our devotion today.

¹³ No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

– John 15:3

This verse speaks of the greatest love, which is laying down one’s life for one’s friends. Jesus Christ spoke these words to his disciples, teaching them to love one another by laying down their lives for each other. Loving others requires sacrifices and dying to our selfish interests.

As we celebrate this extraordinary Val/Ash Day, let us remember that Jesus Christ loves us dearly and died for us. The Holy Spirit is our helper and guide in this journey of love and sacrifice. Today, reflect on how you can show love to those around you, be it the homeless person on the roadside, your spouse, your children, students, patients, orphans, victims of abuse, those in prison, the elderly, community leaders, and more.

May you have a blessed Val/Ash Day, knowing that the greatest love is expressed through laying down our lives for others.