I Love You can be the most meaningful words in the English language or the most empty depending on who is speaking and their motivation. People toss around the word Love and Friend just as the emoticons on Facebook, Email or other types of social media. When you say I Love You to somebody that means you’re willing to stick your neck out for them, be there for them no matter what the circumstances and Love as well as Friendship entails some risk and/or inconvenience. Love is being in a bloody nasty E.R. of a hospital because the one you Love is badly injured or is facing a Life threatening illness. Love is going with someone to their numerous medical appointments or at least making sure they have the means/access to transportation to get to the doctor’s office or hospital. Love is opening your home when said Loved One is about to be evicted, Love is still accepting and valuing your “Friend” | Loved One once they incur a disability that changes their Lives drastically.

Love is making sure that person has food to eat and warm clothing to wear in the scarcity and brutality of winter. Love is unchanging and stable as your friends from childhood and young adulthood change bodily and are no longer able to do the things they once did. Love does not include passing judgment on that person or rejecting them when the chips are down.  Love is truly accepting folks of different sexual orientations.

Jesus spoke this parable because he knew his audience was composed of religious hypocrites who picked and chose who was worthy of their “Love.” Just Like today. I guess things have not changed all that much.