The treats Grace and I made for her party: pink pretzels.

I began the celebration of Valentine’s Day yesterday by preaching on adultery and divorce. (Gotta love the Lectionary!) In about an hour I will continue the celebration by hanging out with a classroom full of first-graders who are ingesting way too much sugar.

For now, though, I want to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday. Valentine’s day is not really about those cute little cards (though I love those.) It’s not really about getting flowers from the one you love–or feeling awful because you don’t have anyone to send you flowers. Valentine’s day isn’t even about chocolate. (That’s not to say I won’t accept chocolate as a Valentine’s gift.)

At the root of this celebration of love is St. Valentine, a 3rd-Century priest. Valentine was arrested and imprisoned under the regime of Claudius II after he was…