Law Of Love (Part 1)

Jesus & Mary: Scene from the movie Passion of Christ

by:  Pastor Jose V. Velasco

Read: Matthew 22:34-40

   We commonly think of February as the month of love. So we will reflect on love this month. When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment readily He answered, “love the Lord your God...” And second, “love your neighbor...” (Mt. 22:37-39). Jesus says that all of God’s laws are based on these two commandments (40). In the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17) the first four commandments relate to loving God, and the last six relate to loving fellow human beings. In general all God’s teachings in the Old and New Testaments relate to loving God and people.

   The Greeks had several categories of love. There is eros which is marital love. Filia is also the general love for people like family, friends, and neighbors. Karitas is the love of humans to God. Agape is God’s love to human beings. Agape is the highest and purest form of love. It is totally unselfish, unconditional and undeserved. The closest common example of Jesus for agape was the love of a parent to his/her child (Mt. 7:9-11). A parent provides generously what is best for his/her child because of love.  I knew of a couple who had a 7-year old son who was just like a 2-month old infant. The boy could not get up and communicate. The parents did their very best to care for him very lovingly and tenderly. They knew that the child will never be able to reciprocate their love and sacrifices for him, but they still did their best to love and care for him. Here is a human example of agape, - unconditional and undeserved love. Of course, the parent’s love, though in way the closest model so far for agape, is still imperfect. No human being can equal God in loving.

   Yet, Jesus enjoins that agape should be our model in loving. Jesus modified the second Great Commandment which enjoins us to love others like we love ourselves (Mt. 22:39). He said, “Love each other as I have loved you” (Jn. 15:12), not as you love yourself. Agape, which is God’s love, should be the model. Thus Jesus made new the old command based on self-love.  He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (Jn. 13:34).

   With this new command of Jesus making agape (God’s love) as the model of love what will happen to the other categories of love? Are they eliminated? No. There is still marital love, family love, love of all other people, and love of God. But all these other kinds of love must be characterized by the spirit and quality of agape: unselfish, unconditional and sacrificial.  So we must love as God loves. In the next mid-month reflection

we shall discuss more about the nature of agape love and how we may possess and practice it.

Prayer: Lord God, imbue us with your love that we may love like you love. In the name of your Son who has demonstrated that love in His earthly life and death on the cross we pray. Amen.