In English, “love” has many meanings. The problem is, the word is misused for purposes other than "I love you." These have nothing to do with love. The misuse of “love” is abused. Such as, “Let’s make love.” Is that what it really means? Or does it really mean, “let’s f**k”. When you pick out a dress or jewelry you say, “I just love this.” How can one love an inanimate object? Or music. “I love that melody.” “I would love to have a hamburger right now.” What you are saying is anything but love for another person.
The Greeks have eight words for love, each with its own unique definition.
Philia - friendship
Agape - Selfless love
Philautia - Love of self
Pragma - Enduring love
Storge - Affection or Familiar love
Eros - Sexual passion
Ludus - Playful love
Mania - Uncontrollable eros
But the most profound one for me is “Agape,” love beyond self, or selfless love, which Jesus the Christ uses and lives by, applying it in word and deed to all he meets and relates with. Perhaps, the best example is his friendship with Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus, his mother Mary, and Mary Madelaine, whom he considered among his closest disciples along with Peter, James and John and the rest of the disciples.
Another example, is that Jesus felt “compassion,” an active use of Agape:
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36. In the Greek, “compassion” means, “his guts moved.” Feeling what others feel, radical empathy.
“The second one is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31
Two of Jesus’ parables teach love in action: The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:30-36 and the Prodigal Son (parable of the two lost sons). Luke 15:11-32.
The best expression of Jesus’ love with women, especially women condemned by society: the woman who was caught in adultery, John 8:3-11 and the woman at the well. John 4:5-42
So, Agape is my definition for love.
No comments:
Post a Comment