Spem in alium Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 Yay, Greek! I'm going to limit myself to that, because I think everyone else has great answers. When Jesus gives these two commandments, he uses agape. A really famous occurrence of changing between the different words for love comes in John 21. Jesus asks Peter "Peter do you agape me?" (for those of you who know greek, I'm obviously butchering the conjugation, meh). Peter responds "Lord you know I phileo you." This repeats 2x, then the last time Jesus asks "Peter, do you phileo me? At which point Peter "becomes grieved." Anyway, a beautiful reading made more beautiful by understanding the Greek. It's amazing in how it shows Jesus lowering himself to our level. This is so incredibly beautiful! I agree, it definitely shows Jesus lowering himself to meet us. But I think it also shows Peter's deep humanity. To me, that's the essence of what love is - vulnerability, willingly making ourselves vulnerable, lowering ourselves, for the sake of the other. We cannot truly love without giving some part of ourselves to the other, without seeing someone for who they truly are - their good and bad qualities - and still choosing to give ourselves to them. Jesus' above encounter with Peter is a great example, because even though Jesus knew who Peter was, and what he had done, he still chose to love. Jesus gives himself completely in a love that has and will never be equalled. God is love and is the source of love. To love God is to acknowledge Him for exactly who He is, to seek to please Him for exactly who He is, and to attempt to never grieve Him for exactly who He is. Everyone's heart is capable of this. I very much like this definition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tab'le De'Bah-Rye Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 (edited) I personally think God is far above our understanding or reason and since God is love than so is love. Without the intervention of God himself it is not possible for man to love God or anyone else whatever love is. I kind of just had a bit of a moment with God about this and how it is not possible for me to imagine what is after death except that what i believe is that i will be in complete union with God, of course if i believe in and submit to the truth to the best of my knowledge and understanding of what is the truth,which is a growing thing until the day i die or the 2nd coming, whichever comes 1st. And since the Truth is God and God is Love, well pachow, what an infinite indivisible mystery is the most holy trinity though we are revealed bits and pieces of this mystery that is love over time communally and personally through faith and reason but i dare say it is not possible to know completely the mystery of God for neither the angels nor the son know the day that has been appointed by the father where all will be revealed, for this we must wait peacefully,bridle our passion for this momment and try to not get excited for this, which each day draws ever closer than the previous. Though of course we are to enter into this mystery seeking what is love in prayer,meditation, holy scripture, sacred tradition and the most holy sacraments. Edited July 23, 2015 by Tab'le De'Bah-Rye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopefulHeart Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 This is love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Era Might Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 (edited) I was reading recently the pagan philosopher Plotinus and he talks about the love itself as a separate person that comes into existence. I think this is true, even on a human level isn't love, to be in love, essentially to have a common person that you both imagine being...and to fall out of love is to stop trying to create this other person together. I thought this was interesting too vis a vis the Trinity, because the son is the love of the father begotten as another person, and in turn the love of the father and son is another person...the Holy Spirit. Edited July 23, 2015 by Era Might Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 I was reading recently the pagan philosopher Plotinus and he talks about the love itself as a separate person that comes into existence. I think this is true, even on a human level isn't love, to be in love, essentially to have a common person that you both imagine being...and to fall out of love is to stop trying to create this other person together. I thought this was interesting too vis a vis the Trinity, because the son is the love of the father begotten as another person, and in turn the love of the father and son is another person...the Holy Spirit. Not a mutually created person, but a mutually sought Person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peace Posted July 24, 2015 Author Share Posted July 24, 2015 There were some great responses above. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seven77 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 (edited) but I can easily explain what Love is not. Edited July 28, 2015 by Seven77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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