Friar’s Corner: Our joy is in sharing Christ’s true love
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
I have been following a line of thought in the second reading from St. Paul to the Corinthian church that he founded. We have looked at our baptismal gift (Isaiah 11:2); the 1 Corinthian gifts in 12:4-11 (the charismatic ministry gifts) and last week the “paid ministry gifts” or 12:28. Having affirming those gifts, Paul moves our attention to the need to use these gifts in 16 characteristics of God’s true love.
Much of our culture and past history views love as genetic sexual and erotic behavior. This mostly does not serve God’s intention for humanity. There are only male and female genders with different genital equipment for creating new human life as God intended from the beginning. Our scriptures present a greater meaning.
The Old Testament speaks of how the Holy Trinity created and sustains our existence out of love for us. A number of words are used in the Hebrew Scriptures to express love over two hundred times. They include the entire spectrum of human affections, including passionate love and sexual attractions as in Song of Songs. Love also embraces spousal, parental and friendship respect and care.
The greatest commandment of the Mosaic Law is found in the first commandment, loving God with our who mind, heart and strength. This formed the basis of Israel’s relationship with God, which made them unique in world religions.
The Greek word to describe love, agape, meaning a committed love, is used over three hundred times in the New Testament. Filia also embraces a friendship love. The Greek word eros, meaning passionate or sexual love, does not appear in the New Testament. The Synoptic Gospels speak of loving God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves. St. John prefers to term “love” to describe God’s free and unmerited concern for us. St. Paul, much like St. John, takes a three-part approach to love – love of God, the love of Christ and the love of men for Christ and God (the Father).
Our culture distorts and corrupts God’s initial plan of love, moving us in a direction of self-gratification and sexual abuse of others. Today’s section of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. I give these to you in the positive, which is easier to understand. Love is:
- patient
- king
- respectful of others
- humble
- sensitive to others
- courteous
- helpful
- understanding
- forgiving
- compassionate
- truthful
- ready to make allowances
- ready to trust
- optimistic
- persevering
- faithful or last forever.
This kind of love is a service gift to increase the joy of those we love, those we don’t exactly love or like and our enemies, as Jesus taught us. That was the way He loved us and died on the cross. When we love others this way we are often blessed and loved back, yet not always. We need God’s grace to persevere in this more spiritual level, especially with those closest to us. Make a larger list for your refrigerator door and keep a little one in your wallet. Pray about these and ask the Holy Spirit to help you live them. These are the true fruits of God’s love in us. This is one more joy for us.
Remember that Wednesday is the feast of St. Blaise, the bishop. In the Roman Rite it is the only official day we pray for healing.
Have a blessed week,
+ Fr. Bob Hilz
(© 2016 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
