Reflections
July 26, 2009
In defining love as a noun, Webster's Dictionary writes, "1. strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties (maternal for a child) 2. attraction based on sexual desire, affection, and tenderness felt by lovers 3. affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interest..." When defining love as a verb Webster's writes, "1. to hold dear; cherish 2. to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness for 3. to like or desire actively..."
The Gospels record that when pressed on the greatest commandment of God, Jesus responded with two above all others. "And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." Mt. 22:35-40
For Jesus, the law of love is clear. People of faith are people of active devotion. We are to love God in a demonstrative manner. Our inner most selves are to be set toward the One who created us. The thoughts, hopes, and dreams we have are to actively reflect the love we have for God. Likewise, we are to love those in our midst as we love ourselves. This is a little more difficult. First, because self love and self indulgence share a continent with common borders. Self nurture and narcissism can be cruel partners. Furthermore, we live in a time of comparisons which can lead to self loathing more readily than self liking. Advertisements drown us with stark reminders of our imperfections. We see perfect models in perfect clothes in perfect surroundings enticing us to be uncomfortable with who we are, and perhaps loathe those who seem so perfect, or ourselves because we are not.
The Law of Love to which Jesus pointed is perfect because it is rooted in the Holy. God did not create us to be perfect. We are who we are, cellulite, spare tires, warts, and all; God's creatures. The object of God's desire created in love to be creatively loving. The difficulty, of course, is getting it through our delicate psyches that if God loves us that we might consider loving God back, and perhaps love ourselves and those around us. However, defining love or contemplating it is much easier than acting on it.
July 26, 2009
In defining love as a noun, Webster's Dictionary writes, "1. strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties (maternal for a child) 2. attraction based on sexual desire, affection, and tenderness felt by lovers 3. affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interest..." When defining love as a verb Webster's writes, "1. to hold dear; cherish 2. to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness for 3. to like or desire actively..."
The Gospels record that when pressed on the greatest commandment of God, Jesus responded with two above all others. "And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." Mt. 22:35-40
For Jesus, the law of love is clear. People of faith are people of active devotion. We are to love God in a demonstrative manner. Our inner most selves are to be set toward the One who created us. The thoughts, hopes, and dreams we have are to actively reflect the love we have for God. Likewise, we are to love those in our midst as we love ourselves. This is a little more difficult. First, because self love and self indulgence share a continent with common borders. Self nurture and narcissism can be cruel partners. Furthermore, we live in a time of comparisons which can lead to self loathing more readily than self liking. Advertisements drown us with stark reminders of our imperfections. We see perfect models in perfect clothes in perfect surroundings enticing us to be uncomfortable with who we are, and perhaps loathe those who seem so perfect, or ourselves because we are not.
The Law of Love to which Jesus pointed is perfect because it is rooted in the Holy. God did not create us to be perfect. We are who we are, cellulite, spare tires, warts, and all; God's creatures. The object of God's desire created in love to be creatively loving. The difficulty, of course, is getting it through our delicate psyches that if God loves us that we might consider loving God back, and perhaps love ourselves and those around us. However, defining love or contemplating it is much easier than acting on it.
Dr. Joey K. McDonald
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601
First United Methodist Church
4832 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91601
