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God Is Love--But What IS Love?

Today's Scripture:

The Pharisees, when they heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him.?

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"?

Jesus said to him,?

"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."?

--Matthew 22:34-40

In Matthew's chronology the "religious establishment" challenges Jesus for the last time in today's pericope. This exchange would have taken place on Tuesday of Holy Week. From here on out they will only be plotting and attempting to bring about His demise.

For their final shot, they bring an "expert" in the law. They do this to "test" Jesus--but that's not accurate. One "tests" another in the?hopes that they will pass the?test. The lawyer actually "tempts" Jesus--in fact the original language uses the same term for this "test" as was used by Satan in "testing/tempting" Jesus. One who tempts rather than tests hopes that the person tested/tempted will fail.?

They choose a subject they had long debated amongst themselves: which commandments were to be prioritized over other commandments? The Law Expert hoped to entrap Jesus in a lengthy discussion where he could do what lawyers are best at: to try to steer the questioning into numerous traps and pitfalls:no-win situations which would at least give the impression of the interrogator "winning" the debate.

Again, he and his cohorts were no match for Jesus, who got straight to the point: Jesus begins by referring to a part of the Shema--recited daily by pious Jews from ancient times--which recitation includes the commandment?"to love God with all one's heart, soul, and might." Jesus makes a slight amendment by replacing "might" with "mind,"?thus making it even more all-encompassing--particularly for His debate opponent who was employing his "mind" for treacherous purposes. Still, there was little that His opponents could dispute in this: this was the bedrock foundation of the faith!?Loving God is the first thing, the most important thing.?

The next response of Jesus had a bedrock foundation as well, although it was most likely seldom referred to by His opponents in that same context.?Nonetheless it is a necessary corollary: to love God means that you also love God's people. The ancient rabbis put it in similar terms: "What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Law."?

What more can be said after this? Silenced, the Pharisees finally withdraw from the fight. On the next day, they hatch the plan that will remove this trouble-making prophet and permanently silence Him.

The key problem in interpreting this double commandment for our time is another translation problem: we have only one word--"love"--that covers a great variety of nuances that were originally defined with much more precision in Scripture. The language of the Gospels was Greek which had at least eight terms for what we would simply refer to as 'love"--you might wish to refer to them here: https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/02/14/the-8-ancient-greek-words-for-love/:??

Unfortunately our culture has come to equate love with intense emotion--the very definition that Greeks (and many other cultures) viewed with alarm, as giving in to it could override all other?considerations: logic, morality, or just about anything else. Modern societies have gotten themselves into deep trouble by defining 'love" only or even primarily in this way since this emotion is fleeting and is bound to cool over time. When that happens, couples may think of themselves as having fallen "out of love" and hence prone to chase these feelings through physical involvement with others who give them that feeling of 'excitement' again--at least until that too cools and the process repeats itself.?

Today's worldly society promotes rampant promiscuity in all phases of popular culture--even implying that experimenting with multiple partners harms no one and is a "learning" experience that will lead to greater long term satisfaction. That promise is empty. The more "partners" one becomes involved with, the less one is capable of forming a true and lasting bond with anyone--or to put it in a more positive frame of reference, the fewer partners one has had the greater the capacity for bonding in a deep, true and lasting relationship with one's partner,?based on a much more abiding love than what would primarily have been based on "eros".? This is the basis for Christian love and marriage--not "prudishness" or a "killjoy" attitude.? ?

It is not my intent to equate all instances of broken marriages or single parenthood being the result of such--far from it. Many are widows/widowers--many generously adopt children even if single--many are brave enough to bear a child even if threatened for doing so--and there are many instances where putting God first can result in breakups. But at the same time broken families and single parenthood have become the norm in current Western societies far beyond extenuating circumstances--and, sadly, many are in those circumstances because of the dynamic referred to above. Sadly also, this would include a great many of those who identify as Christians.?

But to get back to the love that Jesus speaks of in the commandment to love God and one's neighbor as oneself, what is being referred to is "agape" love--defined in that link as? "Selfless universal love, such as the love for strangers, nature, or God. This love is unconditional, bigger than ourselves, a boundless compassion and an infinite empathy that you extended to everyone, whether they are family members or distant strangers."

Biblical love is not passive and it is not necessarily based on?"feelings." It is the active response of the faithful person to the love of God.?

God's love is also active. God chooses (elects) to love Israel above all nations and to bring His love through this chosen people. To love God with all one's heart, and soul, and mind, is to choose to respond to God even as God chooses to love us. Feelings and emotions are not necessarily the basis here--in fact we may be called upon to act in charity even where and when our?feelings make us reluctant to do so.

Agape in the gospels has some connection to emotion, where God cares for God's creatures and creation. But, chiefly, it refers to what can be called loving-kindness. It is not passive emotion, but active mercy. It is marked by patience and generosity, again, both acts generated by the one who loves. ?In short, loving in a biblical sense is a choice, not just an emotion.

To love God with all our heart, mind, and soul seems nearly impossible when we think of love as just an emotion. How does one conjure up feelings for something as remote, mysterious, and disembodied as the concept of God? We cannot look into God's eyes, wrap our arms around the Spirit, or even see the face of Jesus.

If we could, that might evoke in us a profound feeling of love. We might fall in love with Jesus's beauty and grace if we could know Him as Mary and Martha did. But, we are expected to love an intangible God: a God partially revealed in Scripture to?be sure,?although a God to whom we do not expect to be face?to?face with in?this lifetime. It is likely that many of us could admit failure in feeling a deep, abiding affection for a God who may often seem distant and unknown. Nonetheless, to agape-love God is what we are called to do if we would follow Him.

Likewise, loving our neighbor is difficult. If love is merely our passive response to the person next to us, we are likely to be more often repulsed than moved to love. How can one legitimately look into the face of an enemy and feel unqualified love? It is nearly impossible.

But, biblical love is not passive. It is not something that occurs to us without our control or will. Biblical love is something we do. It is loving-kindness, merciful action that is both generous and continuous. Herein is the good news for Christian people. To love neighbor as oneself is to act toward the other as one would act toward those close to you. We treat the stranger as well as we treat those that we love emotionally.

When the action to each is equal, the love to each is equal. This is counter to what we expect, but it is in keeping with what the commandment requires. This means that, to those with whom we are intimate, to those we do not know, to those who may be dirty or repugnant, and even to those who harm or would harm us, we can act according to the law of love. We can be merciful and gracious. To love the neighbor as ourselves is to make a conscious choice and act upon it.

And what about love of God? Again, as God chose Israel and elected to forgive her offenses, so we can choose God and serve Him in every way. We can love with our heart: through generosity to God's people. We can love with our soul: by worshiping God and praying for our neighbors and ourselves. And we can love with our minds: studying God's Word and letting it correct us, enlighten us, and send us out in loving action to the world.

See how these commandments are connected, "the greatest commandment" and the "second, which is like it"? When we love God's people, we are always, and at the same time loving God.

They are inseparable. Surprisingly, sometimes our emotions follow suit and we actually feel a love of other, or a love of God. But the emotion is not commanded. Only the action of love is commanded. In Christ, this we can do, even when we don't feel like it.

But don't get me wrong. Although I have tried to go to great lengths in defining God-love as active goodwill, transcending our visceral emotional reactions, that is not the end of the story. Jesus seeks to elicit in us a visceral response to loving and serving others through His example, His parables, and His teachings--all of which were based on acting in the spirit of the Law,?in the hope that we will be inspired to respond with emotional?love and compassion towards all on?a visceral level as well..

Recall also God's promises that when we put Him first, He is generous in serving our needs--and far beyond that! When the apostles mentioned that they had given up everything to follow Him, Jesus said that they would receive a hundred times more than they had given up, and eternal life besides! Jesus is the Good Shepherd--He has laid his life down for His sheep--and has come that we may have life and have it abundantly!?

It IS in loving and serving others in Jesus's Name--and that means active ministry in God's word as well, giving Him the credit He is due--that we love and serve God Himself. It is in this generous service that we are generously rewarded, far beyond anything that we might do--in fact, there is nothing we can do to earn it since all that we are and have and are capable of doing is a gift from God in the first place. God is extremely generous--extravagantly generous beyond all measure--to those who faithfully agape-love and serve Him and others in His name, in accordance with His word and in the guidance of His most Holy Spirit. And that is absolutely wonderful news in?an overwhelmingly?emotional?sense as well--for all the right reasons!

Thanks be to God for that indeed!

AMEN!!.?

?

Re: Gas station clerk saves a kidnapped woman

#82

Awesome

Mary

Live long and prosper

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: lacatman7 via groups.io <lacatman7@...>
To: lacatman7@...
Sent: Sun, Oct 25, 2020 2:08 am
Subject: [FunnyPicsClub] Gas station clerk saves a kidnapped woman

https://www.godupdates.com/gas-station-clerk-trusts-his-gut-saves-a-kidnapping-victim/

Re: Teacher intervenes, saves student's grandmother's life

#81

Awesome

Mary

Live long and prosper

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: lacatman7 via groups.io <lacatman7@...>
To: lacatman7@...
Sent: Sun, Oct 25, 2020 1:56 am
Subject: [FunnyPicsClub] Teacher intervenes, saves student's grandmother's life

https://www.faithpot.com/teacher-saves-students-grandma-during-online-class/

Gas station clerk saves a kidnapped woman

#80

https://www.godupdates.com/gas-station-clerk-trusts-his-gut-saves-a-kidnapping-victim/

Teacher intervenes, saves student's grandmother's life

#79

https://www.faithpot.com/teacher-saves-students-grandma-during-online-class/

Re: Mean Birds

#78

Mary

Live long and prosper

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: lacatman7 via groups.io <lacatman7@...>
To: lacatman7@...
Sent: Sat, Oct 24, 2020 4:25 pm
Subject: [FunnyPicsClub] Mean Birds

For entertainment only--no product or service endorsement implied or intended--enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN93gt3-dhg&t=77s

Mean Birds

#77

For entertainment only--no product or service endorsement implied or intended--enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN93gt3-dhg&t=77s

Re: Home, school, office, out and about

#76

Mary

Live long and prosper

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: lacatman7 via groups.io <lacatman7@...>
To: lacatman7@...
Sent: Sat, Oct 24, 2020 4:07 pm
Subject: [FunnyPicsClub] Home, school, office, out and about

my boss turned herself into a potato on our Microsoft teams meeting and can’t figure out how to turn the setting off, so she was just stuck like this the entire meeting

funny, wtf, wtf meme, america, wtf picture, funny animal, stupid photos, stupid jokes, stupid people, stupid memes, hilarious, funny meme, funny pictures

Home, school, office, out and about

#75

my boss turned herself into a potato on our Microsoft teams meeting and can’t figure out how to turn the setting off, so she was just stuck like this the entire meeting

Re: Halloween Safety Tips (During A Pandemic)

#74

Very helpful, thank you.

Mary

Live long and prosper

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: lacatman7 via groups.io <lacatman7@...>
To: lacatman7@...
Sent: Sat, Oct 24, 2020 12:07 am
Subject: [FunnyPicsClub] Halloween Safety Tips (During A Pandemic)

For those who observe the day, good to prepare in advance--stay safe all!

Free Halloween Costumes Clipart, Download Free Clip Art, Free Clip ...

https://www.safesmartliving.com/personal-safety/halloween/

Re: Biz/office toons

#73

Mary

Live long and prosper

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: lacatman7 via groups.io <lacatman7@...>
To: lacatman7@...
Sent: Fri, Oct 23, 2020 11:53 pm
Subject: [FunnyPicsClub] Biz/office toons

Moderately Confused Comic Strip, November 12, 2015 on GoComics.com

20 Relatable Memes That Capture Your Ikea Love Hate Relationship - QuotesHumor.com

Dilbert Classics Comic Strip for November 07, 2018

Halloween Safety Tips (During A Pandemic)

#72

For those who observe the day, good to prepare in advance--stay safe all!

https://www.safesmartliving.com/personal-safety/halloween/

Biz/office toons

#71

Daily FunTrivia for Oct 23 20:

#70

Daily Email Trivia

Play each day & forward to your friends!

Sports: Wide World of Sport: Wide World of Sport : One And Only

1	And now on the 18th tee at Augusta driving off in the lead on the first day of the The Masters, all the way from Australia, the One And Only...The Great White Shark. Which golfer was given this rather aggressive nickname?

Simon Hobday

Greg Norman

Oliver Bekker

Trevor Immelman

Music: Clothing in Songs: Clothing in Songs: My Wardrobe Is Alive With The Sound Of Music

2	I have to be careful when I go out wearing these once fashionable suede shoes. I wouldn't want anyone to step on them. Do you know what colour they are?

Red

Brown

Blue

Green

Sci / Tech: Mixed Human Body Trivia: Mixed Human Body Trivia: I've Got You Under My Skin

3	Now let's take a trip below the diaphragm and into the abdomen. In many people there is a substantial fat layer between the skin and muscle tissue. The removal of some of this layer using a cannula and aspirator is called what?

liposuction

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4	What is the name of a major female character in the 1964 James Bond movie "Goldfinger" that would fit into this Category?

Patty Puss

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Humanities: Synonyms and Antonyms: Synonyms and Antonyms: I Lurk Therefore I am

5	The Plymouth Prowler was one mean-looking sports car and it brings us to our next synonym for lurk - prowl. Prowl denotes searching for something of value, food for example. Of the four choices below, which one is NOT a synonym for prowl?

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Zsa Zsa Gabor

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Greta Garbo

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alcoholism

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The Ice Maiden

The Princess and the Pea

The Little Mermaid

The Loveliest Rose in the World

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9	On which city was the first atomic bomb used?

Nagasaki

Osaka

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10	What is the aardvark's favorite food?

lizards

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mice

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*** Submit your answers now & compare scores:

?

Mary

Live long and prosper

Re: Chalkboard signs

#69

Mary

Live long and prosper

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: lacatman7 via groups.io <lacatman7@...>
To: lacatman7@...
Sent: Fri, Oct 23, 2020 1:42 am
Subject: [FunnyPicsClub] Chalkboard signs

butterflies have no idea what they are doing

Re: Things Southerners Say at the Grocery Store

#68

Mary

Live long and prosper

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: lacatman7 via groups.io <lacatman7@...>
To: lacatman7@...
Sent: Fri, Oct 23, 2020 1:12 am
Subject: [FunnyPicsClub] Things Southerners Say at the Grocery Store

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq_w0NNWNHg

Chalkboard signs

#67

Things Southerners Say at the Grocery Store

#66

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq_w0NNWNHg

Re: Awesome Pool Trick Shots

#65

Beautiful

Mary

Live long and prosper

Show quoted text

-----Original Message-----
From: lacatman7 via groups.io <lacatman7@...>
To: lacatman7@...
Sent: Thu, Oct 22, 2020 2:16 pm
Subject: [FunnyPicsClub] Awesome Pool Trick Shots

Tip of the day: don't play against these guys! Enjoy!

https://biggeekdad.com/2020/10/awesome-pool-trick-shots/

Awesome Pool Trick Shots

#64

Tip of the day: don't play against these guys! Enjoy!

https://biggeekdad.com/2020/10/awesome-pool-trick-shots/

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