Christology Intro ENCOUNTERING THE OTHER: DEEPER INSIGHTS INTO AGAPIC LOVE

HIMES ON SPEAKING OF GOD  HIMES SUGGESTS THAT PERHAPS THE LEAST INADEQUATE/INCORRECT THING WE CAN SAY REGARDING GOD IS: GOD IS PURE SELF-GIFT SELF-GIFT REFERRING OF COURSE TO GOD AS PUREST EXPRESSION OF AGAPIC LOVE

ENCOUNTERING THE OTHER HIMES SUGGESTS THAT WE CAN MOST CLEARLY EXPERIENCE THIS AGAPIC (SELFLESS) LOVE OF GOD IN THE CONTEXT OF: HUMAN RELATIONSHIP THE SELFLESS (AGAPIC) LOVE WE EXPERIENCE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

DEPTHS OF AGAPE HIMES SUGGESTS, “… I SHOULD TRY TO EXPLAIN FURTHER WHAT AGAPIC LOVE MEANS.” IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND AGAPIC LOVE MORE DEEPLY HIMES TURNS TO ST. THOMAS AQUINAS: AQUINAS TRANSLATES AGAPE IN THE LATIN: CARITAS WHICH HE SAYS IS: “THE EFFECTIVE WILLING OF THE GOOD OF THE OTHER”

DEPTHS OF AGAPE AQUINAS’ DEFINITION OF AGAPE AS THE “EFFECTIVE WILLING OF THE GOOD OF THE OTHER” DOES NOT MAKE ANY MENTION OF EMOTION, PASSIONS, FEELINGS ETC… EMOTIONS COME AND GO BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT LOVE DISSIPATES!

DEPTHS OF AGAPE AQUINAS’ DEFINITION DESCRIBES LOVE AS AN ACT OF THE WILL, A CHOICE WE MAKE. WE OFTEN SPEAK OF LOVE AS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO US, AN EXPERIENCE IN WHICH WE ARE ESSENTIALLY PASSIVE. AQUINAS’ DEFINTION SUGGESTS THE OPPOSITE, LOVE IS “AN ACTIVITY INTO WHICH ONE ENTERS WILLINGLY.”

DEPTHS OF AGAPE LOVE IN THIS SENSE IS: “TO WILL THE GOOD OF ANOTHER IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU EFFECT (MAKE REAL OR ACTIVE), THE GOOD FOR THE OTHER.” THIS CHALLENGES US TO REMEMBER THAT AFFECTIONATE EMOTIONS COME AND GO, BUT LOVE CAN AND SHOULD REMAIN!

DEPTHS OF AGAPE CHRISTOLOGICAL REFLECTION: THIS SENSE OF AGAPE, SELFLESS WILLING OF THE GOOD OF THE OTHER HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND HOW ONE MAY COME TO UNDERSTAND AND LIVE CHRIST’S CALL TO LOVE ONES ENEMY: LOVE OF ENEMY OR THE UNJUST AMONG US DOES NOT CALL US TO AFFECTIONATE EMOTION, BUT RATHER CALLS US TO INTENTIONALLY DECIDE TO “WILL THE GOOD FOR THEM.”

DEPTHS OF AGAPE AQUINAS’ DEFINITION OF LOVE AS AN ACT OF OUR WILL IN CHOOSING TO EFFECT THE GOOD REQUIRES TWO QUALITIES: 1)WISDOM: YOU CAN NEVER KNOW WITH CERTITUDE WHAT THE TRUEST GOOD IS FOR THE OTHER BUT WE MUST, IN WISDOM, TRY TO CONTEMPLATE WHAT THE GOOD MAY BE AND RECOGNIZE AND ADJUST WHEN WE MAY BE WRONG. 2)COURAGE: COURAGE IS NECESSARY B/C WHEN YOU WISELY CONTEMPLATE WHAT YOU BELIEVE TO BE THE OTHER’S GOOD, IT MAY NOT BE WHAT THE OTHER WANTS AT THAT MOMENT.

DEPTHS OF AGAPE HIMES REMINDS US, “LOVING AGAPICALLY IS VERY DIFFICULT, IT REQUIRES US TO DO WHAT I THINK YOU TRULY NEED DONE AND TELL YOU WHAT I THINK IS THE TRUTH AND IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I AM WILLING TO LET YOU BE FURIOUS WITH ME.”

CHRISTOLOGY CHRISTOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF THE TEACHING AND MEANING OF JESUS THE CHRIST’S LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION.  HIGH CHRISTOLOGY (CHRISTOLOGY FROM ABOVE): FOCUSING ON THE DIVINE NATURE OF CHRIST.  LOW CHRISTOLOGY (CHRISTOLOGY FROM BELOW): FOCUSING ON THE HUMAN NATURE OF CHRIST.