All Love is not Equal

 

Luke 13:10-17   Pentecost XI

 Jesus was in a synagogue, teaching on the sabbath. He dropped what He was doing to proclaim her free from her ailment.  Kind words.  No one objected to His kind words.

Then He acted, laying hands on her, and healed her.  Committed action. Some opposed His committed action on behalf of a vulnerable, disenfranchised woman.  The leader of the synagogue was not amused and rebuked Him for breaking sabbath law.

Jesus pointed out that when it served them, they also worked on the sabbath, but they lacked compassion for another child of Abraham.  He put His opponents in their place on her behalf, and on behalf of everyone else who might ever be in the same plight.

The crowd rejoiced in Jesus’ WONDERFUL ACTION in love.

 The compassion of Jesus in speaking to a woman and taking time for her on the Sabbath was Phileos.

The committed action on her behalf was Agape.

The rebuke of His opponents was also Agape, advocating on behalf of others who had been victimized by those who would apply the Law for others differently than they would for themselves.

 Phileos is wonderful.  It is full of feelings that make us feel warm and fuzzy, that we belong and are loved.  Phileos is kind words, compassion and empathy with others.  Phileos is making others feel good about their encounter with us, and about themselves.  Phileos is a great love.

 Agape is more difficult, for it is not about feelings but ACTION – committed action on behalf of the other.  Agape is harder because it is not about feeling good, but rather about DOING GOOD.  Agape is about advocacy on behalf of the other, even stranger, enemy and especially the most vulnerable among us.  It does not necessarily mean that the one actively committing feels good – that is not even a consideration.  It is ALL about the recipient needing and the faithful one acting to restore them to completeness, wholeness and well-being (Shalom) in their lives, even when it means sacrifice for the one acting, when there is a consequence to the action.

Phileos is a great love.  It has its place.

Agape is the PERFECT LOVE of which Jesus spoke (Matthew 5:43-48 and 19:21) and John wrote (I John 4:18).  It is the sacrifice of ourselves for the sake of the other about which Paul wrote (Romans 12:2).

 Eros is our favorite – romantic love is wonderful love and full of feelings.  It is used 0 times in the NT.

Philanthropia is amazing love – generous, magnanimous love for humanity leads to charity, and it appears 6 times in the NT.

Phileos is a wonderful feeling, kinship, belonging, comradery kind of love

Agape is the perfect love commanded and taught by Jesus, modeled by Him in how to live with one another.  It appears 115 times in the NT.

 Agape is the Love at the center of the Good News of Jesus.  It is at the center of what it means to follow Jesus.  Jesus said that if we are His disciples, we will be known by our living of this (John 13:31-35).  It is this Love that transforms the world, because it is unconditional.  It is meant for EVERYONE to receive, so that none go without what they need!  It is meant for us to LIVE in the world around us.

 Thoughts and prayers are wonderful, they make us feel great, both as prayers and objects of others’ prayers.  Kind words can make us all feel wonderful inside.

Agape Love changes the world because it is active commitment/committed action, not based on feelings at all, but rather on NEED – the need of the recipient of our action on their behalf and the need of us to live it with others around us as followers of Jesus.  THIS is the love commanded by Jesus – it is harder to live, but it is what will change the world.  This is the love that will most be opposed by people of the world… because it is not about a payback – there is no quid pro quo.  And because it means a change in how we see others – especially strangers and enemies and the Most vulnerable.  It takes a commitment to God and Neighbor to live Agape Love.  It may mean consequences and almost always means sacrifice on their behalf.  It means advocacy on behalf of others in the world – Standing up to those who would hold them down, back or out – those who would exploit, or ignore, marginalize, disenfranchise those in need.  That is a very unpopular notion.  But the outcome is SHALOM for ALL PEOPLE.

Jesus offered Phileos in receiving the woman and sharing kind words.

Jesus changed her whole life through His example of AGAPE LOVE on her behalf, AND in standing up to those who would oppose her empowerment to well-being.

We can and should offer thoughts and prayers, kindness and a warm reception of others. Phileos is good.  It may make someone’s day, give them a warm feeling and even make their life better for a time.

We MUST live the Agape Love that Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, if we are to follow Jesus.  For THAT will change the world, and THAT is the mission of all who follow Jesus.