C.S. Lewis wrote a famous book titled “The Four Loves” in which he explores the four Greek words for the English word “love”: Philia, Eros, Storge, Agape. Roughly translated these four are, friendship, erotic love, affection, and holy charity. The translators of the Greek New Testament into English had no choice but to include all of these in a single word, “love”.

In the Hebrew language the word for “love” that Isaac spoke to Esau, his son: Prepare the tasty food I love and bring it to me.” (Genesis 27:4) is the same word used by Moses much later: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

I guess that all that this means to me is that from the earliest recorded times human beings have recognized and given a name or names to something that was gratifying, desirable, and sometimes holy and transcendent. When Moses told the Israelites to “Love the Lord your God”, no one wondered what that meant, and when Jesus affirmed it as the greatest commandment, no one asked “What does that mean, and how can we do it?” (Mark 12:30-33) Rather , love for God and neighbor was recognized by a teacher of the law who responded, “Well said, teacher. . . to love God with all your heart, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

When Jesus knew that he would be dying very soon he told the disciples, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s one life for his friends.” (John 15:13) The cross would be love on display, a truth that only very few would recognize at the time and only dimly until after the Resurrection. Then the numbers would grow to reach around the world. The precious words of Jesus to his friends have widened the circle of those who love him.

The apostle Peter wrote, “Though you have not seen him, you love him.” (1Peter 1:3) The love that Moses had mandated has appeared in the spirits of believers who had never seen Jesus in their lives, but knew and loved him as if they had. The transcendent Spirit that is traceable from before Moses is spread through Christ’s death and Resurrection, and we are drawn to love our invisible God.

Advent is a time to trace love’s progress and to bask in the love of God and neighbor, to lift our eyes away from despair and grief, and to renew the bond with the one who came as a new-born, and offers us new birth.

Love in Him,

Prue