First Presbyterian Church August 10, 2008

Watertown, New York Rev. Dr. Jerry Benjamin

Matthew 5-7 selections

JESUS VALUES: LOVE

We can begin with the marvelous Christian writer from years ago, C. S. Lewis, who told us about the three loves. Lewis used Greek words and his definitions of them to explain about love.

There is Eros, which is the love between a man and woman, and which is both sexual and spiritual, and which has been romanticized and trivialized for commercial and entertainment purposes, to the point where we think of it as something not much beyond a warm handshake or a giggly flight of self-delusion. But erotic love is not trivial. It’s a gift from God and its important.

Then there is Philos, which Lewis called brotherly love, but which might better be called the love of friends, since gender does not enter into it. Perhaps since Lewis taught at a school famous for homosexual relationships, that is easily misunderstood. The love we have for friends is physical, rather than erotic, in the sense that we work and do things together and we care for each other in the real world. This love of friends is also a gift from God.

Finally there is Agape, the love of God for humankind, a love that we can pass on to each other, in the church and in the other loving relationships of our lives. Since all love is a gift from God, all our relationships can express God’s gifts to another.

An important thing to remember is that each of these loves requires action in the real world. Love isn’t just a feeling or a preference, as in ‘I just LOVE your shoes’ or ‘I love those cute little children in Africa.’ No, love is action in the real world.

Jesus often speaks metaphorically, but his stories and teachings are grounded in reality, in the normal daily life of regular people; fishermen, farmers, servants, masters; in kitchens and on highways. Jesus is trying to help us live our lives, not just to get into heaven after death. There is more to life than just trying to get something good for ourselves in the future. There is love, given away in a most unthrifty manner. There is love wasted on the unworthy. There is love in action, time given, touch and healing given, stuff given, trust given.

Jesus talked about us being blessed when we do certain things: see ourselves with humility, know the pain of loss, act with meekness, hunger and thirst for a taste of the righteous one –the mighty God, give mercy, seek purity, make peace. All these are acts of love, not mere feelings.

Now I don’t mean to say that feelings and emotions are not real. We all struggle with, as well as enjoy, our feelings. But it took me a long time to realize that I didn’t have to feel a certain way in certain circumstances. “Look how you made me feel,” is not a law and you don’t have to feel the way someone makes you. Your feelings are yours and the actions that arise from your feeling are yours, too.

The feeling of gratitude may lead to gracious actions.

The feeling of joy may lead to frolicking.

The feeling of anger may lead to patience, even

understanding.

The feeling of comfort may lead to hope.

While we cannot always control our emotions, we can control our actions. Let love be your guide. If you have been given life and a secure future in Jesus, act grateful, act secure, and act generously. It is not easy to forgive a sinner, but, as they say, ‘it takes one to know one.’ We’re all in the same boat on that one.

These acts of love are proclamations of faith more powerful than any words.

Jesus most startling riff on the love theme is “Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of God in Heaven.” Imagine the power of love in that: that you love your enemy, and that you pray, not for your life, but for the one who might take your life. Imagine the power of love in the world when we are not afraid of death or isolation or hardship. Imagine.

Sounds impractical? Well, yes. Though Jesus’ teaching is earthy and real, it won’t lead to assured prosperity or political power. It leads to sacrifice, to the grave and to eternity. Think of that generosity, that love that gives away life itself for us. The final Jesus value is love. You have gotten it, and you share it, and give it. You can bring God’s own love into the world. You can. And that is the Good News for today. Amen.