(This post was requested by some of the Catholic Teen Life Blog Instagram followers!)
If you read the Bible, the lives of the Saints, any Church documents, or even read any blog posts of mine, you'll know that we are all called to love. Love is the key to sanctity. In order to become Saints, we must love God and others. But there are different types of love! We have a disadvantage in the English language: we only have one word for love. The Greeks had many different words for the different types that apply to the different people in our lives. This post will highlight the four types that are emphasized in the Bible and their role in the life of Christ and in our lives.
Philio-
Philio is the love shared between friends. Jesus showed us the perfect image of this love by the way in which He loved His apostles- His closest friends. Jesus tells us, " My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15: 12,13)
In 1 Thessalonians 5: 11 St. Paul tells us: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up." Friends are there to encourage, support, listen to, and care for one another. They accompany each other on their journies to Heaven.
Ecclesiastes 4: 10 says "If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." Friends help friends get back on the right track when they've fallen down the wrong path. Friends help friends see who they are in God's image. Proverbs 17: 17 says, "A friend loves at all times." A friend, a TRUE friend, will love you at all times, no matter what. They won't be perfect, but they will try. This type of love is so important because it provides us with people who will accompany us on this journey to Heaven, and whom we can accompany.
Storge-
Storge is the kind of love shared between family members. Jesus exhibits this love in His relationship with His Heavenly Father, and also with Mary, Joseph, and John the Baptist (His cousin!). His total obedience and submissiveness to the will of his loving parents show us how we, as children, should treat our parents. (Of course, there are situations in which parents are NOT loving for one reason or another, and in those cases in which obeying them will cause us to sin, we are not obligated to obey them or do what they say.) Mary and Joseph's devotion to Jesus show us how parents are supposed to love- sacrificially and with the utmost care and devotion, walking with them on their journey to Heaven. John the Baptist loved Jesus with both storge and philio love, but their relationship was stronger and more intimate as a result of their familial connection.
Eros-
Eros is the mutual physical attraction and romantic love between a man and a woman brought to fulfillment only in marriage. This sort of love is free, total, fruitful, and faithful. A husband and wife give up their lives for one another, accompany one another, and share each other's works, joys, and sufferings, just as Christ does for His bride, The Church (us!). A good marriage involves putting all types of love into practice. Read more about the Catholic view of marriage here!
Agape-
Agape is the type of love that God has for us. It is the most complete, beautiful, and sacrificial type of love, which we should strive to imitate in all of our relationships. God Himself is Love- Love that gives all it has and expects nothing in return. God loves us in each of the types of love mentioned above, as Friend, Father, and Husband to His Church, but most especially and fully in agape love, in which He gave up everything out of love for us.
Within all the types of love, we must remember that Love is a choice, not a feeling. We won't always feel love for others, but we must make the conscious choice each moment to act out of love. In all things, in all of our relationships, let's remember the words of St. John of the Cross, “In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.”
Lord, you have loved us perfectly and will love us to the end- Thank you! We are truly sorry and ask your forgiveness for all the times we have failed to love. Give us the grace to love You more perfectly, as well as, our friends, family, and eventually, spouses. Thank you, Lord, for your love!
Opmerkingen