Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit.
John 20:24
Dear members and friends,
Though the concept of agape originates in Greek culture, it is well-known as the highest form of love because of Jesus. In his teachings regarding love, Jesus intentionally used the word agape, while the disciples often used philia, at least as it is written in the Gospels. The word “love” may have been used by humans since the very beginning of existence to describe a certain kind of tender emotion. However, what each person or culture means by love has never been exactly the same. A deep question we still ask ourselves today is, “What do I mean by love?”
Jesus elevates the concept of love, emphasizing it with the Greek word agape, which means selfless, universal, and altruistic love. The selfless and altruistic nature of agape hints that the love Jesus taught includes self-sacrifice for the well-being of others. Giving up something of ours for the sake of others is the essence of Jesus’ teaching about love. The spiritual truth is that when we give something up for the sake of others, the fulfillment we feel does not come from what others return to us, but from the love of the Creator that flows into our hearts as a result of the inner space we create. Just like a grain of wheat must die in order to give birth to a stalk of wheat, our ego must accept its death in order to give birth to our spiritual self, which will live for eternity.
My brothers and sisters in God, let us take a moment of time this week and enter into a deep prayer. Let us lift our hearts before God and ask for help in creating space within our hearts by giving some of it to others.
Blessings,
Rev. Junchol Lee