Love One Another

Steve Puluka spuluka at hotmail.com
Wed Sep 22 11:37:25 EDT 1999


>I heard a teaching that said you can love someone but you don't
>have to like them. It seems to me that this flies in the face of
>agape. It seems to me that the lexicons are saying that agape must
>not only decide someone has value, but that decision must affect
>their feelings and actions.
>
>Am I corrrect in your opinion?

I believe you are correct based on all of the scripture passages cited in 
prior messages and their application by early Eastern Church writers.  I can 
understand how some might try to separtate the emotions from the actions 
based on these writings, but that is contrary to the spirit of Eastern 
Monastacism.  In a nutshell these instructions often concentrate the young 
Monks thoughts on:

1)--changing your reactions
2)--then your thoughts about others.
3)--the end goal is to change the Monks feelings from the outset.

But, for the spiritually young we can only begin with the outward action, 
and move on to the inward thoughts.  From these instructions we have not 
reached Love until all three are active in our lives.  And only the young 
Monk will know when this has happened because the outside world can only 
"see" when #1 is accomplished.

     "If you harbor rancor against anybody, pray for them and
     you will prevent the passion from being aroused;  for by
     means of prayer you will separte your resentment from the
     thought of the wrong they have done you.  When you have
     become loving and compassionate towards them, you will wipe
     the passion completely from your soul.  If somebody regards
     you with rancor, be pleasant to them, be humble and agreeable
     in their company, and you will deliver them from their passion."

This is from the collection known as the Philokalia St. Maximos the 
Confessor has a work called the "Four Centuries on Love"(Third Century #90). 
  See also, St.Thaslassios the Libyan "On Love, Self-control, and Life in 
accordance with the Intellect".

I regret that I only have these works in English translation.

Steve Puluka
Adult Education Instructor
Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
(Little Greek)

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com



More information about the B-Greek mailing list