Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard Sunday, July 8th Love Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard Sunday, July 8th

2 Peter 1: 5-7 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 

4 Words for Love in Ancient Greek Eros (sexual love) Storge (family affection) Philia (brotherly kindness) Agape (the kind of Love demonstrated by God toward everyone—not as much about feeling as an unswerving commitment to do the best thing possible for the other)

The Great Passage—John 21 1 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

John 21 15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 

John 21 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

The trick . . . Time 1 and 2, Jesus asks if Peter has agape for Him Both times Peter refuses to answer that he has agape but instead says that he has philia Time 3 is the most interesting: Jesus asks Peter if he has philia for Him; this breaks Peter’s heart and he insists that he does have philia

What it means . . . Jesus provides a model for all time of what true religion and true brotherly kindness ought to be—He reaches to where Peter actually lives and embraces him there He does not insist that Peter change, grow, or be converted to something, before showering him with affection and affirmation

What it also means . . . Love desires the best for the other It is not content to see someone failing to do or be their best or for the truth not to be spoken However, it does not foist, manipulate, or control It meets need head-on with affirmation and acceptance, and provides space for the other to see truth, to feel loved, to become more aware, to grow

Love is Powerful and Joy-Filled Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could. Barbara de Angelis

Love and Joy Spur Each Other On Love flies, runs, and leaps for joy; it is free and unrestrained . . . gives all for all . . . knows no limits but ardently transcends all bounds . . . does great things (while he who lacks love faints and fails). Thomas à Kempis (15th c.)

Love is Social love looks like in public.” Cornell West “Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” Cornell West

Love is Private

Love gets hurt . . .

Love is Fully Awake

Martin Buber, I and Thou The attitude of man is twofold in accordance with the two basic words he can speak. The basic words are not single words but word pairs, I-You and I-It. Thus the I of man is also twofold. For the I of the basic word I-You is different from that in the basic word I-It. When one says You, the I of the word pair I-You is said, too. When one says It, the I of the word pair I-It is said, too. The basic word I-You can only be spoken with one’s whole being. The basic word I-It can never be spoken with one’s whole being.

Love is for enemies . . . Maturity has to do with an ever-widening appreciation and commitment to the ultimate concerns of others James Fowler, Stages of Faith

Love is real . . . A brother asked a certain old man, saying, “There be two brothers, and one of them is quiet in his cell, and prolongs his fast for six days, and lays much travail on himself: but the other tends the sick. Whose work is the more acceptable to God?” And the old man answered, “If that brother who carries his fast for six days were to hang himself up by the nostrils, he could not equal the other, who does service to the sick (Book 17, Article 18).” Helen Waddell, The Desert Fathers

Love makes others real Reading from Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit