The Sermon given by the Revd Paul Ginever on 9th May, 2004.

 "God’s Love in Creation"

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13 vs 34)

Here is a word used on every conceivable occasion and for every conceivable purpose. It fills the pages of our newspapers; it’s the world’s best publicity agent for every conceivable product and for most of the books that the majority of people read. It dominates our television screens; it creeps into every conceivable conversation. It is a great box office draw for our theatres and cinemas. It is perhaps the most used and abused word; part of everyday vocabulary the world over. ‘Love, love, love, all you need is Love’. Remember the Beatles’ song. It is a vital part of communication, but what do we mean by love?

Do we mean physical love or sex as it is more often referred to? The kind of love that describes that intimate coming together, the physical union between two people. In our modern world this is generally the meaning we give to the word love.

Or do we mean friendship or companionship? The kind of love whereby a parent loves a child or a friend loves another friend? In this respect our English language is impoverished. It uses so many words that can have such a variety of meanings. The old classical languages didn’t make this mistake. When the Greeks, for example, wanted to talk about physical love – sex – they had their word for it, ‘eros’, where we get our word erotic love. Isn’t every Londoner familiar with the famous statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus? When the Greeks wanted to talk about companionship or friendship then they would use yet another word ‘philia’.

To which of these two meanings was John referring in his Gospel (good news)? Well, strangely John, although he writes in Greek neither uses the word ´eros' nor ‘philia’ – but uses another Greek word for love - ‘agape´’. Agape´ love is unique to Christians and was always used by the first Christians when the love of God was referred to. Agape´ love fills the pages of the Christian writers in the New Testament. Does this mean that there is no connection between God’s love (agape´) and human love (eros and philia)? This is no doubt the general assumption of the world around. Eros and religion don’t mix anymore than does religion and friendship. It has to be admitted that there have been far too many exhibitions of bad Christianity providing very good reasons for the world believing this. But how can this be true? When God created human kind he also created the capacity for physical love (eros). There is no fundamental dichotomy between religion and the right use of physical love. This is clearly stated, for example, in the marriage service. Similarly God created us to be social beings. This is what it means to be made in the image of God; capable of relating to God, who is love, and each other We are not meant to be isolated entities but to live a life of mutual dependence, based on friendship (‘philia love’).

Where then is the meeting point between God’s love and human love? Why did the early Christians choose to use the word agape´ to describe God’s love? Perhaps this is a difference of quality and motivation. It is a difference of how we love and why we love.

One theologian made the point plainly:

Careful consideration of our human nature can quickly lead us to realise how true that is. Our God then is a generous God. He loves the whole world – “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3 vs 16). He loves the whole of creation – including men and women of different creeds, colour and culture. He sends His Son to give us a richer picture of how generously He loves us. When feeding the five thousand Jesus provides more than enough – twelve baskets of left overs are collected. The miraculous catch of fish (after the disciple’s fruitless night of toil) emphasises His desire to provide for all the people of the world. The provision of the finest wine at the marriage feast in Cana expresses His desire to enrich all our lives with His presence. To the thief on the cross, who only asked to be remembered, He gave the promise of paradise. Our God gives more than we can either desire or expect – this is indeed gospel (good news).

We are called to love in the same way. Not to keep or snatch the good news for ourselves for our benefit and enrichment – but rather we are called to share this gospel of love in the same generous way that God shares His love with us. Paul in his second letter to the Church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 5 vs 19) asserts that God was ‘in Christ’ – reconciling the world to Himself. How can we best express the love of God in our lives?

We love because He loved us first. We are to express that love in service to others, especially to those in need. As members of the church, the community of faith we are, in the Spirit of God’s love the one gathering of people who exist for the sake of those outside.

God’s truth, God’s love cannot be limited to the Church as we know it, nor to any religion, God is far bigger than this. He is alive and well in the world. The anonymous Christ lives on in many different and unusual situations. Our task is to go out into the world to try and recognise when and where God’s love is at work and build bridges (reconcile) with that activity. We are also to call people to the still centre, the listening centre, at the heart of God’s love. Indeed, the first duty of love is to listen – we need to listen carefully to God; to each other and to those outside if we are to discover life in all its abundance.

We must take this opportunity to reconsider these things - what does it mean where we are?

NOW in this place, at this time.

This is KAIROS.

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