In Plato's Symposium, the ascent of love of beauty is as follows:
- Loving the beauty of one body
- Loving the beauty of many bodies
- Loving the form (ideal) of beauty found in all bodies.
In my case it is not exemplary of the Republic, where the philosopher is forced to descend to the realm of the images in order to lead others to see the form of the good. I desire to be actively involved in the world of the images, in the world of particulars and the senses: it's what I find most difficult to do well. In fact, I don't think one actually knows the Good if he or she can't express this knowledge in daily life. In our example, one cannot know true love of beauty without being able to demonstrate an imperfect love to an imperfect girl; it is the very existence of shortcomings that make this love so beautiful.
In the same way that I often long for that one girl I can love and be loved by without restraint, I often long for the person of Jesus to be here with me - so that I could love my God in human image, who in turn loves me, a human in God's image. It seems easy to love the Lord my God, the One who shines forth, perfect in beauty, as Asaph describes Him (Ps. 50:2), the completion and example of everything that is good and right in this world; the One who gives being to everything in reality (Acts 17:28). Jesus Christ, while through faith we see Him eternally incarnate in history, is presently sitting at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Heb 1:3). His flesh, except in the precious symbol of communion, is no longer evident in our daily life.
Would I love the incarnate Son? This one who was despised and rejected by men, like one from whom men hide their faces, one whom was despised and whom we did not esteem? If Jesus Christ was here today, would I be offended (skandalizo) by Him (Mt. 26:33)? So often I long for Him to be here to love me, practically and empirically (although even then I would hate to imagine the radical change His love would demand in my life - Mt. 10:37), but if He were here, would I really love Him?
Whereas there really is no univocal substitute love for a wife (although Catholic priests would claim it in the Church, and many Evangelicals would try to substitute Christ), we do find that God has made it possible for us to show our love for Christ on earth. Not only are we commanded to a spiritual adoration of God through prayer, contemplation, and meditation on Scripture (along with quasi-physical representations such as communion and baptism), but we are given ways to physically, empirically demonstrate our love for Christ.
- We are told that the final judgment will be "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Mt 25:40).
- "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" (1 Jn 3:17).
- The second great commandment is to "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mt 22:38).
"Oh God, I don't love you, I don't even want to love you, but I want to want to love you!"
Would I have the strength to offer rides home to my brothers and sisters after a time of fellowship no matter how tired I was or how late it had gotten to be? Do I have the motivation to help the homeless or minister to the elderly? Do I use my money to glorify God rather than to glorify myself?
In light of the evidence, all I can muster is a frail whisper,
"Dear Jesus, I want to want to love you.
Please give me the strength to do so today."
2 comments:
that was an unbelievable post keith. i'm convicted. i do so little to show i love Jesus. i want to want to love him too.
Keep on blogging! I like the way you interweave Scriptural allusions with chugging hondas and famous poets. We all need to keep stretching in our love for the Lord.
Thanks for your encouragement to do just that!
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