Agape[1]

- The meaning of the need to prayer always[2]–

23/11/2008

Prologue

 Definition: Agapē (IPA: /ˈægəpiː/^[1]) (Gk. αγάπη [aˈɣa.pi]), is one of several Greek words translated into English as love. The word has been used in different ways by a variety of contemporary and ancient sources, including Biblical authors. Many have thought that this word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love. Greek philosophers at the time of Plato and other ancient authors have used forms of the word to denote love of a spouse or family, or affection for a particular activity, in contrast to philia—an affection that could denote either brotherhood or generally non-sexual affection, and eros, an affection of a sexual nature. The term 'agape' is rarely used in ancient manuscripts, but was used by the early Christians to refer to the self-sacrificing love of God for humanity, which they were committed to reciprocating and practicing towards God and among one another (also see kenosis). 

[...] 

Christian writers have generally described agape, as expounded on by Jesus, as a form of love which is both unconditional and voluntary. Tertullian, in his 2nd century defense of Christians remarks how Christian love attracted pagan notice: "What marks us in the eyes of our enemies is our loving kindness. 'Only look,' they say, 'look how they love one another'" (Apology 39).[3]

********* 

I know a man who, although happily married with five adult children, is brooding about them all the time.  He and his wife live alone, since the children all left home some years ago.  However, he says when he goes to visit them, albeit not very often, he feels like he is a stranger there.   

“The reason is,” he says, “they don’t need me any more.”  As well as that, one of his boys, his first born, went off track.  This son, now 27 years old, has not been in contact with him for about two years.   

This same man said to me: “Do you know, Joe, to become a father is one of great events in one’s life.  But after they have all left home, you start to worry about how they are getting on with life.” 

I am afraid that is true for him and also for many other fathers like him who feel a strong love for their children, even though the offspring don’t need their father, or even to be near their Dad, as when they were children.  That is quite normal, we say.     

The story of this man with a big family made me think: If this is the situation between an earthly father and his children, what more is there between the Heavenly Father and us?  We all are His children and He loves us in a special way.  Yet, how many of us care about Him as much as that man in story does for his children? 

Now this man is worrying about his first boy who is off the track.  He hasn’t seen him for two years now.  How many of us have been [and still are] ‘off the track’ from God who in spite of everything, is always waiting for us to make the first move to go back to Him for His fatherly embrace, as in the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15? 

Thus, thanks to this account, I discovered what real prayer is and the need to pray always.  If an earthly father feels that he is not, as the man put it, ‘needed’ by his children any longer, it is because he feels – rightly or wrongly – that his relationship with his children is not as strong today as it used to be. 

Why?  Yes, why is it that a father should brood about his children, once they leave home?  

To me this man is a paradigm for God the Father of Jesus Christ who said:  

 By the same token, why is it that Jesus asks us to pray always, if not, because of God’s desire - like the father in our story - to “keep in touch” with us, all the time, which is for our benefit alone. 

We read in: 

 When the disciples of Jesus asked Him to teach them to pray, He taught them the Our Father.[4] Jesus did not teach them a list of prayers - as probably a ‘good Jew’ was required to say then - but only that special prayer which is the core of our Christian faith. 

In praying the Our Father we establish a spiritual link with our Heavenly Father: a link, though, that has to be sustained through prayer. It is obvious, then, that we cannot not pray always, if we truly want to maintain our relationship with our Father Who is in Heaven.       

Once we understand this - how important it is to pray God the Father of Jesus Christ constantly, and not to faint - then everything else in our life will been seen under a different light.  In other words, our priorities will be set in the right order, accordingly. 

So I cannot blame that father who is constantly brooding about his children.  Actually, I see in him the mirror of God, the Father of Jesus, who continually supports us with His divine love and calls each of us by our name: “...come to Me all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.”[5]

 God is Agape: the divine love for mankind, the unconditional love of Jesus Christ for mankind, who also said to Philip:  

Maranathà

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~