Sunday, December 10, 2006

Advent II

Theme: Love

Hebrew Scripture: Malachi 3.1-4

Gospel: Luke 1.68-79

Psalm: Psalm 136

We defined love, thanks to C.S. Lewis:

1. Storge: an affectionate love as between a grandmother and grandchild
2. Philia: a friendship as between schoolmates
3. Eros: an erotic love as between lovers (try explaining that between a fourteen-year-old and a six-year-old)
4. Agape: a willful love most powerfully expressed when the object is unlovely

We talked about God's love for us in sending Messiah. We redefined Psalm 136's "his steadfast love endures forever" as "his faithful love never quits" just because it was easier for us to grasp. We read the psalm responsively with this substitution. Try it!

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