54. The Soul
This week we explore the biblical origins of the term ‘agape’, which is far richer than our contemporary grasp and commentary around the term ‘love’. As we journey towards R U OK Day let us reflect on how we can reach out to others and communicate that they are valued, cared for and deserving of love.
Jesus’ Golden Rule was to love God and love your neighbour as yourself. The word for love in Aramaic, Jesus’ language, was ‘agape’, which was translated to Greek and then to English in our bibles. The problem is that the word ‘agape’ is diluted in English and is used flippantly; You can love your Dad and love chocolate or footy. We can’t look ‘agape’ up in a dictionary to understand it. Rather, we need to look to the teachings of Jesus.
Love God and love your neighbour as yourself. These are two sides of the same coin, they are inseparable. Your love for God is expressed in your love for people. Agape love is not a feeling you have for someone else or something that happens to you, “I fell in love.” As Fr Rob Galea points out, “Feelings come and feelings go, but agape love is from God and is infinite; it stays forever and is infinitely more precious than feelings.”
Love is action. It is a choice to seek the wellbeing of people other than yourself. St Thomas Aquinas said, “To love is to will the good of the other.” Jesus was constantly helping and serving people around him in tangible and consistent ways. Serving others without expecting anything in return reflects the heart of God. Authentic love includes how well you treat your enemies.
Jesus died for his enemies, despite their selfishness and corruption, because he loved them.
It was the power of God’s love for His people that was made manifest in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
Receive the love of Jesus and give it back out in other-focussed, self-giving love. There you will find agape.
Adapted from The Bible Project.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Although many of us can’t receive Jesus sacramentally at this time, we can still make an act of spiritual communion every day. Saints often did this when they couldn’t receive the Eucharist at Mass, and doing so was an essential part of drawing closer to God. The ultimate goal of our lives should always be communion with God, no matter what the circumstances look like.
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 8:27-35
Wildfire invites you to their Virtual Release Party this Friday at 7:00 pm across their social media platforms. Join the party and chat with them live, by simply following their Instagram or Facebook.
Check out this interview with Liam Desić and Dom Dougherty (from Emmanuel Worship) in anticipation of the release of the new single Into Your Arms this Friday on Spotify and Apple Music.
- Do For Love (Danny Gokey) - There is nothing God’s love won’t do for us.
- To Have and to Hold (Pat Barrett) - A beautiful look at the agape love found in the Holy Sacrament of Marriage.
- Peter’s Lake Meditation (Andrew Chinn) - It was by the Sea of Galilee when Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. Both men used Greek forms of the word love; Jesus asked ‘Do you Agape me? (a divine, self-sacrificing love) yet Peter responded with ‘Yes Jesus, you know I Phileo You’ (I love you like a brother). As you engage in this meditation, consider being in Peter’s position. How would you respond if Jesus asked: ‘Do you Agape me?’
Our health and well-being remain an important priority as we progress through the stages of the pandemic and its consequences. We can be a vessel of life-giving water to others only if we remain full. Here are some strategies to help us stay healthy.
- RUOK? DAY - September 9
- Year 11 student, Amelie Ogg from MSPC Murwillumbah, was featured in the Australian Catholic Magazine this month with her piece on Achieving Calm - Enjoy this collection of activities and reflections designed to calm the mind and help rediscover your hope in the future.
-
This week’s episode from CSO Injury Management Coordinator, Anthony Thompson, is on resilience.
This session will include:
-
- Navigating the working from home resources on the Intranet
- Understanding resilience and how to incorporate it into your life during this pandemic
- Strategies for managing ongoing stress during the pandemic
More great Facebook pages from our schools….
- OLHC - Students from OLHC have been spreading the love and joy of Jesus by doing “Rock Drops” around Lismore to bring smiles to their neighbours in this difficult time.
- St Brigid’s Kyogle - We celebrated Book Week virtually last week.
Early Stage 1 & 2 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Secondary | Whole School
The Student Station produced resources for teachers during blended learning in 2020. The resources shared each week in The Soul, are a sample of the resources available on the Home Learning Site.
- RU OK? Day - Tim Hart and the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) have produced this clip to help younger students understand R U OK Day. This resource is an ‘all in one’ 17 minute lesson that explores the steps for checking in with each other and checking that our environment is OK. It also includes a fun dance to learn for R U OK Day.
Feel free to record yourselves dancing along and share it with the team at The Soul.
-
Here are some suggestions for engaging children staying at home using different ways of praying.
- In this special liturgical Season of Creation, create a Rainbow Puppet with Jane from Butterfly House.
- Sensational Saints - This week we look at St Peter Claver and St Ambrose (the Patron Saint of Beekeepers) to welcome in Spring.
-
Heart Space September 9: A Prayer for RUOK Day - A prayer by Julie Cotter, the Religious Education Leader at Sacred Heart Primary School in Corryong, Victoria, in the Diocese of Sandhurst.
- The Spiritual Rosary Pilgrimage - is a Biblical Journey through the Life of Christ with his Mother. It starts on September 8 and continues for 4 weeks with over 20 speakers and keynotes.
- Four Types of Love - C.S Lewis, renowned author of the Chronicles of Narnia, challenges and shapes our understanding of love as he explores the four types of love found in the Bible.
- What is love? - Fr Rob Galea describes Love as being the greatest love that anyone could receive and the benefits of being loved. He focuses on ‘Agape’ love, the love of God for people.
- What is Love? Catholic Central - Ah, love. The most highly-addictive, many-splendored battlefield there is. But what does it mean? Kai and Libby explain the different kinds of love and how we can all keep ourselves from being selfish.
- Love is an ability - In this video, Father Mike Schmitz makes a good case for why love is not a feeling but an ability. Just like any other skill, we need to learn how to do it.
- What is agape love? Jon and Tim from the Bible Project explain the meaning of ‘agape’.
All staff in Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Lismore receive The Soul by email. The link in these emails can be forwarded and shared with family and friends. Alternatively, use this form to subscribe as an additional reader to The Soul mailing list.