Week 12—Sunday 1 John 4:20-21
1 John 4:20-21
“WHAT IS THE NATURE OF LIFE?”
We continue our meditations on love being central in Christianity and central in human nature. In On Being Human Ashley Montagu asks: “What is the nature of life? [The answer] can be expressed in one word, cooperation—the interaction between organisms for mutual support in such a way as to confer survival benefits upon each other. Another word for the same thing . . . is love. Without cooperation, without love, it is not possible to live—at best, it is possible only to exist.” This is interesting and vastly important, for in asking, “What is the nature of life?” he answers, love. But Jesus picked out love as the highest in God and deepest in us, and scientific investigation echoes him and says that the highest thing in life is love—no love, no life. So the word of Revelation and the word of scientific investigation are the same—love. Q.E.D. may be added!
But there is this difference: Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment: love one another; as I have loved you, so you are to love one another” (John 13:34, NEB). The phrase that makes the difference is, “as I have loved you.” This is the Word of love become flesh. It gives a criterion of what love is—it is to love as Christ loved. That puts content into the word love. Science can call it “cooperation” or “mutual support,” but that leaves love thin and undefined. For “cooperation” and “mutual support” may mean cooperation and mutual support in any enterprise supposed to bring benefits upon each other—good, bad, indifferent. But “as I have loved you” gives a standard, sets by example. So no human exhortation to love is sufficient unless it is seen what we mean by love in the Divine Exhibition. The Word made flesh must illuminate the Word become word. Science is earthbound by earth meanings without the Divine Revelation of heavenly meanings.
O Jesus, you have put new meaning into everything earthly by your earthly life. Now we see earth in the light of heaven. And what meanings! In and through you everything is different. And everything is full of hope. We thank you, thank you. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: If the word of love becomes flesh in me today I shall be vital.