Thoughts On Love by Great Christian Thinkers

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” [John 3:16].

“He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.  The second is like it:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments” [Matthew 22:37-40].

These verses are often cited as central messages of Christianity that express a message of love, sacrifice, and salvation that is foundational to the Christian life.  Thomas Merton, St. Augustine, Bishop Fulton Sheen, and CS Lewis are thinkers who wrote extensively about love.  While their perspectives differ is some ways, there are also some similarities in how they approach the topic.

Similarities

All four writers view love as a selfless and other-oriented force that seeks the good of the other.  They all emphasize the importance of vulnerability and risk in love.

They also suggest that to love deeply is to open oneself to the possibility of heartbreak and pain. Each writer sees love as having a transformative power. Love shapes the individual and each individual’s relationship to the world around them.

Differences

Thomas Merton often wrote about love in the context of contemplative spirituality. He suggests that love involves the surrender of the self to a higher power or reality.

St. Augustine was deeply influenced by his Christian faith and sees love as a manifestation of God’s grace.  Augustine sees love as a means of attaining divine union.

Bishop Fulton Sheen often emphasized the practical implications of love for daily life.  He suggests that it involves a willingness to sacrifice and to seek the good of others.

And finally, CS Lewis was known for his nuanced exploration of different types of love, including romantic love, friendship, and divine love.

Love Seeks the Good of the Other

Love is often understood as a selfless and other-oriented force because it involves a deep concern for the well-being and flourishing of the beloved.  When we love someone or something, we are not motivated by our own desires or needs.  Rather, we are motivated by a desire to promote the good of the other.

The reality of promoting the good of the other, however, can take many forms.  For example, in a romantic relationship, we may prioritize the needs and desires of our partner over our own.  We seek to make them happy even if it means sacrificing our own wants or needs, or even our lives.

In our relationships with family members, love is slightly different.  The sense of obligation and care for their well-being, even when it may not be convenient or easy for us, motivates our actions. But we would still sacrifice our lives for them.

In a friendship, love is different yet again. We may offer support and encouragement to our friend, even if it takes time or energy away from our own interests. We might hesitate, however, to sacrifice our own life for a friend.  Yet this is what Jesus says we are to do (John 15:12-13).

At its core, love is about putting the needs and desires of others before our own.  It is about seeking to promote their flourishing and well-being.  This can involve acts of kindness, sacrifice, and generosity, as well as a willingness to listen, empathize, and understand the perspective of the other.  By prioritizing the needs of others over our own, love can foster deeper connections and a sense of shared purpose and meaning in our relationships.

Loving Someone Deeply

Loving someone deeply can open oneself up the possibility of heartbreak and pain.  This is because love involves a willingness to be vulnerable and to entrust our emotions, hopes, and desires to another person.  When we love someone, we expose ourselves to the risk of rejection, disappointment, and loss.  This is because we have invested a significant part of ourselves in that relationship.

For example, in a romantic relationship, we may open ourselves up to the possibility of rejection. What if our partner does not feel the same way about us or decides to end the relationship?  In a friendship, however, we may experience pain if our friend betrays our trust or grows distant.  And in our relationships with family members, we may experience grief and loss if we lose a loved one or if our relationship becomes strained.

At the same time, the possibility of heartbreak and pain is not a reason to avoid love or to hold back from forming meaningful relationships.  Love is an essential part of what makes us human.  It can bring joy, fulfillment, and meaning to our lives.  But the risk of pain is also real.  But it is outweighed by the potential for deep connection, companionship, and growth that can come from loving and being loved.

Ultimately, to love deeply is to accept the possibility of pain and heartbreak.  But it also embraces the beauty and richness that comes with forming meaningful connections with others and especially with Jesus Christ.

The Transformative Power of Love

The transformative power of love is the capacity of love to bring about positive change and growth in individuals, relationships, and communities.  Put simply, love can transform people in profound ways.  It shapes their identities, beliefs, and values, and inspires them to become the best version of themselves.

One of the ways in which love can be transformative is by promoting personal growth and development.  When we experience love, we may feel more motivated to pursue our goals, take risks, and push ourselves out of our comfort zones.  Love can also challenge us to confront our fears, insecurities, and limitations.  It can even push us to work towards becoming more compassionate, patient, and empathetic individuals.

Love can also transform relationships by fostering deeper connections, trust, and understanding between individuals. When we love someone, we may be more willing to listen to his or her perspective.  We also show compassion for his/her struggles, and work together towards common goals. Love can also help us to appreciate the unique qualities and strengths of our loved ones, and to accept them for who they are.

Finally, love can be transformative on a larger scale by promoting social change and justice. When we love others, we may be more inclined to speak out against injustice.  We may find ourselves advocating for the marginalized, and working towards creating a more just and equitable society.

Love

In short, love can inspire us to build bridges across differences.  It inspires us to show compassion for those who are suffering, and to work towards creating a better world for all.

In all these ways, and more, the transformative power of love can help to bring about positive change and growth in individuals, relationships, and communities. It makes the world a better and more compassionate place.

When Mass is ended the priest often says “Glorify the Lord by your actions.”   Loving one another is high on that actions list.