How can I do that? How can I live agape?
You ask how to live out Agape? Christ Himself gives the answer throughout the Gospels
Two examples are from Mt 25
34Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ 40And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’
41Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ 45Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ 46And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
And another from John
John 13:34 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
In addition to this, St Therese of Lisieux in her “Little way of Love” tells us to “do small things with great love” and in her book “The Story of a Soul” she offers concrete examples such as taking care of an older nun in the convent who was always cranky…but Therese would always smile and simply go about the necessary tasks.
Opportunities for great acts of love are rare, but small acts - for these the opportunities are endless and immediate.
Mother Theresa of Calcutta built an entire mission and religious order and sainthood out of the simple act of caring for one beggar…then another…then another…simple acts done with great love.
Few of us are called to a life like Mother Theresa…but we are all called to a life of love - in small acts.
Hope this helps.
Peace
James
