Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta gospel. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta gospel. Mostrar todas las entradas

lunes, 20 de noviembre de 2017

There is no fear in love

John is the disciple most beloved by Jesus. He is the author of the Gospel of John and the letter 1 John. In his texts speaks frecuently about the nature of love. For this author to know God is "love". He expresses: "Whoever does not love does not know god, because God is charity" 1 John 4:8; and, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear", 1 John 4:18.
We can extend the text in another way; we cannot attribute imperfections to God. God is the origine of the perfections that we see in the universe, explains Thomas Aquinas. Then he adds: "God is love wihout passions". The fear is an imperfection of the soul. The love as spiritual gift of God (Charity), is the love free from fear, free from the sin and the punishment. Remember the difference between passions and attachments. The hope and the joy are moviments of the spirit and guide men towards the good; instead the fear and the shame (passions) for example, are movement of the soul and guide men to evil. A practical case of Charity, is the parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32.

Take hold of the eternal life

The Apostle Paul of Tarsus wrote two letters to his disciple Timothy. In his first letter exhorts us to seek eternal life and no the opinated goods. But what is eternal life? Eternal life could be understand as a fruit of the spirit. A final result of the righteous life, of which the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) is an example. Aristotle tells us that the end of man is happiness, but Christ in the Gospel of Luke 6: 24-26 explains that happiness is an apparent good, happiness appears to us as a good, the 4 curses are an example. Christ in the sermon of the mountain teaches us not to follow the false goods (this is related with the concept of heresy), not to live according to the flesh. The true good of man is eternal life. Eternal life is contemplative activity explains Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica), remeber the text in the bible: "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God", John 17,3. This knowledge of God is more than contemplation is happines of the heart (the gift of happiness), is longevity (meditation is related with the long life), is security in God. In resume the eternal life is a "set of blessing", that describes the life in glory.