The Parish Magazine February 2023

The associate vicar's letter
February is a month when, whether we like it or not, we are faced with
Valentine’s Day. To me, it seems to have become more dramatic and
‘in your face’ over the years and many shops have huge Valentine’s
Day displays, not only card shops but also supermarkets, jewellery
shops, restaurants and many more.
Many years ago, I heard the story of St Valentine which is a fairly
gruesome tale as many Saint’s tales are, and yet he has become the
Patron Saint of love. There are different theories as to how Valentine
became linked to love, but no one knows for certain. What is known
is that he was either a priest or bishop who was martyred in the year
269 and that his body was said to be buried on 14 February. Without
wanting to ruin the romance too much, interestingly St Valentine is
also the Patron Saint of the plague!
DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOVE
The Parish Magazine - February 2023 5
In the Bible the word ‘love’ is mentioned numerous times, but the
original Greek language had many different words for love. So, while
we read the word love and perhaps attach our own interpretation to
what kind of love it is talking about, the Greek offers distinct words
for distinct types of love. In English we may say ‘I love chocolate’, ‘I love my best friend’, ‘I love my spouse’
and ‘I love my child’, and while all may be true, the type of love isn’t the same.
I haven’t got the space in this letter to write about all the types of love, but I want to mention just a
few. Firstly, there is the Greek word 'eros' which refers to romantic love. This is the kind of love we will see
marketed in our supermarkets and card shops as they advertise Valentine’s Day.
Another type of love is 'philia', and this is one many of you will be familiar with, even if you haven’t
heard the name before. This love is the love of friendship. It is a love that is affectionate and the love we
have for our closest friends and family. The term ‘platonic love’ is derived from the Greek philosopher
Plato’s name, who wrote about a strong love that was not about physical attraction (although the actual
word ‘platonic’ was coined many years after Plato had died). There are other Greek words too, each
describing a different type of love.
SERVICE, SACRIFICE AND REACHING OUT
But what of God’s love? The Greek word for this is 'agape'. This is different from romantic love, or the
deep love of friendship, or the love between family members. Agape is often described as the highest
form of love. The love of God for humankind and the love humankind has for God. It is also the love that
Christians are called to show when Jesus said ‘love one another’. This type of love isn’t characterised by
bunches of roses or boxes of chocolates, but is shown through acts of service. It is sacrificial love, one
which reaches out to others, and one not limited to those closest to us. Indeed the Greek 'agape' can also be
translated as ‘charity’ as well as ‘love’.
Service, sacrifice and reaching out are all aspects of love that we see in our communities, both local and
further afield. This type of love brought about hope throughout the course of the pandemic and continues
as we see many people struggling financially or with health issues, whether physical or mental. I am sure
most of us will have both received and shown selfless acts of support and kindness. Love brings hope.
Another important day that falls in February this year is Ash Wednesday which marks the start of Lent.
Lent of course is the season which leads up to the great festival of Easter. There is no greater example of
agape love than that shown by Jesus on the cross and for Christians no greater symbol of hope.
I want to end with a quote from Mechthild of Magdeburg who was a medieval German mystic who
lived in the 13th Century. She wrote 'There is nothing so wise, nor so holy, nor so beautiful, nor so strong, nor so
perfect as love'.
I think it beautifully captures agape and I hope we can also reflect on these words as we think of all the
people we love in our own lives and how we can show love to one another.
With love and prayers
Kate