Agape

II Chronicles 34:29-32
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book. Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

Last month I attended my second CRHP retreat at Holy Infant in September, this time as a member of the Formation Team. As a witness (Spiritual Renewal) and table leader this retreat was even more meaningful and special to me than my first in January 2016 as an attendee. Preparation and brotherhood with the 36 Formation Team and my original CRHP 35 keyed me in to what I should expect at my second CRHP. As a leader this time my experience was much more spiritually enriching and rewarding (apostolic if you will), knowing that the men at my table relied on me. Throughout this weekend of faith renewal there were surprises aplenty, and I can discuss those at another time. For this blog I will discuss the first surprise of the CRHP weekend, our Agape service.

So what is Agape? First of all it is pronounced AhGahPay, translated as "love: the highest form of love, especially brotherly love, charity; the love of God for man and of man for God." The noun form first occurs in the Septuagint, but the verb form goes as far back as Homer, translated literally as affection, as in "greet with affection" and "show affection for the dead." Agape is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, the highest of the four types of love in the Bible. This Greek word and variations of it are found throughout the New Testament. Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will. It is distinguished from the other types of love by its lofty moral nature and strong character.

Outside of the New Testament, the word agape is used in a variety of contexts, but in the New Testament it takes on a distinct meaning. Agape is used to describe the love that is of and from God, whose very nature is love itself: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). God does not merely love; He is love itself. Everything God does flows from His love. Agape is also used to describe our love for God, a servant’s faithful respect to his master, and a man’s attachment to things. God’s agape love is unmerited, gracious, and constantly seeking the benefit of the ones He loves. The Bible says we are the undeserving recipients of His lavish agape love. God’s demonstration of agape love led to the sacrifice of the Son of God for those He loves. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16). Because of God’s love toward us, we are able to love one another. The concept of Agape love has been adopted as the perfect inaugural service commissioning a CRHP retreat.

Agape is the ceremonial “passing of the torch (candle)” from the previous CRHP team to the current. CHRP 35 handed off to CRHP 36 on the Friday night before our start on Saturday. The ceremony was held at church. Lights were dimmed and Formation Team 37 was led in by our Spiritual Director Adam Antor. No clergy is present, only past or current CRHP participants, and any family or friends attending. An entry procession by the new team, welcomes, readings, petitions, and reflections preceded the commissioning of the new team. Team 35 offered best wishes, prayers, and transmission of the Holy Spirit to Team 36. The readings focused on discipleship, brotherhood, and evangelism. Reflections spoke to new and lasting friendships, loving affection as defined by Agape. Candles were lit by 35 and the torch was passed. All our Team 35 brothers in attendance did well, and while I was inspired by the men’s ceremony in September, the ladies CRHP Agape ceremony on October 14th blew me away. Guys, the ladies get it, and we need to step up.

I received an invitation from the Men’s new Team 37 Spiritual Director Bob Bestgen. A number of ladies attended my Agape service, so this certainly was an opportunity to prayerfully reciprocate. The ladies ceremony was much better attended than the men’s, having CRHP representatives from CRHP 1 through the most recent participate in an emotional candle-lighting/torch-passing. Their format was the same as the Men’s. They selected “Renewed by the Light of Jesus” as the retreat theme. The former teams genuinely seemed to be passing on “the love”, our Lord’s and their own, to the next team. The former teams sang a Blessing Song to the new team. The sense of sisterhood was palpable, tearful. Their Agape service, like the men’s, concluded with a Ladies Team 39 procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the weekend chapel, a specially designated room within the school for CRHP services and individual prayer.

In addition to their regular Formation meetings they had a few special events prior to this weekend to galvanize their faith and trust. This was an outpouring of love that touched me deeply. We can, and should, try to emulate these strong Catholic women. We are blessed that they are wives, mothers, sisters, and friends of us all, strengthening our parish and church. I know that the Holy Spirit will bless their weekend.

Men; if you have not attended a CRHP retreat, or haven’t been in a while, this is a call to you to prayerfully consider joining us in March 2017. Men genuinely need other men to share faith experiences. These are relationships which go well beyond how much the Cubs or my golf game sucks, what your financial advisor thinks about the election, or where the fish are biting. We need you, the parish needs you, and God needs you to join your brothers in a special weekend you will never forget.

Ephesians 2:4-10
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.