Are there levels of love in how we love others? Is how we love God different than how we should love one another? Are caritas, agape, storge, filial, eros different levels? In this episode, we talk about that, and how love is a many splendored thing – but does it have levels, or people who are subject to or should receive more or less love than others? We discuss how our love reflects upon us and our relationship with God, and reveals how much we actually follow the Greatest Commandment. What level of love do we give Jesus, who is my neighbor, and how do we love our enemies? Big questions, and we give our meager answers…

Spanning the call to perfection from the Sermon on the Mount to the idea that something is unforgivable (or not), reaching to the Letters of John from the depths of Deuteronomy, we cover a wide swath to come to a reasonable conclusion, all started by a simple comment from Kristofer’s Spiritual Director, Father Albert (He is also the Spiritual Director for Holy Owned and Operated!). We go into the wayback machine and quote Bishop Mike from the San Angelo Diocese when he was a priest nearly three decades ago.

Our fallen nature makes love a difficult thing, and we tend to make it more difficulty. Levels of love is one of the ways we do that – saving certain actions for some and denying them for others. Levels of love implies that love is not a verb, which it is. Levels of love implies feelings, which is not the love we are talking about here. Loving someone involves loving God and loving ourselves – and yet none of these are levels of love better or worse than the other. Let us not confuse “types of relationships” and how we approach those relationships with levels of love.

Jesus did not love his Apostles (including Judas!) on different levels, though He related to them according to their personality. None of them were less or more than the other in Jesus’ eyes, or heart.

We are called to look at ourselves the way God looks at us, and look at others the way God looks at them. If we manage that, we become close to God, and we get a sense of how there truly are not any levels of love but more a word cloud of love. It makes sense, if you listen to it!

At Holy Owned and Operated, we cover love a LOT! Here are the 101 (as of this date!) different published items on our site – all free! – in which we discus love and Our Lord’s teaching of it, as well as what you might call “best practices.”

Some items on our site that will help in exploring Levels Of Love, or at least get you started:

Page: What is Pentecost?

Page: Spirit In Life – Exploring the Holy Spirit | A Video Series

Video: Fruits of the Spirit: Love

Article: What is Love?

Article: Love for a Princess

Podcast Episode: Love – Episode 30

Podcast Episode: Lust And Love – Episode 133

Podcast Episode: How Do I Love My Enemies – Episode 137

Podcast Episode:What Is Lent – Episode 81

Remember: Your suggestions, questions, and ideas for topics are what we need to keep providing great episodes. Email us or use the contact page to let us know what you would like us to talk about, or comment below to let us know if we picked a good topic with Levels Of Love.