Would You Prefer the Purity of Piety or the Debasement of Love?

The concept of unconditional love is a non-transaction that nonetheless transfers what is valueless, or perhaps, invaluable to the Other without any countable worth, and without any guarantees or rewards. Unmerited grace has been a stumbling block not only for Catholics, but also for the Protestants who claim it as the cornerstone of their faith. Unmerited grace is defiled by the economics of "works righteousness" but also by the economy of belief. Whatever is traded for salvation, whether it be outer works or inner faith, vitiates the pure gratuity of what is supposed to be given without conditions. The purity of one's faith cannot purify one's love. Whatever is done in love, is done without expectations, except that love be made immanent, or incarnate, through the "Kenonsis" of self-emptying. The Dark Night of "subjective destitution" is characterized by one's loving willingness to empty oneself of all previous comforts, especially familiar concepts of self, of the world, and of religious piety. And sometimes the Dark Night not only requires this intentional world but also our very lives as well. To enter into the service of the Other is to enter into the Dark Night of the mystic where nothing is pure, except for whatever love brought us there. Piety doesn't purify our love, only self-sacrifice does.

Baddass vibes mixed by James Reeves of Midnight Radio: jamesreeves.co