i would argue that, to be provocative, Christ did not consider perfection (as in derrida’s “perfect gift”) something to be grasped. but rather chose to present an “imperfect” gift with a particular person giving a particular gift so that particular people can participate in that gift.

but i have just finished reading david mccarthy’s argument for reciprocal love over universal (which he argues is disinterested and unattached) love in his book Sex and Love in the Home. his argument that gifts are meant to form community has been pretty compelling at first glance.

but thanks for generating all this thought with your posts.