ACC ~ Mark 12 v31b

NOTHING ELSE REQUIRED

CHRYSOSTOM: Christ looks for nothing else from you, in fact, Scripture says, than loving him with all your heart and carrying out his commands. I mean, obviously the person who loves him in the way he ought to love is also ready to carry out his commands. You see, when one is kindly disposed to another, he takes pains to do everything able to attract the loved one to love for him. So, we too, if we sincerely love the Lord, will manage to discharge his commands and do nothing capable of angering our loved one. This is the kingdom of heaven; this, the enjoyment of goods; this, blessings beyond number, being found worthy to love him sincerely and in the manner he deserves. Our love for him will be genuine if we give evidence of great love for our fellow servants as well as for him. [1] HOMILIES ON GENESIS, HOMILY 55.11. [2]

[1] 1 Jn 4:19-21.

[2] TLG 2062.112, 54.482.61-483.14; FC 87:112-13.

LOVING WHAT IS WORTHY OF LOVE

AUGUSTINE: This virtue consists in nothing else but in loving what is worthy of love; it is prudence to choose this, fortitude to be turned from it by no obstacles, temperance to be enticed by no allurements, justice to be diverted by no pride. Why do we choose what we exclusively love, except that we find nothing better? But this is God, and if we prefer or equate any creature with God, we know nothing about loving ourselves. We are made better by approaching closer to him than whom nothing is better. We go to him not by walking, but by loving. We will have him more present to us in proportion as we are able to purify the love by which we draw near to him, for he is not spread through or confined by corporeal space; he is everywhere present and everywhere wholly present, [1] and we go to him not by the motion of our feet but by our conduct. Conduct is not usually discerned by what one knows but by what one loves; good or bad love makes good or bad conduct. LETTER 155, TO MACEDONIUS. [2]

[1] Cf. Ps 139.

[2] Cetedoc 0262, 155.44.4.443.7; FC 20:314-15*.