The Ability to Love is in Everyone

Feb 12, 2017 filed under Love.

Heart on fire with bold love

St. Basil the Great (330-379) wrote guidance to his monks on “fanning into flame the spark of divine love that is hidden within you.” His inspiration applies just as much to us, more than 1600 years later!

“Love of God is not something that can be taught. We did not learn from someone else how to rejoice in light or want to live, or to love our parents or guardians. It is the same – perhaps even more so – with our love for God: it does not come by another’s teaching. As soon as the living creature (that is, man) comes to be, a power of reason is implanted in us like a seed, containing within it the ability and the need to love.

“First, let me say that we have already received from God the ability to fulfil all his commands. We have then no reason to resent them, as if something beyond our capacity were being asked of us. We have no reason either to be angry, as if we had to pay back more than we had received. When we use this ability in a right and fitting way, we lead a life of virtue and holiness. But if we misuse it, we fall into sin.

“This is the definition of sin: the misuse of powers given us by God for doing good, a use contrary to God’s commands. On the other hand, the virtue that God asks of us is the use of the same powers based on a good conscience in accordance with God’s command.

“Since this is so, we can say the same about love. Since we received a command to love God, we possess from the first moment of our existence an innate power and ability to love. The proof of this is not to be sought outside ourselves, but each one can learn this from himself and in himself.

“What, I ask, is more wonderful than the beauty of God? What thought is more pleasing and wonderful than God’s majesty? What desire is as urgent and overpowering as the desire implanted by God in a soul that is completely purified of sin and cries out in its love: I am wounded by love? The radiance of divine beauty is altogether beyond the power of words to describe.”

Love always,
Rose Folsom

8 Responses to “The Ability to Love is in Everyone”

  1. Marla Hurtado

    THANK YOU, ROSE, for all that you are doing herein.
    Blessings, Marla

  2. Tom Carter

    Very nice, Rose. Thank you. I think the obstacle to loving, and especially in loving God,
    is the disbelief that one is so overwhelmingly loved by God, and this creates a chasm
    that is impossible for many to bridge.

    • Rose Folsom

      Wise words, Tom. We all know we’re unworthy of unconditional love, so the question is: what do we do with that? We can either run the other way in shame or drink deeply of the unquenchable fountain of mercy, which is always there for the asking.
      Rose

  3. Vanessa Parks

    Rose,

    Another beautiful spiritual seed planted by Our Almighty Father… Just love your God given gift of feeding our souls. Remember God loves you and so do we!

    God Bless