The Flowing River of Divine Love
23. He who loves God will certainly love his neighbor as well. Such a person cannot hoard money, but distributes it in a way befitting God, being generous to everyone in need.
St. Maximus the Confessor Four Hundred Centuries on Love: #23
Imagine a vast and endless reservoir, filled to the brim with the purest, clearest water. This reservoir, boundless and eternal, symbolizes the love of God, a love that is unchanging, infinite, and available to all. From this reservoir flows a river, its waters moving with purpose, intent on reaching every parched corner of the land. Maximus the Confessor, with his profound spiritual insights, presents us with this declaration: "He who loves God will certainly love his neighbor as well. Such a person cannot hoard money, but distributes it in a way befitting God, being generous to everyone in need."
This river, fed by the reservoir of God's love, flows effortlessly through valleys, forests, and plains. It doesn't discriminate in its path; it seeks to quench the thirst of every being, every creature, every plant. Just as this river's primary purpose is to nourish and sustain, so too is the purpose of one who genuinely loves God. Their love, like the river's waters, flows outward, touching everyone and everything in its path.
In the vast landscape of life, there are pockets – arid terrains and barren patches, symbolic of those in need. For someone imbued with divine love, hoarding wealth is akin to creating a dam, blocking the river's natural flow. This dam represents a self-imposed limitation, a disruption of the love that seeks to flow freely. Money, when hoarded, becomes like a stagnant pool, a mirage in the desert that promises sustenance but delivers none. It's an illusion of security, an ephemeral promise of happiness that often leads to emptiness.
In stark contrast, the person who loves God sees wealth not as a personal treasure to be hoarded but as a tool for divine expression. They understand that true wealth is not in possessing but in giving. Their generosity mirrors the infinite generosity of the Creator, ensuring that the river continues its nourishing journey, reaching every nook, cranny, and crevice.
These individuals, filled with divine love, become the river's channels, guiding its flow, ensuring it reaches the places most in need. They stand as beacons of hope in a sometimes parched world, reminding us of the boundless abundance and provision of the Divine.
Maximus the Confessor's wisdom calls us to self-reflection. Do we hoard, or do we share? Is our love limited, or does it flow freely, mirroring the love of the Divine? As we ponder these questions, let us envision ourselves as part of this grand river of love, deciding whether we want to be stagnant pools or vibrant channels bringing life and sustenance to the world. For in the act of generous giving, we not only quench the thirst of others but also find our reservoir of love ever replenishing, ever full.