Love at the Core

1.      Love is a holy state of the soul, disposing it to value knowledge of God above all created things. We cannot attain lasting possession of such love while we are still attached to anything worldly.

St. Maximus the Confessor Four Hundred Centuries on Love: #1

As we begin our journey through Maximus’ four hundred texts on love I am inviting you into my own personal spirituality and to read, with me, one of my favorite contemplative writers…St. Maximus the Confessor. A couple times a week I will release a reflection on one of the statements that make up the centuries on love. I invite you to read and pray as the church fathers invite us to do with many of their texts.

Maximus the Confessor's observation that "Love is a holy state of the soul, disposing it to value knowledge of God above all created things" is a profound meditation on the intrinsic nature of divine love and its role in our spiritual journey. At the core of this statement lies an understanding of love not merely as an emotion or sentiment but as an orientation and disposition of one’s entire being.

When Maximus asserts that love is a "holy state of the soul," he elevates it from the domain of mere feelings to a profound state of spiritual existence. This love is not ephemeral or transient; it is anchored in the sacred and represents a profound communion with the divine. In Christianity, love (agape) is central to the teachings of Christ, representing selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love.

Further, by stating that love disposes the soul "to value knowledge of God above all created things," Maximus underscores the transformative power of love. In the Christian tradition, knowledge of God isn't just an intellectual exercise. It signifies an intimate, profound, experiential understanding and connection with the Divine. When the soul is filled with such love, its priorities shift. The ephemeral attractions of the world pale in comparison to the luminous allure of divine knowledge.

However, Maximus's final thought serves as a caution and a guide: "We cannot attain lasting possession of such love while we are still attached to anything worldly." Herein lies a central challenge for the spiritual seeker. Worldly attachments can be manifold: material possessions, power, status, or even subtler attachments like ego, pride, and prejudices. These attachments can be impediments, distractions that divert us from the path of divine love. They tether the soul to the temporal, obstructing its ascent to the eternal.

In practical terms, this doesn't necessarily mean a complete renunciation of the world, as in monastic traditions, but rather a shift in perspective, priorities, and attachments. It is a journey from external dependence to internal abundance, where the soul finds its sustenance not in worldly possessions or accolades but in the eternal wellspring of divine love.