Love in Action
40. We actively manifest love in forbearance and patience towards our neighbor, in genuinely desiring his good, and in the right use of material things.
St. Maximus the Confessor Four Hundred Centuries on Love: #40
In this sense, the power of a call to the expression of love in deeds is reflected in the rich tapestry of spiritual wisdom of Saying 40 of St. Maximus the Confessor "One Hundred Chapters on Love”. This is sage advice that lights the way toward a deeper, more compassionate engagement with our neighbors and the world.
Imagine love as a vivid flame alight in the depth of you, waiting to light the lives of people around. "Three beautiful faces are calling us to realize this love according to St. Maximus: acceptance, patience, and heartfelt desire of the welfare of our neighbor. Think of these aspects like the tender but strong petals of a flower that open to reveal each of the attributes of love in action.
Forbearance is like a bridge, strong and solid, that links your heart with the hearts of others. It's that ability to endure, to bear the weight of differences and disagreements without breaking apart. It is like the bridge that spans a chasm, which allows us to connect with our neighbors even when the going is tough. Love, the first dimension, could be approached as everything to do with our capacity for experiencing variation within the human experience.
The second element, patience, is that which keeps us in the stream of flowing water down a landscape. It whisks away turbulence of frustration and irritation leaving in its wake the land serene and peaceful. Patience is an art of waiting without worry, giving time as a gift to those we love. This is what love is.
The third aspect, a true intention for the good of our neighbor, can best be symbolized by the open hand of compassion. It is, of course, the earnest desire for them to be happy, successful, and be well. This part of love encourages looking beyond the self to continue acting for the benefit of other people around us.
This saying contains a lot of depth in spiritual lessons. It tells us that love is not passive; it is a force needing action. This becomes an exhortation to us that we would extend our love from mere words into the works of love. Let us have a spirit of tolerating with the patience and genuine desire for good from the other side; we take part in the divine act of love, becoming a vessel that only channels love into this world.
In addition, it refers to the idea that love is something practical, something rooted in the interaction with other people and the way people use material things. Love is not merely a feeling; it is a way of life, a way of being in the world that seeks the highest good for all.
In conclusion, Saying 40 of St. Maximus the Confessor is asking us to take love from passive sentiment and crystallize it into a dynamic force, which affects our relationships and our world. It encourages us to embody forbearance, patience, and a genuine desire for the good of our neighbor. In so doing, we are being invited to make real these facets of love in our lives, and to be living reality, because in so doing, one becomes a conduit whereby divine love can flow in, to nourish our souls and those of others.