…and there is neither blemish nor stain in love, but rather the conscience testifies that the soul has boldness towards God. But when there is no love, the soul has no boldness in prayer, and as one defeated and cowardly, it cannot lift its head because it feels remorse for not having loved as God has loved it; it is a transgressor of the commandment of God.‘If we do not love our brother whom we have seen, how can we love God whom we have not seen?’ (1 John 4:20) He who has true love has God; whoever does not have love does not have God in himself. The Holy Fathers say, ‘If you have seen your brother, you have seen God; your salvation depends on your brother.’
The holy monastic fathers of old walked the path of salvation effortlessly, because they sacrificed everything so that they would not fall away from love. Love was their goal in life. Our path, though, is completely strewn with thorns which sprouted because we lack love. And this is why when we walk, we constantly bleed. The foundations of the house shake when we do not lay the foundation of love well.
Elder Ephraim of the Holy Mountain (Athos)
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