Saint Ephraim the Syrian

Blessed is the man who has the love of God, for in him God dwells; for God is love, and with everyone who has the love of God, God abides always. And he with whom God is can overcome every enemy. He in whom there is perfect love dishonours no one — neither small nor great, neither rich nor poor — but counts himself worse than all, less than all and more unworthy than all; he will bear everything, he will endure everything. He who has love does not exalt himself over his neighbour, does not lord it over him and judges no one; and if another judges his neighbour, he will not become his partner, but will reprove him and turn him back.

He who has love will not make friends with the crafty nor with the proud; he who has love does not envy the riches of sinners, but cares for them, teaches them gently and comforts them. When he finds his neighbour in need and in trial, he grieves over him and aches for him and with all his strength helps him unto death.

He who has love does not despise a stranger, but receives him with love and gives him rest at once. He who has love fulfils the will of God and is a true disciple of Christ, for our Saviour said thus to the blessed apostles: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

He who has love counts nothing as his own, but all that he has he desires to give to another. He who has love counts no one a stranger, but sees all as his friends, and never grows indignant nor rejoices at his brother's evil, and does not slander him, and bears enmity in his heart against no one save the devil, but bears all things with long-suffering.

Blessed is the man who has gained love and so has stood before God, the Creator of all, Who knows those sealed with His seal and will receive them into His Kingdom with His angels, and they shall dwell with Christ. For the Son of God came into this world for love's sake and by love opened paradise to us; for love's sake He showed us the way that leads up to heaven; for we were apostates and enemies of God, and by love He reconciled us with the Father. Therefore it befits us to say that God is love, and whoever shall live in love shall be with God for ever.