Who is able to express divine love?

When St. John Saba was asked why he did not write about the hidden mysteries, he replied that he is like a young child whose father has filled his house with many precious things. But when he goes out to the children who are his friends, he can only share with them a few small things, lest he lose his treasure.³⁵⁶

I dared to speak of “ divine love ”; and so I spoke of “God,” for “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Moreso, I found myself daring to write about matters that my weakness cannot utter, nor can any tongue of human or even of angel express, for “no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:1–11).

The apostle Paul says, “that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:17–19).

St. John Chrysostom says, “What shall I do?! I am human and I speak with human language. My tongue is of this world, so I seek pardon from my Lord. I do not use these expressions of the spirit out of disrespect, but because of the poverty of my abilities, which is due to my weakness and the nature of my human tongue. Have compassion upon me O

354 St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 6.7 (NPNF II/7:35) amended.

355 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament , Volume I, trans. R. G. Macmullen (Oxford University Press, 1844) 3.7: p. 52, amended.

356 See St. John of Dalyatha, The Letters of John of Dalyatha , trans., Mary T. Hansbury (Gorgias Press, 2006) Letter 41: p. 188.

Lord, for I do not utter these words out of impertinence, but because I can do no other. And yet, I am certainly not content with the meaning of my words, though I soar upon the wings of my understanding.”

The spiritual elder (St. John Saba) says, “Whoever seeks to speak of the love of God proclaims his ignorance because he has not perceived that it is utterly impossible to do so”³⁵⁷ … “This love is wonderful! It is the language of the angels, difficult to pronounce or to translate. Love is the name of the noble God. Who is able to scrutinize it or to know its boundaries?” … “There is no one who is capable of speaking about Your love as it truly is, O our Good Father. Those in whom You shine do not know!” …

“It is not for us, O my Lord, to speak out of what is ours about what is Yours, but You speak in us about Yourself and about all that is Yours, as seems good to You. O Lord, shine the light of Your knowledge in them that those who are in Your bosom may see and know that they are protected.” … “Reveal to me (my God) the land of Your love that I may speak of it as far as my weakness allows. Pour out in me, O Lord, Your grace and mercy that I may speak of it. Set the hearts of those who love You on fire so that they go forth seeking it.”

St. Augustine says, “My God, where can I find a tongue that is able to express the glory that befits You because of Your free grace? You created me when I was not and made me to exist by Your will. Before I existed, You were glorified as befits Your majesty … You are true glory, so I have no right to call upon Your creation to tell of Your majesty.

“The heart is too small to contain Your majesty; speech is impotent to define it, hearing is incapable of perceiving it … all these shall pass away, but Your majesty remains forever … Thought has a beginning and an end, the voice does not linger and its echoes dissipate; the ear hears it but it does not persist; it comes to an end. But Your majesty remains forever.

“Behold, who can praise and glorify You as befits Your majesty? So, again I conclude that Your glory is everlasting and unchanging. O Everlasting Glory, O God, my God, the fountain of every enduring glory; without You I am incapable of praising You, for any other glory apart from You is vanity. Therefore, I hasten to glorify You! Indeed, who am I to lift up Your name? I am nothing but dust and ashes, a dead dog decaying, a worthless worm, a lifeless corruptible corpse.

“Yea, who am I to glorify You, O exalted Lord, eternal King, God? A wisp of breath from your mouth is a thousand times more precious than all the earthly creation. Does the darkness glorify the light? Does death praise life? … O God, my God, You are glorified for Your power, Your infinite wisdom, and the breadth of Your tenderness.

357 St. John of Dalyatha, The Letters of John of Dalyatha , trans., Mary T. Hansbury (Gorgias Press, 2006) Letter 34: p. 142.

“You are glorified in Your true mercy, Your infinite compassion, Your everlasting perfection, and the majesty of Your divinity. Be glorified in the splendor of Your exalted might and Your benevolent love through which You created us O my God, life of my heart.