If that is so, then in order for man to be in union with God it is necessary
by His grace to attain that perfect simplicity of goodness or holiness of love.
And one "should believe simply, saying to oneself. I believe all this
which is asked in simplicity of heart, and I ask all simply." "Love
without reasoning: love is simple. Likewise believe and hope without reasoning.
For faith and hope are also simple." "Truth is simple."
Consequently from the thought about God there proceeds a general commandment of
life, which is to be simple in everything and in particular in relation to
people. "May simplicity go before you everywhere; especially be simple in
your faith, hope, and love, for God is the essence of simplicity, a Unity that
is worshipped everlastingly, and so, too, is our soul simple. The simplicity of
our soul is hindered by our flesh, when we please it." "Endeavor to
attain the simplicity of a child in your relation to people and in prayer to
God. Simplicity is the greatest good and dignity of a person. God is
completely simple, because He is perfectly spiritual and completely good. And
let not your soul be divided into good and evil."
God is a Trinity in Unity. "God the Father is life, God the Son is
life, and God the Holy Spirit is life: the Holy Trinity is life."
"What a fullness of infinite life!" exclaims Father John, when
speaking about the relationship of the three Persons in God, and then again in
the same notes he repeats: "What a fullness of life," and about their
unity, for the third time: "What a fullness of life!"
The fullness of divine life is reflected in the richness, the variety of
life and of the created world, in the kindness of God, spread throughout the
whole world. The world as the product of a live, wise God is full of life:
everywhere and in all there is life: as in the whole, so in all parts. This is
a real book from which one can study God, although not as clearly as from
revelation. Before the world was created, only the infinite God of Life
existed; when the world was created out of nothing, God, of course, did not
become limited; this complete fullness of life, and His infinity remained with
Him. The fullness of life and infinity were expressed in creatures that are
alive, limited, and possess life, of which there are innumerably many.
However, the world is limited, and in its limitation serves as a support for
living creatures that they may not disappear into limitless space.
"Just as the soul supports the body, so does God uphold the whole
universe, all the worlds, and yet is not bound by them; the soul is in all the
body, and the Spirit of God is transcendent and fills all nature; only the soul
is limited by the body, although not completely, because it is able to be
everywhere; likewise the Spirit of God is not limited by the world, and is not
contained by the world, as in a body."
In observing the world we are astounded by how generously, how bountifully
the Creator has endowed His creations with capabilities, with art, delicate and
beautiful forms, and gave them creative capacity. "Wondrous are Thy works,
O Lord! At every step, at every moment in life." "You become
involuntarily aroused to praise God when you see the infinite variety of
everything created on earth in the animal kingdom, and in the plant and
inorganic kingdoms. How wise is the arrangement in that which is great and
small. You are stirred to praise God involuntarily and say: Wondrous are Thy
works O Lord; in wisdom hast Thou made them all; glory to Thee, O Lord, Who
hast made them all."
"Who is it that forms the flowers so wisely, so delicately, arranges so
splendidly, and gives form to the disordered, i.e., the shapeless, formless
substances of the earth? Who gives it such wonderful form? O Creator, grant us
the opportunity through flowers to embrace Thy wisdom, Thy benevolence, and
Thine almighty power."
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