“Human beings have accumulated in their coffers gold and silver, clothes more sumptuous than useful, diamonds and other objects that are evidence of war and tyranny; then a foolish arrogance hardens their hearts; for their brothers in distress, no pity. What utter blindness! …Attend not to the law of the strong but to the law of the Creator. Help nature to the best of your ability, honor the freedom of creation, protect your species from dishonor, come to its aids in sickness, rescue it from poverty…Seek to distinguish yourself from others only in your generosity. Be like gods to the poor, imitating God’s mercy. Humanity has nothing so much in common with God as the ability to do good.”
Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 325-389), one of the four doctors of the Eastern Church in his treatise, On Love of Poor.
What a punchline! “Humanity has nothing so much in common with God as the ability to do good.” The question for each of us is this: Will we?
Will we imitate God’s mercy (that means, not give people what they deserve), and instead, distinguish ourselves from others in our generosity (that means, give them grace and favor they don’t deserve)?
As I explore generous love in the church fathers, it seems they rightly equate it with God and His posture toward us. Again, will we imitate Him and have this posture toward others?