To truly love God we must keep His word, that is we must believe what He teaches and commands. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Heb. 11: 6) If without faith it is impossible to please God, it is evident that without faith we cannot love Him. God is pleased only with those who love Him. Christ Himself says: "He that believeth not, shall be condemned." (Mark 16:16) As no one who truly loves God will be condemned, it is evident that where there is no faith there is no love. Faith is the root and beginning of all Christian justice; without faith no one is purified from his sins and sanctified. We therefore in vain seek justice with unbelievers, since without the love of God there is no justice. From this it follows that all those unbelievers and heretics who, through their own fault, have not the Catholic faith, do not and cannot possess the love of God. From this we perceive what we are to think of those who say that "it matters not what a man's faith is; all religions are alike; they are only different roads that lead to the same place; let a man only act rightly, and he can throw all creeds overboard; whether Jew, Pagan, Protestant or Catholic, it makes no difference." Such indifference is in direct opposition to the doctrine of Christ, and leads straight to perdition.
Moreover, we must keep the commandments of God. This is in the nature of love. If we truly love any one, we try to please him and take care not to offend him; we love to do his will; his wishes are to us commands. If, therefore, we have true love of God, we shall always strive to act conformably to His holy will, and conscientiously observe all His commandments. Hence Christ emphatically says: "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me." (John 14:21) And St. John says: "This is the charity of God, that we keep His commandments." (I John 5:3) He therefore who violates a commandment of God in an important matter, or, what amounts to the same thing, commits mortal sin, such as cursing, blasphemy, fornication, adultery, or lives in enmity with his neighbour, tells God a lie whenever he says: "My God, I love thee." And how many are there who tell such a lie every time they make an act of love!
Christ assures us that His Father loves those that love Him, and that He, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, will come to them and make His abode with them. Is there anything more desirable than to be loved by God? What happiness to be able to say: "God loves me!" This love is infinitely more valuable than all the love and friendship of men, for when God loves us He treats us as His children, enriches us with His graces, and makes us heirs of heaven. Even more, if we love God we become His holy temples. The triune God comes to us and makes His permanent abode in our hearts, as the Apostle says; "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (I Cor. 3:16) How honoured would a poor man feel if his king should come and dwell in his hut! What an honour and a grace for us that the triune God comes and dwells in us! And who enlightens, encourages and strengthens us in all good, purifies and sanctifies us more and more, and imparts to us with the greatest liberality all that we need for obtaining life everlasting. Oh, let us always preserve a pure and undefiled heart, that we may never lose the gracious presence of God.
Those who do not keep the word of Christ, that is, who refuse to do what He lays upon them as an obligation, cannot expect that God will love them and take His abode with them. Christ says: "Learn of Me because I am meek and humble of heart." (Matt. 11:29) and how many are there who allow themselves to be governed by anger, pride and ambition! He says: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His justice, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33); and how many are there who care only for worldly things and neglect the service of God and the business of their salvation! He says: "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." (Matt. 16:24); and how many are there who give full scope to their inordinate passions and inclinations and will not hear of mortification, self-denial and the carrying of the cross. He says: "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful" (Luke 6:36); and how many are there who are unmerciful towards the poor and the needy, who even try to take advantage of the necessities of their fellow men! He says: "If you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offenses" (Matt. 6:15); and how many are there who, for months and years, live in enmity with their neighbour and refuse to forgive. He says: "Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing" (Matt. 5:26); and how many are there who sin by theft, cheating, injustice, and who possess the goods of others without making restitution! Let us examine ourselves and see whether we are not of the great number of those who act contrary to the teaching of Christ.