Love Your Fellow Man – St. Isaac the Syrian

Love Your Fellow Man

Love the poor, that through them you may also find mercy. 

Do not keep company with the disputations, lest you be forced to take leave of your calm. 

Bear the noisome smells of the sick without disgust, and especially of the poor, since you too are wrapped about with a body. 

Do not rebuke those who are afflicted in heart, lest you be scourged with the selfsame rod as theirs: then you will seek consolation and will find none. 

Do not disdain those who are deformed from birth, because all of us will go to the grave equally privileged. 

Love sinners, but hate their works; and do not despise them for their faults, lest you be tempted by the same. 

Remember that you share the earthly nature of Adam and that you are clothed with his infirmity. 

Do not reprove those who are in need of your prayer, and do not withhold tender words of comfort from them, lest they perish and their souls be required of you; but do as the physicians, who cure the diseases which are more feverish with cooling remedies, and the more chilling with their opposites.

When you meet your fellow man, constrain yourself to pay him more honour than is his due. Kiss his hands and feet, often take his hands with deep respect, put them over your eyes, and praise him for what he does not even possess. 

And when he parts from you , say every good thing about him, and whatever it may be that commands respect. 

For by these and similar acts, you draw him to good and make him feel ashamed because of the gracious names by which you have called him, and you sow the seeds of virtue in him. 

From behaviour such as this, to which you accustom yourself, a good pattern is also imprinted in you; and you gain much humility for yourself, and achieve great things without toil. 

And not only this, but if he has any faults or voluntary imperfections, he will readily accept correction from you when he is honoured by you, being ashamed because of the respect which you have shown him and the proof of love he continually sees in you.

Let this always be the aim of your conduct: to be courteous and respectful to all. 

And do not provoke any man or vie jealousy with him, either for the sake of the Faith, or on account of his evil deeds; but watch over yourself not to blame or accuse any man in any matter. 

For we have a Judge in the heavens Who is impartial. 

But if you would have that man return to the truth, be grieved over him and, with tears and love, say a word or two unto him; but do not be inflamed with anger against him, lest he see within you signs of hostility. 

For love does not know how to be angry, or provoked, or passionately to reproach anyone.  

The proof of love and knowledge is profound humility, which is born of a good conscience in Jesus Christ our Lord, to Whom be glory and dominion, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, even unto the ages of ages. Amen.

-St. Isaac the Syrian