CLING TO GOD ALONE

He who loves God prefers the knowledge of God above all other profane knowledge or even knowledge of things created by Him. If all that exists exists by God, then they are inferior to God; he who loves these lower things prefers that which is inferior.

He who loves God holds nothing valuable except the knowledge of God; and he considers as nought all visible things, even his own body.

If the soul is better than the body, and if God is better than His creation, then a man who prefers his body over his soul will surely prefer creation to the Creator. This makes him no different from those who worship idols.

He who ceases to live in the presence of God will surely detach himself from the Creator and be attached to sensory things and prefer his body over his soul. 

St. Maximus the Confessor

(06-27-02)