02.11. Attainment of this perfection of love only at resurrection

11. Attainment of this perfection of love only at resurrection

What of thesoulsalreadyreleasedfrom their bodies? We believe that they are overwhelmed in that vastseaofeternallightand of luminouseternity. But no one denies that they stillhopeand desire to receive their bodies again: whence it is plain that they are not yet whollytransformed, and that something of self remains yet unsurrendered. Not untildeathisswallowedup invictory, and perenniallightoverflows the uttermost bounds ofdarkness, not until celestialgloryclothesour bodies, can oursoulsbe freed entirely from self and give themselves up toGod. For until thensoulsare bound to bodies, if not by a vital connection of sense, still bynaturalaffection; so that without their bodies they cannot attain to theirperfectconsummation, nor would they if they could. And although there is no defect in thesoulitself before therestorationof its body, since it has already attained to the higheststateof which it is by itself capable, yet the spirit would not yearn for reunion with thefleshif without thefleshit could be consummated. And finally, “Right dear in the sight of theLordis thedeathof His saints” (Psalms 116:15). But if theirdeathis precious, what must such alifeas theirs be! No wonder that the body shall seem to addfreshgloryto the spirit; for though it isweakandmortal, it has availed not a little for mutual help. How truly he spake who said, “All thingsworktogether for good to them thatloveGod” (Romans 8:28). The body is a help to thesoulthatlovesGod, even when it isill, even when it is dead, and all the more when it israisedagain from the dead: for illness is an aid to penitence;deathis thegateofrest; and the resurrection will bring consummation. So, rightly, thesoulwould not be perfected without the body, since she recognizes that in every condition it has been needful to her good.

Thefleshthen is a good andfaithfulcomrade for a goodsoul: since even when it is a burden it assists; when the help ceases, the burden ceases too; and when once more the assistance begins, there is no longer a burden. The firststateis toilsome, butfruitful; the second is idle, but not monotonous: the third is glorious. Hear how the Bridegroom in Canticles bids us to this threefold progress: “Eat, Ofriends; drink, yea, drinkabundantly, O beloved” (Son 5:1). He offersfoodto those who arelaboringwith bodily toil; then He calls the restingsoulswhose bodies are laid aside, to drink; and finally He urges those who have resumed their bodies to drinkabundantly. Surely those He styles “beloved” must overflow withcharity; and that is the difference between them and the others, whom He calls not “beloved” but “friends’. Those who yetgroanin the body are dear to Him, according to thelovethat they have; thosereleasedfrom thebondsoffleshare dearer because they have become readier and abler tolovethan hitherto. But beyond either of these classes are those whom He calls “beloved’: for they have received the secondgarment, that is, theirglorifiedbodies, so that now nothing of self remains tohinderor disturb them, and they yield themselves eagerly and entirely tolovingGod. This cannot be so with the others; for the first have the weight of the body to bear, and the second desires the body again with something of selfish expectation. At first then thefaithfulsouleats herbread, but alas! in thesweatof her face. Dwelling in theflesh, shewalksas yet byfaith, which mustworkthroughlove. Asfaithwithout words is dead, soworkitself isfoodfor her; even as ourLordsaith, “Mymeatis to do the will of Him that sent Me” (John 4:34). When thefleshis laid aside, she eats no more thebreadof carefulness, but is allowed to drink deeply of thewineoflove, as if after a repast. But thewineis not yet unmingled; even as the Bridegroom saith in another place, “I have drunk Mywinewith My milk” (Son 5:1). For thesoulmixes with thewineof God’slovethemilkofnaturalaffection, that is, the desire for her body and its glorification. She glows with thewineof holylovewhich she has drunk; but she is not yet all onfire, for she has tempered the potency of thatwinewithmilk. The unmingledwinewould enrapture thesouland make her wholly unconscious of self; but here is no such transport for she is still desirous of her body. When that desire is appeased, when the one lack is supplied, what shouldhinderher then from yielding herself utterly toGod, losing her own likeness and being made like unto Him? At last she attains to that chalice of the heavenlywisdom, of which it is written, “Mycupshall be full.” Now indeed she is refreshed with theabundanceof thehouseofGod, where all selfish, carking care is done away, and where, for eversafe, she drinks the fruit of thevine, new and pure, withChristin theKingdomof HisFather(Matthew 26:29).

It isWisdomwho spreads this threefoldsupperwhere all the repast islove;Wisdomwhofeedsthe toilers, who gives drink to those whorest, whofloodswith rapture those thatreignwithChrist. Even as at an earthly banquetcustomandnatureservemeatfirst and thenwine, so here. Beforedeath, while we are still inmortalflesh, we eat thelaborsof ourhands, weswallowwith an effort thefoodsogained; but afterdeath, we shall begin eagerly to drink in thespirituallifeand finally, reunited to our bodies, and rejoicing in fullness ofdelight, we shall be refreshed with immortality. This is what the Bridegroom means when He saith: “Eat, Ofriends; drink, yea, drinkabundantly, Obeloved.” Eat beforedeath; begin to drink afterdeath; drinkabundantlyafter the resurrection. Rightly are they calledbelovedwho have drunkabundantlyoflove; rightly do they drinkabundantlywho are worthy to be brought to themarriagesupperof theLamb, eating and drinking at Histablein HisKingdom(Revelation 19:9;Luke 22:30). At thatsupper, He shall present to Himself a gloriousChurch, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing (Ephesians 5:27). Then truly shall He refresh Hisbeloved; then He shall give them drink of Hispleasures, as out of theriver(Psalms 36:8). While the Bridegroom clasps theBridein tender, pure embrace, then theriversof thefloodthereof shall makegladthe city ofGod(Psalms 46:4). And this refers to the Son ofGodHimself, who will come forth and serve them, even as He hathpromised; so that in that day therighteousshall begladandrejoicebeforeGod: they shall also be merry andjoyful(Psalms 68:3). Here indeed is appeasement without weariness: here never-quenchedthirstforknowledge, withoutdistress; hereeternaland infinite desire which knows no want; here, finally, is that sober inebriation which comes not from drinking newwinebut from enjoyingGod(Acts 2:13). The fourth degree ofloveis attained for ever when weloveGodonly and supremely, when we do not evenloveourselves except for God’s sake; so that He Himself is therewardof them thatloveHim, theeverlastingrewardof aneverlastinglove.