St. John the Theologian On God's Commandments and Love

God’s commandments ‘are not grievous’ but a light burden. But they are light only where there is love - if love is not present, everything is difficult. Therefore, preserve love, do not lose it, for though it is possible to recover love, this can only be at the cost of much weeping and praying, and without love, life on earth is hard. To continue in malice means death to the soul, from which may the Lord preserve us.