granted the appearance that they do. When we freely do something good
as if we were acting on our own, this goodness is attributed to us and is
taken as our response, and this forges the connection.
The situation here is like something active and something passive
and the cooperation of the two that occurs when the passive element
accepts the active one.
The situation is also like the intention present in people’s actions, the
thinking present in their speech, and the soul working from the inside on
both the intention and the thinking. It is like the originating force that is
present in a motion. It is like the prolific power present in the seed of a
tree. That power acts from the inside on the various forms of sap that
develop the tree all the way to the point of bearing fruit. Through the
fruit the tree produces new seeds. It is also like the light in precious
stones that is reflected depending on the textures of the interior. Differ-
ent colors appear as a result, as if they were the stone’s colors, but they are
really the colors of the light.458 These points clarify where the connection between loving God and
loving our neighbor comes from and what it is like: God’s love for people
flows into us; when we receive that love and cooperate with it, it becomes
love for our neighbor.
Briefly put, the connection accords with the following saying of
the Lord’s:
On that day you will recognize that I am in my Father and you are in
me and I am in you. (John 14 : 20 )
And this saying:
The people who love me are those who have my commandments and
do them. I will love these people, manifest myself to them, and make a
home with them. (John 14 : 21 , 22 , 23 )
All the Lord’s commandments relate to loving our neighbor. In sum-
mary form, they involve not doing evil to our neighbors, and instead
doing them good. According to the Lord’s words just quoted, people like
this love God and God loves them.
Because love for God and love for our neighbor are connected in this
way, John says:
Those who keep the commandments of Jesus Christ live in him, and
he lives in them. If any say, “I love God in every way,” but hate their