I think you remember, at least some of you, how much I like Psalm 22 and 102. In the Psalm 102 it is said: ‘For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.’

When you think this way, when you become one with this idea, it is impossible for you not to love God and not to be happy to abide the commandments, as you can. The same is with the love of your neighbour. When you love you are happy, it brings you joy because true love is also true happiness.

(Translated from Arhimandrit Teofil Părăian, Iubirea de aproapele – ajutor pentru bucuria vieții, Editura Doxologia, Iași, 2014, pp. 30-31)