I think I referenced Augustine of Hippo‘s famous quote “Love and do what you will” during our small group Tuesday night (BTW if you are not in a small group of people who are trying to do faith together, 1) I think you should be, and 2) you are more than welcome to join us – we meet on Tuesday nights at the Terrell abode and we bring things to share a common meal as we read and talk about faith), but if it wasn’t there then I referenced it in another conversation recently. Therefore, I thought I would post the context from which it comes. Here’s its context:
What I have said so far applies to actions that are similar. When they are different, we find people made fierce by love; and by wickedness made seductively gentle. A father beats a boy, while a kidnapper caresses him. Offered a choice between blows and caresses, who would not choose the caresses and avoid the blows? But when you consider the people who give them you realize that it is love that beats, wickedness that caresses. This is what I insist upon: human actions can only be understood by their root in love. All kinds of actions might appear good without proceeding from the root of love. Remember, thorns also have flowers: some actions seem truly savage, but are done for the sake of discipline motivated by love. Once and for all, I give you this one short command: love, and do what you will. If you hold your peace, hold your peace out of love. If you cry out, cry out in love. If you correct someone, correct them out of love. If you spare them, spare them out of love. Let the root of love be in you: nothing can spring from it but good.
You can find the entire sermon here. I’ve got nothing to add to that. Love and do what you will.