Whoever embarks on the topic of love and thinks that they will discuss it satisfactorily and exhaustively is at least naive, since "where there is love, there God is also" (Isaac of Syria, Word A).

According to the Ladder, "he who wants to speak about love attempts to speak about God," since, of course, the infinite God is "love" (1 John 4:8, 16). In human love, no matter how much individuals unite, it is never possible to be uplifted to the inaccessible state of the Holy Trinity.

Nevertheless, Christ in His high priestly prayer asks His Father "that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us" (John 17:20-21). He shows us the unattainable goal, to kindle in us the zeal to strive to approach as closely as possible.

Fearful the word. We are asked for love in its absolute degree. We are children of the one Father, therefore we are equally siblings among ourselves. "One Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all," Paul insists (Eph. 4:4-6).

On the other hand, deep and sincere love constitutes the vertical dimension of brotherhood, somewhat analogous to the vertical relationship of the divine persons. Love in depth, vertically, sacrificial; and in width, towards all, without exclusion. Vertically and horizontally, sacrificial! Cross! Like the Cross of Christ. Or otherwise, love vertical towards the heights, towards God; and horizontally in width, towards humans...