Love And Works

Filioli mei, non diligamus verbo, neque lingua, etc  Opere videliet, ut cum frater aut soror nudi sunt, et indigent victu quotidiano, demus eis quae necessaria sunt corpori. Similiter cum spiritualibus donis eos egere conspicimus, praestemus eorum necessitati quae possumus. Veritate autem, ut eadem beneficia eis simplici intentione largiamur, et non propter laudem humanum, non per jactantiam, non in injuriam aliorum qui majoribus praediti substantiis nil tale fecerunt. Quaecunque enim mens hujusmodi nequitiis inficitur, in hac puritas veritatis habitare non valet, etiamsi opus dilectionis proximis impendere videtur. Sanctus Beda, In I Epistolam Sancti Joannis Source: Migne PL 93.103d-104a

My children, let us not love in words, nor with the tongue etc. 1 But certainly with works, that when a brother or sister are naked and they have need in daily distress, let us give to them what is required for their bodily needs. Likewise, when we see that they lack spiritual gifts, let us supply them with what they need, as we are able. But in truth let us give our goods to them, with simple intention, and not on account of human praise, nor for the sake of boasting, nor to the injury of others who endowed with greater wealth have done no such thing. For whenever the mind is afflicted with such evils, it is not able to dwell in the purity of truth, even if it seems that  it exerts itself in some work for the love of one's neighbour. Saint Bede, Commentary On The First Letter of Saint John 1 1 Jn 3.17-18