>>17772455
The love of God arises from the sense of justice, for having received everything from God, man in justice has only to render nothing less than everything to God. "Love of the Supreme Good, which has the right to be preferred to all other good, is the principle of justice. This love of the Supreme Good, which is self-diffusive, is the principle of mercy, a principle higher than justice, since, as radiating goodness, it is the first expression of love."

But what can man repay the infinite? "Whatever love you have for me you owe me, so you love me not gratuitously but out of duty, while I love you not out of duty but gratuitously. So you cannot give me the kind of love I ask of you. This is why I have put you among your neighbors: so that you can do for them what you cannot do for me–that is, love them without any concern for thanks and without looking for any profit for yourself. And whatever you do for them I will consider done for me."

By such an act of love we more resemble God, and thus place the emphasis on its being full. The adoration of the sheep, any cloud of bright witnesses.