It is one of the paradoxes of the spiritual life that as we grow closer to God we seem to know less about him. In the obscurity of faith that accompanies this deepening union we gradually shift from thinking of God as someone “out there” as an object to look at, and learn that he dwells within us and that we dwell within him. And yet this obscurity of faith is not completely opaque such that we have no knowledge of God. Saint Augustine in commenting on today’s first reading advises that since God is Love, (and bearing in mind that we can only truly love others with God’s love), then when we love others and observe ourselves carrying out loving deeds we are given (as it were) a glimpse of the God who dwells within us. For as Saint John affirms, God is love and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. And so it is love that becomes a way both of experiencing and knowing God and when perfected it is love that expels all fear and brings final peace to our troubled hearts.