Come my dove ...

'Come by yourself, my dove, in the shelter of the rock, near the wall' (2:14).

What is the ascent to perfection which these words indicate? No longer must we look to things that attract and excite us. We must take as our guide our own longing for what is better. He says, 'Come by yourself' -- not out of sadness or necessity, but by yourself, confirming your desire for the good by your own reason and not led by necessity. Virtue must be uncoerced, voluntary and free of all necessity. This was the case with David who realized that of all his deeds only what he did freely was pleasing to God, and he promised to offer sacrifice voluntarily. So it is with all the saints who offer themselves freely to God and who are not led by necessity." ~ St. Gregory of Nyssa