July 22
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeFirst Monday after Trinity
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. I S. John 4:9.
HERE S. John gives us the living proof and evidence of the love of God in sending "His only begotten Son into the world," that we in His life might have life, that in His love we might have love. This His love was manifested; it was not, like an unseen emotion of the mind, dead and inoperative, but showed itself indeed; nor was it like the mere return of love such as we find among mankind, but it was love in an infinitely higher, truer, better sense—love itself, essential love. Hating sin so much, yet so much did He love the sinner; how much more then will He love us, if sin be away, buried in the grave of Christ, and we are in Christ, the Beloved of the Father!
O love of God, how strong and true! Eternal and yet ever new, Uncomprehended and unbought, Beyond all knowledge and all thought!
O love of God, how deep and great! Far deeper than man's deepest hate; Self-fed, self-kindled like the light, Changeless, eternal, infinite!
We read thee best in Him Who came To bear for us the cross of shame, Sent by the Father from on high, Our life to live, our death to die.
We read Thy power to bless and save, Even in the darkness of the grave; Still more in resurrection light We read the fulness of Thy might.
O love of God, our shield and stay Through all the perils of our way; Eternal love, in thee we rest, For ever safe, for ever blest!