July 24

First Wednesday after Trinity

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. 1 S. John 4:18.

It is fear indeed which urges to repentance, and repentance kindles love; but such partakes of servile bondage rather than the filial spirit of adoption; it is as the scourge, or remedy, or the pruning-knife, which becomes less and less needed as love is perfected. Fear is the forecasting of evil; but he whose heart is by love established feareth no evil, for God is with him. It hath no fear except the godly, loving fear of displeasing Him, which fear hath in it nothing of torment, but ever grows with growing love. Ask not how the love of God is taught. It is neither the fruit nor the effects of reasoning, it is in the heart and not in the mind that grace lights up this sacred fire. Love is the only feeling which makes our Lord's yoke easy to us, and His burden light. Fear causes us to feel the whole weight of the law: hope lightens it but in part; love alone bids it disappear. "Who loves, labours not," says S. Augustine. This love is purer in proportion as the heart becomes more detached from its own interests, and tends towards the object it loves, without looking back on itself. This purity of love is the point to which God continually strives to raise the soul that has given itself to Him; favours and trials and sacrifices all combine to purify its love and cleanse it from all alloy.

Until Thy presence for our shame A sheltering robe shall prove, And Thy redeemed released from blame Shall mirror all Thy love.