July 25

First Thursday after Trinity

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God Whom he hath not seen? 1 S. John 4:20.

THE Christian law is a law of love; it is all comprised in the love of God. We are bound to love Him for Himself, and to love ourselves in Him, and our neighbour for Him. God is the one principle, and aim, and end of all; and love, says S. Augustine, is the only worship He exacts and accepts. Faith alone does not honour Him; the devils believe and tremble. Hope without love is insufficient, because it pauses at God's promises without advancing to Himself. Charity (love) only reaches Him, is united to Him, and rests in Him as in supreme Good. What avails the practice of exterior works, if not animated and quickened by the heart? Men pay attention to demonstrations and judge of the heart by them, because they cannot look deeper. But God looks upon the heart, and according to the state of the heart He values all things else. He sees all things; not only actions, but most secret thoughts. He sees good, approves and rewards it; He sees evil, condemns and punishes it; rules all according to His eternal designs.

O Thou Who keep'st the key of Love,

Open Thy fount, eternal Dove,

And overflow this heart of mine,

Enlarging as it fills with Thee,

Till in one blaze of charity

Care and remorse are lost, like motes in light Divine.

Till, as each moment wafts us higher,

By every gush of pure desire,

And high-breathed hope of joys above,

By every secret sigh we heave,

Whole years of folly we outlive,

For His unerring sight, Who measures Life by Love.