February 18
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeSecond Sunday after Epiphany
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Romans 12:6-9.
THE universal law of charity runs into every department and duty of a Christian's life. Charity will measure our Divine instruction to each according as he is able to receive it, not roughly putting forth one truth only of God, but allowing everything to keep its own place. Let every one in the household of God labour to fulfil that duty and service unto which it has pleased God to place him. It is in this that the sacrifice of himself is to be made in the fear of God and in brotherly love. Love, the mother of all these graces, as S. Chrysostom says, let it be genuine. S. John, the great disciple of Divine love, exhorts, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth."
He liveth long who liveth well! All other life is short and vain; He liveth longest who can tell Of living most for heavenly gain.
Waste not thy being; back to Him, Who freely gave it, freely give, Else is that being but a dream, 'Tis but to be, and not to live.
Be what thou seemest; live thy creed; Hold up to earth the torch divine; Be what thou prayest to be made; Let the great Master's steps be thine.
Sow love, and taste its fruitage pure; Sow peace, and reap its harvest bright; Sow sunbeams on the rock and moor, And find a harvest-home of light.
D