February 20

Second Tuesday after Epiphany

God is Love. I S. John 4:8.

"LOVE is of God" and is Love. In God, Love is Himself, His very Substance, the very bond of unity of the co-equal Trinity; for "God is Love." In Angels and man, Love is the gift of God, given to man by Him Who is the Gift of God, "shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost Who is given to us." Love giveth love. "God, Who is Love, giveth His Spirit, Who is Love, to pour abroad love into our hearts." Love, then, is the source and end of all good. "It alone," says S. Augustine, "distinguishes the children of God from the children of the devil." Without it, nothing avails; with it, thou hast all things. If it were possible that, without it, thou couldest "have all faith so as to move mountains," the Apostle says, "thou wert nothing." Judas cast out devils, we must suppose; but he was himself a devil. He was nothing, for he had not the life of God; he was but a blot in God's creation. Without Love, all knowledge of Divine things is ignorance; all eloquence, though it were the speech of Angels, a tinkling cymbal, hollow and empty, for it is not filled by God. Without Love, all gifts, yea, to suffer death, if it were possible, for the Name of Jesus, would profit nothing. With Love the cup of cold water given for Jesus' sake, or the two mites, are rich acceptable gifts. The weak things of the world overcome the mighty, since they are filled and strengthened and ensouled by Him Who alone Is and is Love.

Father, Oh, give me charity, my heart to bind In love to all mankind; So let me live, that I in Thee may die, With Thee to reign on high.