February 21

Second Wednesday after Epiphany

Cleave to that which is good. Romans 12:9.

"Love," says a holy man, "is the beginning of all good, because it is from God, and moves to Him. For love worketh great things where it is; but if it worketh not, it is not love. Love is the means of all good, for it is according to God and fashioneth our deeds aright. For it hath ever the eyes towards God. It is the glue of souls, the union of faithful souls; it is not cold through sloth, nor feigned in action, not fleeting, not rash, not headlong. Love is also the end of all good, for it is for the sake of God, and directeth our works, and bringeth them to the right end. It is the end of sins, because it destroyeth them; the end of commandments, because it perfecteth them: it is the end of all our toils, the end of all ends to us, for our rest is life everlasting, but God is the End in Whom we rest." God is Love.

Love strong as death, nay, stronger,

Love mightier than the grave,

Broad as the earth, and longer

Than ocean's wildest wave.

This is the love that sought us,

This is the love that bought us,

To gladdest day from saddest night,

From deepest shame to glory bright,

From depths of death to life's fair height,

From darkness to the joy of light,

This is the love that leadeth.