February 24
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeSecond Saturday after Epiphany
Thou, [Lord,] hast wrought all our works in us. Isaiah 26:12.
NOTHING so purifies the thoughts, heightens the acts, shuts out self, admits God, as in all things, little or great, to look to Jesus. Look to Him when ye can, as ye begin to act, or converse, or labour; and then desire to speak or to be silent as He would have you; to say this word or leave that unsaid; to do this or leave that undone; to shape your words as if He were present, and He will be present, not in Body but in Spirit, not by your side but in your soul, so that of you too, in your measure, it may be said, "It is not ye who speak, but the Spirit of your Father Which dwelleth in you, He hath wrought all our works in us." Faint not, any who would love Jesus, if you find yourselves yet far short of what He Himself Who is Love saith of the love of Him. Perfect love is heaven. When you are perfected in love, your work on earth is done. There is no short road to heaven or to love. Do what in thee lies by the grace of God, and He will lead thee from strength to strength, and grace to grace, and love to love. Be diligent by His grace to do no wilful sin; for sin wilfully done kills the soul, and casts out of it the love of God. Seek to love nothing out of God. Bring all things, as thou mayest, nigh to God; let not them hurry thee away from Him. Think nothing too little, nothing too low, to do lovingly for the sake of God. "The love of God," says a holy man, "produceth the love of our neighbour and kindleth it; the love of our neighbour winneth the love of God."
O Holy Spirit, guide our feet Into the path of love, That we at last our Lord may meet.