March 9

Fourth Saturday after Epiphany

He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32.

FAINT we not, then, though we have choked our hearts with vanities, or dulled them with the things of sense, or chilled them by unlovingness, or distracted them with cares, or swollen them with pride, nay, or steeped them in the defilements of sin. Mightier is the Blood of Christ to cleanse than our past sins to defile. Mightier the Good Physician to heal than we to wound ourselves. Only yield we ourselves to Him now. The windows of heaven are open, close we up our hearts no more. Empty we our hearts before Him, and He will cleanse them anew with His Spirit, and fill them with the wine of His love. The pledges of His love are before you. God so loveth us that He would make all things channels to us and messengers of His love. Do for His sake deeds of love, and He will give thee His love. Still thyself, thy own cares, thy own thoughts for Him, and He will speak to thy heart. Cast out love of self, and He will give thee Himself. Ask for Himself, and He will take thee into Himself. Cease to do evil, and He will give thee of His good. Truly a secret hidden thing is the love of God, known only to those who seek it, and to them also secret; for "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart of man conceived the good things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."

Only, O Lord, in Thy dear love Fit us for [this] perfect rest above; And help us, this and every day, To live more nearly as we pray.