The inadequacy of our love

     Faithful people understand how fully they need Jesus and his death 

on the cross.  Seeing his love, they desire to return what little they can.  

Those who know they are loved are better able to love.  The one who is 

forgiven more loves more.  Seeing the wounds of Christ, the believer 

says, I am faint with love.

     Who is it that remembers God?  It certainly is not a stubborn and 

rebellious generation.  Christ says to them, "Woe to you who are rich, 

for you have already received your comfort."  The ones who remember 

God are those who can say, I remember God, and was troubled:  I 

complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.  Our soul is Christ's bride 

and loves him ardently.  But even when she thinks she is completely in 

love, she feels that her love is inadequate, because she is loved so much.  

And that is true.  How could she love as much in return?  God loves 

with all his being.

                                                            Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God

Who is Bernard of Clairvaux?  Bernard, 1090 to August 20, 1153, was a 

French abbot principally responsible for reforming the Cisterician 

monastic order.  Bernard was the first Cistercian monk placed on the

calendar of saints.  He was canonized by Pope Alexander III, on January

18, 1174. 

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