Bernard of Clairvaux: Ineffable love

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“The faithful know how much need they have of Jesus and Him crucified; but though they wonder and rejoice at the ineffable love made manifest in Him, they are not daunted at having no more than their own poor souls to give in return for such great and condescending charity. They love all the more, because they know themselves to be loved so exceedingly.”

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) monk, abbot, reformer of the Cistercian order, and doctor of the church, in the opening section of chapter three of his classic work: On Loving God.

I recently got a t-shirt that says “Sow Love!” and a bumper sticker that reads: “Sow Much Love!” from my brothers at seedbed.com. These phrases came to mind while reading from Bernard of Clairvaux this morning.

Our capacity to “sow much love” flows from the “ineffable love” we have received from Jesus Christ. What does “ineffable” mean? “Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.”

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1aLet us not only revel in the ineffable love of Christ today. Let’s generously lavish it on others.