02.01. Why we should love God and the measure of that love
1. Why we should love God and the measure of that love To the illustriousLordHaimeric, CardinalDeaconof theRomanChurch, and Chancellor: Bernard, called Abbot of Clairvaux, wisheth longlifein theLordanddeathin theLord.
Hitherto you have been wont to seek prayers from me, not the solving of problems; although I count myself sufficient for neither. My profession shows that, if not my conversation; and to speak truth, I lack the diligence and the ability that are most essential. Yet I am glad that you turn again for spiritual counsel, instead of busying yourself about carnal matters: I only wish you had gone to some one better equipped than I am. Still, learned and simple give the same excuse and one can hardly tell whether it comes from modesty or from ignorance, unless obedience to the task assigned shall reveal. So, take from my poverty what I can give you, lest I should seem to play the philosopher, by reason of my silence. Only, I do not promise to answer other questions you may raise. This one, as to loving God, I will deal with as He shall teach me; for it is sweetest, it can be handled most safely, and it will be most profitable. Keep the others for wiser men.
You want me to tell you why God is to be loved and how much. I answer, the reason for loving God is God Himself; and the measure of love due to Him is immeasurable love. Is this plain? Doubtless, to a thoughtful man; but I am debtor to the unwise also. A word to the wise is sufficient; but I must consider simple folk too. Therefore I set myself joyfully to explain more in detail what is meant above.
We are toloveGodfor Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable. When one asks, Why should IloveGod? he may mean, What islovelyinGod? or What shall IgainbylovingGod? In either case, the same sufficient cause ofloveexists, namely,GodHimself. And first, of His title to ourlove. Could any title be greater than this, that He gave Himself for us unworthy wretches? And beingGod, what bettergiftcould He offer than Himself? Hence, if oneseeksfor God’s claim upon ourlovehere is the chiefest: Because He firstlovedus (1 John 4:19).
Ought He not to belovedin return, when we think wholoved, whom Heloved, and how much Heloved? For who is He thatloved? The same of whom every spirit testifies: “Thou art myGod: my goods are nothing unto Thee” (Psalms 16:2, Vulg.). And is not Hislovethat wonderfulcharitywhich “seeketh not her own’? (1 Corinthians 13:5). But for whom was such unutterablelovemade manifest? Theapostletells us: “When we wereenemies, we werereconciledtoGodby thedeathof His Son” (Romans 5:10). So it wasGodwholovedus,lovedus freely, andlovedus while yet we wereenemies. And how great was thisloveof His? St John answers: “God solovedtheworldthat He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should notperish, but haveeverlastinglife” (John 3:16).
StPauladds: “He spared not His own Son, butdeliveredHim up for us all” (Romans 8:32); and the son says of Himself, “Greaterlovehath no man than this, that a man lay down hislifefor his friends” (John 15:13). This is the claim whichGodthe holy, thesupreme, theomnipotent, has upon men,defiledand base andweak. Some one may urge that this is true ofmankind, but not ofangels. True, since forangelsit was not needful. He who succored men in their time of need,preservedangelsfrom such need; and even as Hisloveforsinfulmenwroughtwondrously in them so that they should not remainsinful, so that samelovewhich in equal measure He poured out uponangelskept them altogether free fromsin.