Saint Bernard was born in 1090 near Dijon in France. After a religious upbringing, he joined the Cistercians in 1111 and later was chosen abbot of the monastery of Clairvaux. There he directed his companions in the practice of virtue by his own good example. Because of schisms which had arisen in the Church, he traveled all about Europe restoring peace and unity. He wrote many theological and spiritual works – centering many of them on the theme of Christ the Bridegroom of the Church; and on loving God – which made clear the type of relationship that is possible between the Bridegroom and the Bride: the Church.
In one of his sermons Bernard writes of love: Of all the movements, sensations and feelings of the soul, love is the only one in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make some sort of similar return however unequal though it be. For when God loves, all he desires is to be loved in return; the sole purpose of his love is to be loved, in the knowledge that those who love him are made happy by their love of him.
In the first reading today we see that the intimate relationship between God and his people produces wisdom and understanding and even glory in the loving interchange between them. But the key to accessing the wisdom is to stand in great awe and respect before God – and to trustingly and lovingly and hopefully open ourselves to his gifts.
The gospel passage reveals the great love that Jesus personally shows to his apostles who will spread the gospel message to the world. In loving them, he intends for them to share and spread that same love to others throughout the centuries and throughout the world – right down to our own day and age – right here to this place at this time! All we need do is to receive that gift, receive that love, receive that guiding light and let it make a difference in our own lives, and the lives that ours touches!
Remain in my love, says the Lord;
whoever lives in me and I in him will bear much fruit.
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