Love: By George Herbert

Today as I was driving to work I was listening to the White Horse Inn, as per usual on my Sunday evening drive. Michael Horton ended the program by quoting this poem from George Herbert intitled "Love." As it is the Lords day, and as I was reflecting on the Lord and our gathering in his name earlier today, this poem struck my heart. Oh, how the Gospel is so beautifully proclaimed in this poem!

Have we forgotten the pit in which we were rescued? Have we forgotten our path and how Christ has led us down the road of faith? Do we not remember the joy of our first love? Have we all been so taken in by Gnostisism that we see no connection between the matter of the thing and the sign of the thing signified? Have we forgotten the connection between the Gospel, the Church, and the Sacraments? Have we forgotten how much Christ has nourished our minds and hearts and changed those hearts to love him? Rejoice in the Love of Christ as you read this poem, and I pray for you all that:

Eph 3:14-19, "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

LOVE

by: George Herbert (1593-1632)

LOVE bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack'd anything.

'A guest,' I answer'd, 'worthy to be here:'
Love said, 'You shall be he.'
'I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on Thee.'
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
'Who made the eyes but I?'

'Truth, Lord; but I have marr'd them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.'
'And know you not,' says Love, 'Who bore the blame?'
'My dear, then I will serve.'
'You must sit down,' says Love, 'and taste my meat.'
So I did sit and eat.