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Quote~St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
For my part, I think the chief reason which prompted the invisible God to become visible in the flesh and to hold converse with persons was to lead carnal persons, who are only able to love carnally, to the healthful love of his flesh, and afterwards, little by little, to spiritual love.
Poem~Renewed Day By Day
Drinking from the fount of pure delight
I would faint, I am sure,
Did not you meet me here
And I you, too.
And did we not share much like this,
Such flow of Grace, I cannot tell!~
Would surely die
So I, inside, truly would too.
But in silence and word
Our one heartbeat beating
To one tune does play,
While together we imbibe again in this place.
And as scent does speak of that touched,
I leave with your light upon my face~
A reflected shine and life within mortal clay~
Thus not to faint, renewed once more,
renewed like this day by day.
This fleeting time light does decline,
While shadows lengthen toward the night
Wherein, if I live with you now,
I shall be held within the One
here my heart did most adore.
*Brian K. Wilcox
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Scripture: II Corinthians 4.7-18 (NRSV)
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—"I believed, and so I spoke"—we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
See page 2 for Suggestions for Reflection...
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