Bernard of Clairvaux

1 Corinthians 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

 Jesus, the Very Thought of You LBW 316

 1    Jesus, the very thought of you fills us with sweet delight;
     but sweeter far your face to view and rest within your light.

2    No voice can sing, no heart can frame, nor can the mind recall
      a sweeter sound than your blest name, O Savior of us all!

3    O Hope of ev'ry contrite soul, O joy of all the meek,
      how kind you are to those who fall! How good to those who seek!

4    O Jesus, be our joy today; help us to prize your love;
      grant us at last to hear you say: "Come, share my home above."

Text: attr. Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091-1153

“Knowing God is not a matter of the mind, but the heart.” 
(Bernard of Clairvaux, ca. 1150)

            Bernard was a mediaeval Christian who was the eventual leader of the monastery at Clairvaux, France.  As today, leading a spiritual community was a demanding responsibility, especially at the height of the dark Ages. At that time a monastery served as a hospital, a social service center, a worship center, a community center, an administrative and government center, a courthouse, a library, a school - in short it every task that we, today, parse out to dozens of  institutions.  Monasteries were often overwhelmed by the need around them and Bernard was the guy in charge. 

            Yet even in the midst of his busy, and I am guessing stressful, life, he never forgot the source of his strength and joy, Jesus’ love for him and his love for Jesus.  That love pulsed through everything he did.

            Near the end of his life, he wrote the words to this hymn. One of his final devotional writings contained this thought: “God is Himself the reward for those who love Him.”  And one of his final prayers comprised the last verse of this hymn; “O Jesus, be our joy today; help us to prize your love; grant us at last to hear you say: "Come, share my home above."

Prayer:  O God of compassion and care, may your love for us empower us, and may our love for you empower others.  Amen.