Sermon preached at Evensong, St Paul’s, Clifton, Bristol, 27 December 1998.
[Two pages of the manuscript are missing; I will insert them if they should show up among Richard’s papers. – SJC]
Some of the best, and some of the worst sermons I have heard have been on the subject of love – especially the nature of God’s love. For example, some preachers may say that God’s love surpasses ours, transcends it, or is wholly different from it. But surely there has to be something in our experience by which we can recognise it. Perhaps then it is more a question of quality and quantity than of type.
St Bernard said that our love of God has four rungs.
- Out of fear, fear of punishment.
- Because of the marvellous gifts on offer, eg the beauties of nature, gifts of friends or family. All of which may be withdrawn.
- Because God is good in Himself. It’s good to have Him around, and the world is made a better place.
- The top rung is for those who love God because He enables them to love themselves. Even in our great depths of sin we are still loved, not punished. Surprised? If we have self-respect and value ourselves, then we can in fact love and respect others in that essential self-forgetfulness.
Well, either there is a rung missing from this ladder, or another one is being climbed as if it were the same one.Read More »
Carried by God 