This year's lenten series will focus on the work of Bernard of Clairvaux. Specifically, I'll be blogging through his "On Loving God".
Love is one of the four natural affections, which it is needless to name since everyone knows them. And because love is natural, it is only right to love the Author of nature first of all. Hence comes the first and great commandment, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.’ But nature is so frail and weak that necessity compels her to love herself first; and this is carnal love, wherewith man loves himself first and selfishly, as it is written, ‘That was not first which is spiritual but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual’ (I Cor. 15.46)
I'll be adding some background, and doing what one should do with good writers: simply read their text. So we will look through Bernard's treatment of love - from self centered to God centered.
And just in case you needed to know:
"The Zebra Cross dance is performed during rush hour in Jakarta, Indonesia. The dance is aimed at promoting traffic safety on the city's busy streets." photo AP
From the BBC
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