Love is the only one of the movements of the soul, of its senses and affections in which the creature can respond to its Creator, even if not as an equal, and repay his favor in some similar way... Although the creature loves less, being a lesser being, yet if it loves with its whole heart nothing is lacking, for it has given everything.
How well Saint Bernard speaks to our experience. Baptized into Christ we are one with Christ, one with Christ in mysterious relationship forever. He calls us to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength, all our mind, our very being. But how can we? We can love because God gives us the love with which to love.
Text from Sermon 83: On the Song of Songs.