He has loved us without being loved... We are bound to Him,
and not He to us, because before He was loved, He loved us...
There it is, then: we cannot... love Him with this first love.
Yet I say that God demands of us, that as He has loved us
without any second thoughts, so He should be loved by us. In
what way can we do this, then? ... I tell you, through a means
which he has established, by which we can love Him freely; ...
that is, we can be useful, not to Him--which is impossible--but
to our neighbour... To show the love that we have for Him, we
ought to serve and love every rational creature and extend our
charity to good and bad, as much to one who does us ill service
and criticizes us as to one who serves us. For, ... His charity
extends over just men and sinners.-Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), Saint Catherine of Siena as seen in her letters, J. M. Dent, 1906, p. 83

Let us learn from our Lord's warning words to pray for a humble, teachable spirit, whenever we open the pages of unfulfilled prophecy. Here, if anywhere, we need the heart of a little child, and the prayer "open my eyes." (Psalm 119:18.) Let us beware, on the one side, of that lazy indifference which turns away from all prophetical Scripture, on account of its difficulties. Let us beware, on the other side, of that dogmatical and arrogant spirit, which makes men forget that they are students, and talk as confidently as if they were prophets themselves. Above all, let us read prophetical Scripture with a thorough conviction that the study carries with it a blessing, and that more light may be expected on it every year. The promise remains in full force, "Blessed is he that reads. At the time of the end, the vision shall be unsealed." (Rev. 13; Dan. 12:9.)~ J.C. Ryle,Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke volume 2 , [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1998], 358, 359.