The temptation of the age is to look good without being good.

The sinners to whom Jesus directed His messianic ministry were not those who skipped morning devotions or Sunday church. His ministry was to those whom society considered real sinners. They had done nothing to merit salvation. Yet they opened themselves to the gift that was offered them. On the other hand, the self-righteous placed their trust in the works of the Law and closed their hearts to the message of grace.

My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.

We must go out into a desert of some kind (your backyard will do) and come into a personal experience of the awesome love of God.

Silent solitude makes true speech possible and personal. If I am not in touch with my own belovedness, then I cannot touch the sacredness of others. If I am estranged from myself, I am likewise a stranger to others.

Quia amasti me, fecisti me amabilem. (In loving me, you made me lovable.)

I could more easily contain Niagara Falls in a teacup than I can comprehend the wild, uncontainable love of God.