Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor within; the former raged against him.

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

The life of Jesus suggests that to be like Abba is to show compassion.

I you think you've done it, then you're wrong. Because you're not finished until you have achieved everything that you never thought you could.

Put bluntly, the American church today accepts grace in theory but denies it in practice. We say we believe that the fundamental structure of reality is grace, not works - but our lives refute our faith.

The Word we study has to be the Word we pray.

Only reckless confidence in a Source greater than ourselves can empower us to forgive the woulds inflicted by others.