In recent years we have seen a great deal of bravery and self-sacrifice, but civil courage hardly anywhere, even among ourselves.

When all is said and done, the life of faith is nothing if not an unending struggle of the spirit with every available weapon against the flesh.

There remains an experience of incomparable value.

But the Christian also knows that he not only cannot and dare not be anxious, but that there is no need for him to be so. Neither anxiety now work can secure his daily bread, for bread is the gift of the Father.

Every word of Holy Scripture was a love letter from God directed very personally to us and he asked us whether we loved Jesus.

We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God's coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God's coming should arouse in us. We are indifferent to the message, taking only the pleasant and agreeable out of it and forgetting the serious aspect, that the God of the world draws near to the people of our little earth and lays claim to us. The coming of God is truly not only glad tidings, but first of all frightening news for everyone who has a conscience.

I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me.