"If we know how great is the love of Jesus for us we will never be afraid to go to Him in all our poverty,

all our weakness,

all our spiritual wretchedness, and infirmity.

Indeed, when we understand the true nature of his love for us,

we will prefer to come to Him poor and helpless.

We will never be ashamed of our distress.

Distress is to our advantage when we have nothing to seek but mercy.

We can be glad of our helplessness when we really believe that His power is made perfect

in our infirmity.

The surest sign that we have received a spiritual understanding of God's love for us

is the appreciation of our own poverty in light of

His infinite mercy."

(Thomas Merton)

This is how the Kingdom of Jesus works, my friends …