Lord, how do I love without pain? How do I set aside history, experience, with some, even enmity?  To love another is to open oneself to the possibility of pain. Is this pain that is meant to be, or should I turn away from it? Is this the pain I should wed to Your cross? I do not do that well. I am uncertain in my faith.

Open my heart Lord! Therese, pray that I might better learn Your way of repaying His love by loving others. What greater gift can we return than to become so swollen with Your love that it flows even to our enemies?

In this Lenten season as we recall Your coming crucifixion, may we walk in Your foreknowledge of the certainty of pain in life and for You, the certainty of the Cross. That all consuming love sustained You in Your human condition. May we find it sustaining for us in our current trials and coming pains.