O reader, you were created by the heavenly Father in your mother’s womb. You were created in his image and likeness. You looked like your heavenly Father. Quickly, however, sin surrounded you and the image was tarnished. You were born, and sin continued to form you according to its image. I reached out to you in the moment of your Baptism and gave you the life of grace. Now the two forces war within you, sin and grace. One destroys the image. The other restores it. Who will win this battle? Will you be a child of sin or a child of grace? This is the great war that is fought every day. How I battle for you, always calling you to my side. Yet, so many forces call you away. The victory is always in doubt until the final moment.

O child of God, how much you need my protection. You act as if you can run the race alone and gain the victory. Open your eyes. See all the forces that come against you. See the darkness in your own heart and the darkness of the world. Without me, you are lost. That is why I come in search of you and why I give you these words. The Most High has formed me into his image and likeness. All who find me are formed in the same image. He created me to safeguard you from a destruction that was inevitable. Now, the victory can easily be yours if you come to me.