We celebrated Valentine’s Day last Friday. There was a story of a young man who was pouring over the selection of Valentine Day cards at a local gift shop. The clerk asked if she could help him. “I’m looking for your most beautiful Valentine’s Day card,” he said to her, “something that expresses my deepest, deepest feelings.” The clerk went to section of cards and pulled out one that was beautifully embossed, trimmed with lace, and written in very elegant script. “This is a very lovely card,” she said and read the inside of the card. To my one true love, the light of my life, the joy of my heart, the very essence of beauty and grace, I love you more than words could ever express. The young man was absolutely thrilled. “This card is perfect,” he said. “That’s exactly what I’m looking for, I’ll take five.” I like that one, you know that? You know, sometimes in life we are full of contradictions and sometimes we really make fools of ourselves. Sometimes we are humorous, and sometimes things get us into big trouble. As we know, the scribes and Pharisees of our Lord’s day were often full of contradictions and self-deceit. Convinced they were truly the holy ones while everybody else was a big sinner. Jesus tells us, we want to enter the Kingdom of God, we have to be better than they were. Basically, he’s trying to show us that holiness goes beyond external behavior. Holiness comes from deep inside of us. That which makes us holy is love and forgiveness. Love of God, and love and forgiving each other, including oneself. Now, please don’t understand me, certainly, the way we behave is very, very important. God’s commandments tell us that. Thou shall not kill, thou shall not commit adultery, thou shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, keep holy the Lord’s day. Fidelity and faithfulness to God’s word defines who we are. Fidelity and faithfulness to God’s word defines who we are. What makes one truly successful and holy in this life? You know, when our life comes to the end, I think God may ask us three questions. Were we faithful disciples? Were we loving and compassionate? Were we forgiving, showing mercy, especially to those that have less? And as Jesus once said, without me, you can do nothing. As we live our life, as we get older, keep this thought in mind. As we grow older is life making me better or bitter? And the choice is ours.