Love is the ultimate mystery, isn't it? Love is both the primary human need and the fundamental motivation of every human act: we're always, always, always either trying to get love or trying to give love. It's that basic. We need to be cherished and to cherish. 
Because it's as fundamental as the philosopher's "first cause," when our attempts to love or be loved are rejected or twisted, or when we are not loved well, we suffer the deepest possible suffering. On the other hand, because it's so fundamental, only love heals.  
Look at the saints, any of them, all of them. Name one, and I insist that saint is one who has been healed by inexhaustible Love. Cherished.
A saint is one who has embraced his neediness, his deficits, his feelings of unworthiness, and dared to approach God anyway, trusting that what the Bible, the Church, and the saints all say is true: God is love. And in so doing, they experienced God, they felt His love, and it healed them.
You were made to be cherished, ravished, and overwhelmed by Love. Do you dare? The language in the Bible regarding divine intimacy is extreme enough to make one uncomfortable, but oh the glory of the experience for those who dare to press into the "King's chamber" with faith!  

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LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on Sonja’s method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary.  
L | Listen (Receive the Word via audio or video.)


O | Observe (Connect the passage to your life and recent events.)
Where and how has your understanding of love adjusted over the years? What arose in your heart throughout this show? Longing? Fear? Suspicion? Disbelief? Inspiration? Do you dare ask God to show you His love?
V | Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)
Tell Him. Tell Him everything in your heart right now. Take the risk, and ask Him to show you His love.
Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.
E | Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful. Enkindle in them the fire of Your love, and there shall be a new creation, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Amen. +
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What We Discussed | Show Notes
Overview:
Minutes 00:12:00 – The Trinity as the most intimate secret of God; wisdom reveals what "cherished" means
Minutes 12:01-24:00 – the cross and Eucharist as sacrificial self-donation, the Bible begins and ends with marriage, the mystery of Christ and the Church, marriage images Trinity
Minutes 24:01-36:00 – Song of Solomon, Israel & Church
Minutes 36:01-48:00 – divine intimacy
Transcript
Click here for a transcript of the show.