In this lecture on 2 Corinthians 3:1-3, Fr. Gabriel examines Paul's teaching that the Corinthian believers themselves are "living letters" of Christ, written not with ink on stone but by the Spirit of the living God on the tablets of the heart, contrasting the external letter of the Old Testament law with the internal transformation that Christ brings. He leads a rich discussion on what it means to "soften the heart," exploring how faith without works reflects a hardened heart closed to God and neighbor, and touches on the mystery of free will, the role of the devil, and how our response to trials — like the Covid pandemic — reveals the depth or shallowness of our trust in God, urging the group toward repentance, humility, and an honest inner life with Christ.