***Secret to Salvation

        The last three verses of today's First Reading from 1 Peter 1 read, "Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, Be holy because I am holy." We are to be holy because God is our model and he is holy. If you try your best to be like the Lord, you will be saved.

**An Awareness to Help Living Wisely**

        The Lord God, who creates all things, must know everything that occurs to govern the universe. Being omnipotent, he transcends both space and time, as well as all physical laws. Consequently, he knows our every thought, motivation, word, and deed—there's no escaping him! To live in ignorance of this truth is, therefore, downright foolish!

***A Beautiful Mother for All!***

        I must also mention that in today's Gospel reading from John 19, before Jesus handed over the spirit  to the Father on the cross, he gave his own mother to the disciple John (and all of us) to be our mother. What a great, beautiful gift! We all have an earthly mother, but we do need a perfect mother to fill a void in life, and Mary is the Father's answer to us. I truly thank and praise God for that. I see Mary as a mother who is always keeping me close to her Son, assisting me in doing the Father's will, and comforting me when I am in distress. 

***A Most Beautifu;l Moment in Human History***

        Today is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. The Gospel Reading from John 19 describes the last moments of Jesus' death on the cross. Here is the first part of the reading. "Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I thirst.' There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, 'It is finished.' And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit." This is a most beautiful moment in human history—Jesus fulfilling the will of the Father out of pure love to save all of us for eternal life!

**Let's Drink of the Spirit to the Full!**

        Today is Pentecost Sunday. Verse 13 of the Second Reading from 1 Corinthians 12 reads: For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit intoxicates us—in the sense of spiritual exhilaration—it is fitting to speak of 'drinking of the one Spirit. 

**Thoughts on AI**

        AI is currently the hottest thing around; everyone is trying to use it. It's truly revolutionary and amazing. For example, not long ago, to make a website, you needed to pay a designer quite a bit of money to get one up. Now, you can build one using AI in no time, and for free. College students have created a big problem for their professors because they can have AI write their essays practically in an instant. Some people feature themselves in multiple videos using AI. You can ask any question online and get multiple answers through AI (although occasionally, you do get a wrong answer). The technology is still in the development stage. My point is, no matter the amazing inventions we create, if they do not make us aware of God, it is not progress. Instead of getting excited about them, we must make sure that they do not lead us further astray from God!

***Perfect syncing with God***

        God the Father already loves us. If we surrender to his love, crying out from the heart, "Father, love me!" beautiful things will start happening, because now we and the Father are in perfect sync.

***Jesus Our Essential Link***

        On the 27th of last month, I posted that I suffered a physical setback which prevented me from going to Mass. I accidentally fell and compressed my spine. The pain I feel around my waist has made it difficult to bend forward, or to sit or stand for too long. The only way to somewhat relieve the pain is to lie flat in bed, avoiding any stress on the spine. I realize that the waist links the upper and lower bodies. Even if those two parts are healthy, you are essentially disabled if that link is weak. Then, the Lord made me see that he is the link between our present and next lives. With him, both our lives are safe; without hm, they fall apart.

***GOD'S TRANSFORMATIVE LOVE***

        Today's Entrance Antiphon, based upon Romans 5:5, states: The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit of God dwelling within us, alleluia. I have zero doubt that once you experience the pure love of God—for even a nanosecond—you will feel wonderfully transformed and never be the same person again. Of course, you must be open to the Lord and truly desire this grace, and this is where most people falter.

***Comforting Love**

        In today's Gospel reading from John 17, we learn that the Father loved all those who believed in his Son just as he loved him. We are not on the same level as Christ, but we can be sure the Father loves us with that same love. This is deeply comforting to us.

**That Secure Feeling**

        I feel so good when I read these two verses from today's Psalm 16: "Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices; my body, too, abides in confidence. Because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption." When your soul is secure in the Lord, your entire existence feels it.

**Give Thanks**

        Here's a popular Christian worship song, beautifully sung by Janella Salvador.

***How We Bear Our Cross*

        Living in an imperfect world, we all have our own cross to bear, and our willingness to carry it is what truly matters. If you follow Christ, you recognize that everything the Lord allows in your life is a blessing, and you accept it joyfully. If you do not follow him, you will likely lose your peace and complain. Since we cannot make the cross go away, it is only by accepting it—just as the Lord Jesus did His—that we may one day be raised too.

***Letting Jesus Complete Our Joy*

        In today's Gospel Reading from John 17, lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the Evil One." Here are my thoughts on the verses I have colored. First, Jesus wants to share his joy with us. Normally, knowing how much he has suffered for us, it's easy to feel his sorrow, but we can receive great joy from him too! So, let the Lord complete our joy. Next, even though the world hates us for not belonging to it, Jesus asks the Father to keep us from evil instead of removing us from the world. The world still needs the righteous to spread the good news. 

**Self-Centered Generation**

        In today's first reading from Acts 20, Paul, before leaving the Church of Ephesus, spoke to the presbyters, asking them to keep in mind the words of the Lord himself, who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Today, we often practice the opposite: it's mostly "me-first'"or "I want that, too." Besides, many charities turn out to be scams. The amount of fraud committed against the government or other organizations nationwide that has been discovered so far is truly staggering! It is sad that giving has become a lot more difficult for those who want to give.

**To Know Jesus the Person**

        Studying about Jesus won't get you any closer to him. To truly know the Lord, you must go straight to him with a completely open heart and tell him you are ready to receive him fully.

***Effective Praying***

        All prayers must come straight from the heart, said with urgency and total abandonment, for you are talking to your vLord and your God.

**Christ, Our Determining Factor**

        In today's Gospel Reading from John 17, Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and spoke to the Father. Here is part of what he said: "I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them." We see that we who belong to Christ are truly special, for we have been chosen by the Father and given to him. The division between us and those who do not belong to him is immense! Jesus is our determining factor. May God choose all of us!