**Clear and Simple**

        We are either saved or lost. Obviously, we cannot save ourselves, just as we cannot lift ourselves up. But if we believe and follow Christ, we are saved. If we do not believe and reject him, we remain lost. That is all there is to it.

**Spirit-Filled Exchange**

         Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Gospel reading from Luke 1, Mary traveled to a town in the hill country of Judah to visit her cousin Elizebeth. When Mary, pregnant with Jesus, and Elizebeth, wth John the Baptist, greeted each other, this exchange took place. It was beautiful because both were filled with the Holy Spirit. Here it is below.

      Elizebeth cried out in a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever."

***Follow the Death Destroyer***

        Physical death, we shall all face; after that, we face either eternal life or eternal death. If we belong to Jesus Christ, eternal death will have been destroyed for us, leaving us only eternal life!

**A Warning to Christians**

        The secular influence of the world is so strong that it causes many Christians to become lukewarm or fall away entirely. They are now easy targets for Satan and risk losing their souls altogether. Christians need to seek union with God so that they can become virtually invulnerable to Satan. Even when the Lord allows Satan to attack them to test their faith, they emerge stronger than ever.

***How Well You Hear the Lord?***

        To fully hear the Lord speak to your heart, you need to attain full union with him through the Holy Eucharist. Consequently, some Christians hear the Lord only once in a while or not at all. How much you communicate with the Lord depends entirely on how close your relationship with him is. Personally, with the Lord God, I strive to give my all to get the most out of my relationship with him, thereby glorifying him to the fullest.

***Jesus' Passion Unforgettable***

        The Passion of Jesus was most excruciating, yet the Lord willingly went through it out of love for us. This is what makes it truly unforgettable!

***Best Way to Know God***

        The Apostles followed only the Lord when he was on earth with them. Since the Lord transcends time and space, we can do the same. After all, he is the one we want to know and love above all else, so it makes perfect sense for us to always go directly to him, as he is instantly accessible. To seek the Lord indirectly any other way is much less productive. It is seeking God by our own effort rather than letting him help us reach our goal effortlessly.

***To Forgive Is Divine***

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 18, Jesus told the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant to Peter, illustrating the importance of asking the Lord to forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, which is part of the Lord's Prayer he gave us. It is clear, although not always easy to follow; but follow we must if we ever want to be assured of getting into heaven. 

***The One True God***

        There are many gods, but there can be only one true God. This is common sense. That he has to be the God of Jesus Christ—who personally revealed the whole truth to us—is practically common sense too. The fact that he turns out to be pure love seals the deal.

***How to See the LORD Clearly**

        In today's First Reading from Ezekiel 12, the LORD told the prophet, "They [the house of Israel] have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house." Today we have the same problem. Many people do not see the truth before their eyes. Even those who claim to know the LORD still see him through veiled eyes. To truly see the LORD clearly, we must totally submit ourselves to him first to allow him to reveal himself to us! 

***About Our Lord***

        The more we trust in our Lord, the more secure we feel! He is completely for us—only a fool would reject his love.

**The Secret to Be Great in Heaven**

         In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 18, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." We adults are so used to displaying our maturity and showing that we can take care of ourselves that we see humility as a weakness. But before the Lord, our status is nonexistent without his love. That he considers us to be his little children is already a great exaltation. We need to be like little children to trust and obey our Father completely.

**Jesus Entering His Glory**

        Today I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. When I meditated on the last mystery, the Crucifixion, I saw that Christ entered his ultimate glory.

**Loving God at All Times**

        Here are the most common traditional Western marriage vows: "I, [Name], take you, [Name], to be my wedded [wife/husband], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part." This is how we should love and cherish God, except that the last part, "till death do us part," does not apply.

***How You Know the Truth***

        I now believe without a doubt that Christ Jesus is my Lord, my God, and my Savior. I do not believe this because others told me it was true, nor did I talk myself into it. The Lord himself revealed it to me. When the Lord shows you something directly, you just know it is true, and the peace that follows confirms it. In many near-death experiences, even atheists and non-Christians report knowing instantly that the figure who appeared to them was Jesus. When St. Paul fiercely persecuted the early followers of Christ, Jesus appeared and revealed himself, causing Paul to submit totally. A faithful Christian observes all things and recognizes, "It is the Lord!"

**A Growing-Old Grace**

        As people grow old, see that their time on earth is fast expiring, and finally realize the importance of believing in Christ and that everything else is insignificant—this is a tremendous breakthrough and a true grace from God! 

***Set for Eternity***

        This is what Jesus says to his disciples in today's Gospel reading from John 12—his words are loving, endearing, and most personal: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me." To become productive, one must die first. We cannot become new if we do not shed the old. If we love the world, we are not free to go to God. All in all, follow Christ, and we are set free and ready for eternity!

***Freedom and Happiness Assured***

        Today's Gospel Acclamation, John 8:12, reads, "Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life, says the Lord." To walk in the light of Christ is to be free from sin, and this makes a tremendous difference to your outlook and spirit—you are now a new creature, assured of eternal happiness!