***Most Amazing God***

        In today's Reading 1 from Acts 13, Paul quotes John the Baptist regarding Jesus: "Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet." Yet this Lord was willing to die for my salvation and unite with me in body and spirit today. This is so unexpected and overpowering that it is virtually a miracle. I shall rejoice in my most amazing God forever!

***Another Urgent Reminder****

        After swimming ten laps or running on a treadmill nonstop for 30 minutes, you probably feel pretty good about your fitness. Nevertheless, you are still aging. Remember that you were once an infant, a teenager, and then a young adult; perhaps you are already middle-aged. Regardless, the Lord God knows the exact day you'll leave this world. You may feel great now, but you are just passing through. Instead of focusing only on your temporary physical condition, I suggest you pay attention to the state of your soul, which will remain the same forever in the next life.

***Serious, Clear Messages***

      On this Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, I am going to separate the Gospel reading from John 12 into four parts.

         (1) Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.

       (2) I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

        (3) Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.

        (4) And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

         Parts 1 and 4 show that Jesus and God the Father are one. Part 2 reveals the purpose of Jesus' coming into the world, which is to save, not condemn, us. Part 3 reveals the consequences if we reject him.

**Learn This Wisdom**

        When we are young, even if we profess to be Christians, it's easy to put ourselves in charge of everything rather than the Lord. He may come after you, or a long way back. However, upon reaching old age, you may finally realize that all the time you lived without Christ truly being your Lord is time wasted, and you don't have much time left to get ready for meeting him. Of course, this awakening could have started and unfolded gradually earlier. Knowing this reality should help you see that it would be wise to start out letting the Lord be in charge from the very beginning.

**Stop Deceiving Yourself**

        The Apostle wrote in 1 John 1: "If we say, 'We are without sin,' we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, 'We have not sinned,' we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." So the very first step we must take to follow Christ to eternal life is to acknowledge that we are sinners. This is the minimum humility needed to follow him. Do not continue deceiving yourself, for Christ is the Truth.

***Best We Can Do***

        I thought about what Jesus had undergone to save us from eternal death. The best thing I could think of, as a finite being, was to completely obey him in all things—we cannot do any better than that. If we all do that, love and peace will reign in this world before we all enter heaven!

***Look Forward Only***

        As Christians, we must always look forward to Christ and heaven. Looking toward anything else is like moving backward, especially when we wish we had handled our past differently, as this prevents us from growing closer to the Lord.

**Repentance Is a Joy**

         From today's First Reading from Acts 11, we learn that God has granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles. Repentance is truly life-giving because the gate of heaven opens up when you repent. Repentance may sound sad, but it leads to the greatest possible joy.

***True Lord and True God***

        Since I am suffering a little bit, I have started thinking about Jesus' Passion. It is absolutely amazing that he went through all that without complaining and retaliating the slightest. As a matter of fact, he even prayed for his enemies. He truly practiced what he preached. He is indeed our Lord and our God!

**To Be Wise and Prudent**

         I have just suffered a physical setback, which will keep me from going to Mass and the gym for a while. What I miss most is not being able to receive the Holy Eucharist. I do see that suffering gives me the opportunity to offer up my pain to the Lord to unite with him even more. When we are physically sound, we tend to think about this life only. It is often when people get older that they realize death is near and it's time to turn to God. Of course, we should know that anyone can die at any time. So, living as if this is your last day on earth is wise and prudent.

***Are You the Lord's Sheep?*

        In today's Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus says that he walks ahead of his sheep and they follow him because they recognize his voice. Again, this raises some questions. We think we follow the Lord as our shepherd, but do we really hear his voice? And if we do, do we recognize that it is him? I am not talking about hearing him audibly, rather, when you are close to him, your heart simply feels what his feels. There is a union of hearts here. 

**Guardian of Our Souls**

        In today's Second Reading from 1 Peter 2, the Apostle writes: "For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls." I believe that we all have a soul, and that the only guardian of our souls is Christ, our Creator and Savior. If you care about your own soul, you must look to him before you search elsewhere. I can testify to you that he is the perfect one for all our needs. (Read today's Psalm 23 to be affirmed.)

**Peter Raises a Question**

        In today's First Reading from Acts 2, I was struck by Peter's words: "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." We certainly live in such times, so the question is this: "Will you head toward destruction with the majority, or will you let Christ lead you to eternal life?" Do you dare to be different?

**God's Most Beautiful Love**

        Communion experience. God's love for us is the most beautiful thing in the universe. When you embrace it, you are shielded from all evil, receiving strength, guidance, wisdom, peace, and consolation in times of sorrow, freeing you to become pure and beautiful yourself.

***Awakening for All Catholics***

        The Catholic Church has received the whole truth through Christ, who declared that the gates of the netherworld should not prevail against her. While the final victory over evil is assured, for the time being, Satan has infiltrated the Church, causing apostasy from the top, disunity among the clergy, and scandals within her walls. The priesthood and marriage are his prime targets. These events were prophesied by the Blessed Mother throughout the last century (at Fatima, Garabandal, Akita, and Civitavecchia). As a result, the teachings and messages we receive today are often weak, confusing, or even unholy. All the more, we need to seek refuge in and guidance from the Lord himself.

***Two Significant Statements*****

        Today is the Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist. In the Gospel reading from Mark 16, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." Both statements are significant. The first is a direct command, while the second is indirect, warning of the severe consequences of not believing in him. 

**For the Rich to Enter Heaven*

        In Matthew 19, Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." We must understand that a typical rich person lives mostly for his own well-being and cares less about the welfare of others, making him self-centered or even self-serving. This is the problem. So if you are rich but detached from all your possessions and care about those in need, you should be okay. 

**Better Pursuit*

        While we all seek physical comfort, pursuing spiritual consolation offers far greater, higher-level rewards.