*****JESUS IS REAL & HIS GLORY INEFFABLE*****

       Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel has always shown great love and devotion for Jesus. If you search for Bishop Mar Mari, you'll find quite a few videos on this blog. In this recent interview, he shares his experience of seeing Jesus and receiving two messages from him. In the second message, the Lord asks him to tell people not to look for the place, but the owner of the place. I wanted to point this out because the word "owner" wasn't entirely clear. You'll find the full meaning of the two messages explained in the video.

**True Generous Giving*

        Shall we invite this person to our party? Should we send a gift to this friend? That usually depends on how good the relationship is or how generous that person has been to us in the past. This is fair, but a true Christian does not consider being generous to be a sort of repayment; he simply enjoys giving. The reward of heaven alone is good enough. If that cannot satisfy you, then nothing will. If we don't expect to be repaid on earth, we will have a much happier world.

**Full-Time Catholics**

        Catholics are obligated to attend Sunday Mass, which usually lasts about an hour. A genuine Catholic worships the Lord full-time, not just during that one Sunday hour. In fact, we should see attending Mass to receive the Lord as the most special hour of the 168 hours that make up the week. A part-time Catholic is a Catholic in name only.

***Repaying God***

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 22, Jesus said to the disciples of the Pharisees, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." This got me thinking that we really should not owe anybody anything. Since God created us, we ultimately belong to him. Therefore, we should repay him by giving ourselves to him completely. This is our calling, after all.

***More Terrifying than a Nightmare**

        Last night, I had another nightmare. I don't remember what it was about, but I distinctly remember that the Lord let me know afterward that the terror I experienced was nothing compared to what a soul experiences in hell. While I know I am going to be with the Lord, it was still good to be made aware of this truth so that I may share it with the world.

***No-Growth vs. Fired-Up***

        A static Christian is a no-growth Christian, bearing little fruit, and living a dull life, whereas a dynamic Christian is a fired-up Christian, walking close to the Lord, growing holier daily toward union with God, and leading an exciting, exuberant life. Looking at your own walk, which do you prefer to be?

***Warning from the Lord***

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God." These definitive statements are issued so clearly that we feel compelled to pay attention or suffer the consequences. This can only be from the Lord. Our free will is being tested again. Heaven does exist, but it's not free to enter for sinners who haven't acknowledged Christ.

***Something Beautiful Here***

        Here is how an illuminated Christian lives his life. He views all things as gifts from God, so he accepts them happily and without exception—no matter how many turn into burdens or lead to unpleasant situations. Relying on the love of God to overcome every obstacle, he demonstrates trust and obedience at their finest. There is something really beautiful here—he's ready to live in heaven.

***Our Most Precious Possession***

        Jesus also said in today's Gospel reading from Luke 12: "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one." This warning is unmistakable and right on. The critical question is: Do we take it seriously and act upon it? The soul is our most precious possession. God wants to save it with all his heart. If we don't even care to preserve it, aren't we being mindless and heartless?

***Pitiable Fool or Delightful Soul***

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus speaks to the people: "There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops." Consequently, we are completely transparent to the Lord, who sees and knows everything about us. Thinking that we can do whatever we want and get away with it only makes us look foolish and pitiable. The right response is to let this awareness make us holy and a delight for the Lord to behold.

**Most Trustworthy One*

         You can trust in some people, but no one is as dependable as God. So I trust God first, and others only if necessary.

**Still Learning About Love**

        Let me quote how Paul describes love in 1 Corinthians 13: "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Sometimes I have difficulty getting along with certain people, even though my intentions are good. Thinking about Paul's words, I realized that they could solve my problems—if I were not quick-tempered, but willing to bear and endure all things, I would be doing well.

***Are We Losing Our Souls?**

        Today's Responsorial Psalm Response from Psalm 98 reads: "The Lord has made known his salvation." While this became an absolute reality when Christ came to us 2,000 years ago, how many of us actually pay serious attention today? Do we no longer care about our souls?

**Knowing You Are Chosen**

        Today is the Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church. In the First Reading from Ephesians 1, Paul writes, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him." Is this predestination? Not being a theologian, I don't know. All I know is that I now follow Christ because God chose me in him.

**Losing God's Watch over Us**

        From today's Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 1, I'd like to quote this verse: "Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes." Therefore, if we follow the LORD, he watches over us. However, if we turn against him, we remove ourselves from his protection and become completely vulnerable to all kinds of evil forces—this is truly the worst situation we could possibly be in.

***Key to Knowing God Deeply***

        Today's Gospel Acclamation, Hebrews 4:12, reads, "The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart." When I go into my innermost being with the word of God, I am able to discern and dissect all my thoughts hidden deep in my heart. Understanding one's inner self thoroughly is key to knowing God deeply.

**Measuring Your Closeness to God*

        One verse from today's Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 119, reads, "And I will delight in your commands, which I love." Do you love and delight in God's commands? If you find them burdensome, then you are not quite walking with the Lord yet.

**Beautiful Expression*

        In today's First Reading from Galatians 5, I caught Paul using the phrase "faith working through love." I thought that's a beautiful expression; this is speaking of a faith that's completely grounded in love.