**Remaining in Jesus' Peace*

        In today's reading from John 16, Jesus said to tyhe disciples, "Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." We are not alone anymore, for the Lord promised his disciples that he would be with them always, until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). But we will have to be courageous in facing the trouble in the world.

**True Love Missing**

         Jesus shows us what true love is. He was willing to die for us so that we might have life forever. He is always open and ready to listen to us. He wants us to trust in him to receive the very best from him. He always means what he says and never forgets us, and his mercy is boundless. We claim to love others, but our love is rarely pure. Let me use one example. Nowadays, families are so fractured that many adult children no longer care about their parents. I once lived next to an old lady living alone in an apartment building, and for years, I never saw her children come to visit her until after she died. At church, some of my friends are even barred from seeing their grandkids by their children for various reasons. Once in a while, a son or daughter may call to say, "I love you," and that's it, without showing any true concern for you. True love means being willing to listen to and desiring to know the person you love. Finally, if there is no concern for the salvation of the soul, there is no true love there.

**Miracles in New Mexico**

        Here are two videos about miracles that occurred in New Mexico, USA. I will post the more recent one—which began in 2018—first, followed by the one from 1810.

***Jesus' Ascension***

        Today is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. This is how the event was recorded in Acts 1: "As the Apostles were looking on, Jesus was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, 'Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.'" For me, chances are he shall be taking me up to him before his next coming. Either way is fine with me.

***Abandonment to God***

        Total abandonment to God should be our ultimate goal, yet it remains our greatest challenge and test. It pits our natural desire for control against his will. Do you truly want to surrender yourself completely?  Can you trust him in all things? In essence, are you willing to let him do whatever he wishes with your life? Logically, your answer should be an absolute "yes,"  yet this is the central struggle for most of us. If you can surrender to it, it will be a breakthrough—leading to deep peace and abundant joy that the Lord has always intended for you. With him, giving in is the true secret to winning.

***KNOW GOD FIRST**

        I just posted that the most beautiful experience is falling in love with God, which means the most unhappy must be hating God. What is truly tragic is that these haters don't even realize they are wrong and are bringing condemnation upon themselves. You see, when you know God, you understand how awful sin is; but for those who don't, they have no idea that knowing him can bring such true joy.

***Most Beautiful Experience***

        It is falling in love with God through Christ, who is Love itself. It is a pure love that engages the whole soul. If we could all love the Lord selflessly in this way, we would have heaven on earth! Sadly, most people of the world not only disregard Christ but actively hate him. Such folly amounts to cutting your own lifeline, which explains why they feel so unhappy. When love for God is absent from your heart, misery begins.

***Perfect Ending for Christians***

        Here is today's entire Gospel reading from John 16: "Jesus said to his disciples: 'Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.'" That day will come to each of us who follow Christ faithfully. It will be the day we forget all our past pain, grief, and anguish, and start experiencing heavenly joy for all eternity while receiving whatever we ask the Father for in Jesus' name—an absolutely perfect ending for all true Christians!

**Following the Lord to Glory**

        Today's Gospel Acclamation, based upon Luke 24:46, 26, reads: "Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory." Each of us has our own cross to carry and must die in the Lord and rise again before entering into our glory.

**God Is with Us**

        In today's First Reading from Acts 18, while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to him in a vision, "Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you." I believe that the Lord is with every one of us who works for him, even if he doesn't speak to us in a vision, for it's impossible that he would leave us alone or abandon us. First of all, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, alone is enough to guide us through all our days on earth. Furthermore, by keeping his word, we remain in him already.

***Most Beautiful Act***

        In today's Gospel reading from John 15, Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love." "Remain in the Lord's love"—it is such a beautiful act and within our reach! The Lord is love. Obey him and you are one with him!

**Being Rich Can Be a Handicap**

         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." Then we can assume that it will be easier for one who is poor to enter the kingdom of heaven. In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16), we learn that the rich man died, descended into the netherworld, and suffered torment, while Lazarus, who lay at the rich man's door covered with sores, was carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham. What can we make of all this? It seems that if we focus on satisfying ourselves physically and materially, we get our reward in this life. But if we endure suffering and hardships while trusting in God, he will reward us in the next. This aligns with Matthew 16:24: "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

**Logical Conclusion**

        In today's First Reading from Acts 17, Paul tells the Athenians that the true God is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything, and that it is in him that we live and move and have our being. Indeed, God not only created us, but also sustains us, keeping our hearts beating and lungs breathing. If we see this clearly, we have no choice but to believe in and surrender ourselves to him.

****Good Reminder and Advice***

        Everything in this life passes. In our next life, whether happy or sad, we shall remain the same forever. So, follow Christ now, live for our next life with him, and let the present life go.

***Another Realization (Ultimate Fulfillment)***

        I am not alone at all! In fact, I have Christ, who loves me and understands me perfectly. He cleanses my heart and mind, making me fit for entering heaven. He totally fulfills all I need! When he is yours, you can let go of everything else—including yourself—and be totally free. Alleluia!

**Salve Regina**

        450 people from 33 countries blend together to hail the Holy Queen.

**Know Our Heavenly Mother**

        This is Bishop Barron's Mother's Day message on Mother Mary. It should clear up any misunderstandings many non-Catholics hold about her. She is the greatest saint, God's most obedient daughter, and our Holy Mother in heaven!

***Power of the Cross***

        Here is Bishop Barron's inspiring speech on the Cross (ends at 14:16, before the presenter's comments).