**Lessons from the Gospel**

        Today's Gospel reading is long—it begins with Judas' Betrayal in Matthew 26, goes through the entire chapter of Matthew 27, and ends after Jesus' Burial. Two thoughts came to me. First, Jesus foretold that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crows. Of course, Peter strongly denied that. Then it happened exactly as foretold, and Peter remembered Jesus' word and began to weep bitterly. Have you ever broken down like this after realizing that you have let the Lord down? If not, you may need to grow closer to him. Second, Pilate knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests and elders wanted to get Jesus crucified. When negative emotions take over, people lose their conscience and become ungodly. It's important that we remain submissive and in tune with the Lord to keep our hearts and minds pure at all times.

***Secret of God's Love***

        Today is Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. We began outside the church, hearing the Gospel read from Matthew 21 on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Then we walked in procession into the church carrying palms to begin Mass. I felt God's overwhelming love for us . . . so powerful, so beautiful, so generous and merciful! Yet this love is also most kind and not intrusive, for our free will can easily reject it. Here the Lord tests us. Accept his love and we are saved; reject it and we are doomed.

***A Warning Reminder***

        Life on earth for us is extremely short. Against eternity, its duration is practically zero. Let's say it lasts just one nanosecond for convenience' sake. In this nanosecond, if we choose to believe in Christ, we gain eternal life; and if we don't, we are lost for good! Christ exists forever, but the chance for us to secure our salvation through him does not.

**Beautiful Consecration**

        Watch the full Benediction and Consecration of the United States for it's 250th anniversary at this year's Catholic Prayer For America Gala on Thursday March 19, Feast of St. Joseph.

***Sure Thing**

        When you love God and persevere through the trials he sends for his glory, you emerge stronger and holier than ever!

***The Only One**

        Communion experience. I receive the only one I can entrust my soul to.

**Need to Surrender to Christ***

        Verse 10b from today's Reading 1 from Jeremiah 20 says: All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. "Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him." In the Gospel reading from John 10, the Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus for what they considered to be blasphemy and tried to arrest him. We see that evil has existed since humanity was created; all the more, we need to surrender to Christ to keep our souls safe forever.

**Pleasure vs. True Joy**

        We derive pleasure from the world, but only God can give true joy. Delicious food, beautiful music, a good massage—these are all external pleasures that make us feel good through our physical senses, which we can turn off if we so wish. But inner joy the Lord plants in our hearts bursts forth so overwhelmingly that it's impossible to suppress, directly enrapturing the soul.

**Communion Joy**

        I felt great joy that the Lord had freed me from my ego.

***What Pleases the Lord Most**

        Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The readings from Psalm 40 and Hebrews 10 made it clear that the Lord did not desire sacrifices and oblations nor did he take pleasure in holocausts and sin offerings, but rather desired our obedience to his will. Seek to attain union with God through the Holy Eucharist first and you'll be able to to accomplish that.

**Full Dependence on Holy Spirit**

        In Luke 12, Jesus said to his disciples, "When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say." If you trust fully in the Lord, the Holy Spirit will teach you what to think, say, and do at all times!

**How to Best Know the Lord**

        If you want to know the Lord, don't be like those in the crowd who call out to him only when he passes by, but be more like the Apostles who followed him at all times.  

***Jesus Is Calling!***

        Today's Communion Antiphon (John 12:32) reads, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to myself, says the Lord." Jesus is calling you now! Are you responding?

***Our Great and Only Hope!***

        In today's Gospel reading from John 8, Jesus said to the Pharisees: "I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin." Later again, he said to them, "You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins." I pray that none of us die in our sins, as the consequences are unimaginably horrifying. However, we can completely reverse this by believing in Jesus, who, as our Savior, removes all our sins!  

**Communion Experience**

        I received and united with the one who is the creator of heaven and earth, and all the wonderful things in between.

***Great Lesson from the Lord***

       In today's Gospel reading from John 8, the scribes and the Pharisees caught a woman in adultery and brought her to Jesus. They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. In response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more."

      Jesus' response to the scribes and Pharisees is a lesson for all of us. If you are a sinner, you have no right to judge others. Even Jesus, who is sinless, did not condemn the woman, but rather told her to 'sin no more.

***Heavenly Experience

        Communion Experience—a most intimate private encounter with the Most Beloved One. 

***Winning with the Lord***

        When you live for Christ, you are so happy that you don't mind dying for him. Once you die, your eternal life begins. With the Lord, you just can't lose!