**You Cannot Love God and the World**

       According to Jesus, the first and greatest commandment is, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." Yet, it seems that many Christians are still far more interested in the things of the world. It is a blessing that the Lord's mercy is infinite, but we should always strive to love God more by becoming more obedient to him. 

***From Mohammad to Jesus***

        A week ago, I posted a short entitled A Muslim Woman Finds the Truth. Here is the complete version of that story, produced by EWTN. 

***Final Judgment and a Grave Sin***

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus explained the Parables of the Weeds to his disciples. He said, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear." Two things are worth noting. First, at the end of the age, Christ will deal with the evildoers and the righteous once and for all. Second, if we also cause others to sin, our sin is particularly grave!

**Prompted by the Spirit**

       In today's Second Reading from Romans 8, Paul writes: "The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will." When we struggle to express our yearning for God, the Spirit within us prompts these inexpressible groanings, yet the Lord understands us perfectly. Any prayer inspired by the Spirit is always effective.

***Critical First Understanding***

        It is critically important for us to know our own state, understand who our Lord and God is, and know what he wants from us at the earliest possible moment. First, we are lost sinners without God. Next, Christ has revealed to us that God is all-loving and intent on saving us from sin so that we may return to him in heaven. If we understand this clearly and accept it, the riddle of our existence is solved, and we are free to return to the Lord, our loving Creator.

***Sinners Need to Think Correctly**

        As sinners, we tend to think incorrectly. For example, we think that because we are so sinful, we will never become saints. This is false humility. The truth is that the greater our sins, the more we need to become holy, and God can surely make that happen. True humility is believing that nothing is impossible for God.

        I just watched a short Catholic video showing that the most precious blood of Jesus can wash us clean. Would you like to be sprinkled with this blood? Again, if you think that since you are unclean, you are not worthy to have this holy blood touch you, you are thinking incorrectly again. Since the blood can make you clean, accepting it is exactly what you need to do to please the Lord.

**Wise Move Against Sin**

        Inheriting Original Sin makes it easy for us to sin, but fortunately, we are given a conscience to make us aware of it. Once we start sinning, it becomes increasingly difficult to stop. Because Christ has complete power over sin, it is wise to submit to him as early as possible so that sin never overcomes us.

**Christians in Name Only**

        There are many who think they are better Christians than everyone else, Christian or not. They quote the Bible to show that others are wrong, but ignore all the verses that plainly show that they are wrong. Basically, they are judgmental, lack true humility, and have not yet completely submitted to the Lord. When they are still full of pride, the evil one targets them.

****Glitz vs. Glory****

        The fourth Luminous Mystery of the Rosary is the Transfiguration. Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. This is absolutely beautiful and awesome! Then I thought of the world's celebrities, putting up the glitziest shows to impress people with their huge egos. By contrast, the former is refreshing and uplifting, while the latter is vulgar and sickening.

***Beyond Union***

        We can go beyond attaining union with God, because loving him has no upper limit! This is exactly what makes following Jesus so exhilarating.

***The Importance of Believing in Jesus**

        Today I prayed the Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. The second mystery is the Wedding at Cana. I pictured Jesus attending a wedding celebration just like everyone else. It struck me that attending such customary events is perfectly fine as long as we personally have faith in the true Lord. Without him, everything we do is ultimately meaningless.    

**The Most Consequential Difference**

        Without Christ, life is empty and meaningless; that is, we are totally lost. Once we accept him as Lord and Savior, we find the true purpose of life and are completely fulfilled. Now we are home for all eternity. The difference is as great as that between heaven and hell!

**The Humility Advantage**

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." If you want to follow someone egocentric and proud, then Jesus is not for you. But if you can follow him—who is meek, humble, and completely selfless—your humility is good enough to get you into heaven.

***Lopsided Love at Its Best***

        The Lord God has paid the price to set us free from sin and smoothed the way for us to enter heaven, but it is not automatic, for we have to do our part. We only need to repent of our sins and follow Christ, and God will take care of the rest. For me, this is truly a gift from heaven. 

**Connecting with God Most Intimately**

        Isaiah 26;9a from today's First Reading reads, "My soul yearns for you at night, yes, my spirit within me seeks you at dawn." Now I realize that my yearning for the Lord comes from the soul, far beyond the heart level.

***Knowing You've Been Chosen*

        Jesus says in John 15:16, "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain." So, if you feel compelled to do everything to glorify the Lord, know that he has surely chosen you—rejoice! 

**Superior Way to Know God**

        Today's Gospel Acclamation features Jesus' exclamation to the Father in Matthew 11:25: "Although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike." Being childlike is better than being wise and learned because you no longer doubt or question the Lord.

**Logical Conclusions**

        Today's Psalm 94:9-10 reads: "Shall he [the LORD] who shaped the ear not hear? or he who formed the eye not see? Shall he who instructs nations not chastise, he who teaches men knowledge?" Since the LORD gave us the ear and the eye, he totally hears and sees us. Since he also gave us the brain and the conscience, he has the right to chastise us.