**Things We Must Not Do to God**

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 4, the devil tempted Jesus three times and failed. We must never tempt the Lord. In fact, we should not even doubt, test, deceive, or disprove him. Always remember that he is our infinite creator and we are his finite creations; we are to worship and obey him always. Loving him will make it all easy.

**We Live Again**

         These post follows the last one. In today's Reading 2 from Romans 5, Paul wrote, "Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned." So we are in bad shape, but the important thing is that we can be freed from sin and gain eternal life again. For through Jesus, we have been redeemed and made righteous! So believe in him now.

**Why We Die*

        In today's Reading 1 from Genesis 2, the LORD God formed man and woman and planted a garden in Eden for them. He told them that they may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but about the fruit of the tree of life in the middle of the garden, they should not eat or even touch it, lest they die. Then the serpent tricked the woman into believing that she certainly would not die and that the moment she eats of it, her eyes would be opened and she would be like gods who know what's good and what's evil. The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Now I see why we all age and die. In Romans 6:23, Paul confirms that by writing: "For the wages of sin is death."

***Urgent Call**

        Communion experience. The Lord's love is so compelling that we are called to live it, spread it, and die for it. Be open to letting this love fill you with joy and make you holy. The Lord is instantly accessible and ready to enter your heart. 

**Huge Mistake**

        Some Catholics are turned off when they see other members, religious or lay, do things they find unacceptable, forgetting that not all members of the Church are saints. We remain in the Church in order to become holy. As Jesus says in today's Gospel reading from Luke, "I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." For our own sake, we need to focus upon the Lord rather than others. To be a true Catholic, humility is essential.

**Jesus Calling Us**

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 5, Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Later, the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus' disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." So if you are a sinner, the Lord is calling you right now! Would you respond to him as well as Levi did?

**God Is Light**

        From today's First Reading from Isaiah 58, we have the verse "If you bestow your bread on the hungry, then light shall rise for you in the darkness." And today's Response from Psalm 86 reads, "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth." I see clearly that God is light, for he reveals to us what is holy and sinful, right and wrong, true and false—and most of all, the path to eternal bliss and that of eternal damnation.

**Deepening Our Intimacy with God**

        We usually don't "bother" God unless we really need his help. Personally, I feel it's best to share everything in our hearts with him, significant or trivial. This deepens the relationship. As long as you love and trust in him, he'll never be annoyed with you.

***Praising God***

        If I praise God, I soon run out of things to say. So I am going to put down as many fitting adjectives I can think of, in no particular order, as a way of praising him:

        Beautiful, lovely, magnificent, amazing, awe-inspiring, incredible, marvelous, spectacular, tremendous, admirable, brilliant, cool, enjoyable, fantastic, outstanding, phenomenal, superb, terrific, wonderful, sweet, holy, divine, hollowed, pure, humble, sublime, perfect, impeccable, splendid, superb, profound, thorough, exalted, loving, affectionate, benevolent, caring, considerate, faithful, generous, warm, kind, charitable, compassionate, courteous, gentle, gracious, thoughtful, sympathetic, merciful, forgiving, glorious, dazzling, delightful, grand, great . . .

***Union Benifits***

        When you are in union with God, you are deeply in love with the Lord—this alone fills you with unspeakable joy. He is now your soulmate. Your eternity is settled; you are ready to go to him at any time. Your life is completely fulfilled. You feel his continual holy presence. As a result, you lose all desire to sin. Since now his ways and thoughts are yours too, you automatically know how he wants you to serve him. This greatly simplifies your spiritual life, for you don't need to remember the many rules you've learned on how to serve him anymore.

***The Unquenchable Fire***

        Overworking leads to burnout, but being on fire for God is different; like the burning bush in Exodus, this fire can go on forever because the Holy Spirit is eternal.

**In Tune with David**

        These are today's readings: (1) Entrance Antiphon, Ps 30:11—The Lord heard and had mercy on me; the Lord became my helper. (2) Psalm Response, Ps 51:19b—A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (3) Communion antiphon, Psalm 25:4—O Lord, make me know your ways, teach me your paths. Everything sounds so right! David wrote all three psalms and I am happy that I feel exactly the way he felt. 

***Overcoming the Unknown**

        The Lord made me see that it's what we don't know that unsettles us. For example, I just had a rain leak in my house—water started dripping from the ceiling through a recessed light. It could have come through the flat roof, the stucco wall next to it, an open louver vent up there, or a drain pipe joint with a faulty joint in the wall. The repair might cost a lot! It's the unknown that's disturbing. In my case, I finally found out that the open vent was the cause. Just nail a piece of sheetmetal over it and you solve the problem. My peace was restored. I know that the uncertainty of what people face after death can be disconcerting, but those who know Christ—and know they'll be going to him—feel completely at peace. Basically, once you know Christ, no unknown can bother you anymore.

**Becoming Rich Forever**

        In Matthew 13, Jesus said to the disciples, "To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Now, if you have Christ the Lord, imagine how rich you will be!

***Truthful Living**

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 9: JesusI said to his disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,  but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Every day is no different from the day we were born or the day we die, for the world remains sinful. As long as we deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Christ, we are doing the best for the Lord, ourselves, and the world. Living to lose our lives for his sake is the way to go. 

***Jesus the Eternal Truth***

         To those who have faith, no proof is needed, but for those who always ask to see proof, none shall be found. God is greater than us, and we can only find him if we submit ourselves to him.

**Communion Experience*

        My soul was fed the sweetest juice.

**Secret of Joyful Living**

       In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6, Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father." He added, "Do all your good deeds in secret and your Father who sees in secret will repay you."