**Most Beautiul Secret

        Communion experience. I am still awed by the fact Christ transforms the consecrated bread and wine into his own body an blood for us to consume, and that he also takes away our sins! He is my most beautiful secret!

***A Truth

         Mercy and peace can only come from the God of Christ.

**Do You Know That . . .

everything is possible if you allow God to do it?        

***Extolling Union with God

        Union with God thru the Eucharist is the best possible relationship you can have with the Lord because as one, no barriers of any kind exist between you and the Lord. There is now total harmony, understanding, and mutual trust. The Lord is now your most beloved lord, friend, and soulmate. 

***Joy and Sorrow par Excellence

         A Christian has the best joys and sorrows of all people! They are blessed and fortify his union with the Lord.

*****True Freedom Is . . .

being able to love God as much as possible. And the exhilaration stems from the fact that there is no limit to how much you can love the infinite Lord!

*****GREAT COMBINATION!

        Follow Christ, not only because he'll lead you to eternal life, but because he is the only one who is true God and pure love! 

**Humble and Proud Simultaneously

        We who belong to Christ are temples of the Holy Spirit, dwellings of the Lord, that is. I am both humbled by and at the same time proud of it. The Lord's doing is always wonderful beyond words!

**The Lord More than Enough

        Communion experience. My cup overflows. The Lord completely fulfills me; there's nothing more I desire.

**Thanking God for This Reason

         Today I am grateful to the Lord for having made it possible for me to become like him. 

***Way to Happiness***

        Here is not something I've just made up. I know it to be true because the Lord has revealed it to me. As always, the truth challenges us and may not even sound credible upon first hearing it. Here it is: We won't be happy until we serve God with all our heart.

**Living in False Reality

        This is the reality I see so clearly. We were created by God and have inherited the original sin. Now we are just passing through on earth. If we believe in and follow Christ, we'll have eternal life in heaven. So to me, those who do not see this is living in a false reality. By this I mean it's real, but not what they thing it is.

**Order of Business

        God hears us and will grant us what we ask for if we openly abandon ourselves to him. Asking for his help when we are not really ready to accept all his will yet won't work well. So the first order of business is to surrender your will to his, then ask for what you need to your heart's content. 

****Our Forever Relationship

        What I like about my relationship will God is that it's for ever. The Lord is the only one who can provide that, for he is most faithful and lives forever. We can never be happy with anyone, even if he's most trustworthy, who won't be around long. From God our Father, we'll always receive the very best for all eternity!

***Look Good to God Please***

        Many people do not watch what they eat nor exercise enough. So as they grow old, they look very much out of shape. It's rather sad. I thought that in spiritual life, this is like you don't believe in God nor pray. You just grow old and die. This definitely is not the way I want to go. The soul is infinitely more important than the physical body. We must absolutely take care of that ahead of anything else! It's fixing your eternity, not just next week, next year, or the next million years! So be wise and remain awake. You don't want to look bad before the Lord, disappointing and saddening him, not to mention your own plight!

***Key to Peace Everywhere***

        God loves and died for all of us. We must love others like that too. Hatred, contempt, and unforgiveness must have no place in our hearts. Amazingly, this is how we can attain inner peace as well as external peace in the world!

***Still Hard to Believe***

        Communion experience. Even after I have received the Holy Eucharist thousands of times, I am still overwhelmed by the fact that the Lord has allowed me to receive his own body and blood! I'll be grateful to him forever!

*****Process of Abandonment*

        It is hard to give ourselves up to the Lord God. Even if you are determined, it can still take some time. The Holy Eucharist can greatly aid us here. The important thing is to get started. First you open up to God and you start to experience some wonder. Opening up more, you experience more wonders along with more freedom and peace. As you let the Lord do even more for you, the going gets easier and easier. Finally, you abandon yourself totally in him and he makes everything effortless for you! Now you are completely free, experiencing unspeakable joy.

***Our Best Therapy***

        Repentance is a great therapy for us. It lets the Lord remove all your sins from your soul to make you clean. Now your worst burden is gone and your soul is ready to soar to him. Once you are forgiven by God, the whole world can hate you and it won't make a bit of difference!

***Are You Happy with Yourself?

        If you live for yourself, you're likely to get unhappy every time things don't go your way, and you begin to dislike yourself. This is a clear sign that you are far away from God. On the other hand, if you live only to please the Lord, you accept whatever happens to you as willed by him and you remain at peace. You know that he loves you and are happy with yourself. 

**Abandonment in the Lord

        Communion experience. I let the Lord's love engulf me and sweep me away. I am all his! 

***Most Foolish Act

        Whatever Jesus has said, we should follow, for it reveals his plan to save us from sim. To ignore his sayings is being most foolish, for it directly destroys our hope of being saved.

**Do You Really Know Jesus?

        In John 10:14, Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep and they know me." If you knew the Lord, you would definitely feel that special joy of knowing him. This is the joy for which the infant John the Baptist leaped in the womb of his mother Elizabeth, when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, first greeted her at her house. This joy tests if you truly know Jesus or not.

**God Takes Care of My Soul*

        The Lord who created me heals and purifies my soul. Furthermore, he will make my soul leave my body and head straight for heaven one day.

***Secret to Peace***

        When you remain obedient to the Lord, you enjoy a deep satisfying peace. You have that strong home-sweet-home feeling. Again, this is how the Lord has made us. Praise Him!

***Connecting with God

        We must listen to that small intimate voice of our conscience because that's how God communicates with us. So it's important to withdraw yourself from the world and enter into solitude from time to time. The Lord is gentle and it's easy to not hear his voice at all if you are occupied with your own mundane affairs at all times. Of course, if you are already in union with him, you hear him speak to you 24/7.

**What We've Always Wanted*

        Heaven remains the same forever, while life on earth will be over before you know it. Whether you realize it or not, deep down heaven is what we have always longed for and been searching for. Once you are in heaven, your life on earth would seem to be like an unmemorable dream you once had. 

***Growing-Old Consolation

        At Mass, I was amazed to see that younger men and women could kneel down and get up effortlessly without holding onto anything. I forgot that I was like that in my younger days too. Now, to do it, I have to hold onto something like a chair to help me accomplish the act. The good consolation is knowing that I am getting closer to meeting my Lord and Savior in person.  

**Moments to Treasure

         Every moment with the Lord is precious, but we should especially treasure the moments when our minds are clear, our bodies sound, and we are able to fully enjoy our union with him in his peace.       

***Most Beautiful Journey*****

        Communion experience. I entered the world, found Christ my most beloved and precious creator and Lord, and am now on my way home to him. 

**Exciting, Helpful Knowledge

        Knowing that you are on the road to eternal life is most exciting. It also helps greatly in detaching yourself from the world. 

***It Is Fair

        In today's reading from Luke 8, Jesus said to the crowd: "To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away." To show that this totally makes sense, let me illustrate with two extreme examples: If you totally believe in Christ, you'll receive more and more blessings from him. And for anyone who deliberately chooses not to believe in him, he'll end up losing even his own soul.

****God's Mercy Needed!

        Look at all the people around the globe. Start with the lost souls who have completely messed up their lives and move onward, you'll find that there exist all kinds of people at various stages of their spiritual life. I say "spiritual life" because all lives, whether you are spiritual or not, will be judged by God on that level. Only God alone knows how to judge all of them fairly. I see how urgently we need his mercy! In his infinite mercy, there is hope that we can all be saved, but prayers are needed. So pray unceasingly with all your heart.

***God Alone Shining Brightly***

        The Lord God is like a bright dazzling light. In his presence, all other attractions fade into nothing. It's the finite vs. the Infinite. Blessed are those who find the Lord God alone to be attractive.            

****Do You Know that . . .*

God has so made us that if we do not sin, we'll experience peace and have no fear of appearing before him? And also, if we know him well, we'll find him so beautiful that we can't help but fall in love with him?

***True Humility***

        Humility can be true or false. An example of false humility: You don't think that you can ever become a saint. This is believing that God cannot make you into a saint. Believing that God's power is limited is actually a sin, not humility! Then what's true humility? True humility is truly believing that nothing is impossible for God. The focus is always on the Lord, not on yourself. So if you want to become a saint, say yes to the Lord and it's a done deal.

***Right Way of Following the Lord

        We start out putting our trust totally in the Lord. Then we follow him one small step at a time, looking neither ahead nor back, knowing that we are doing his will every moment and will surely be witn him before long. 

**Probing Question

         A good question to ask yourself: What do I want to get out of my life? I know my answer. Is yours satisfactory to you?

***Only Meaningful Way to Live***

         I no longer live for the world. When you live only for yourself and are not aware that most of the world urgently needs salvation, you are living in a bubble and wasting your time and life on earth. The only meaningful way to live is to live for Christ and in Christ.

***How the Lord Leads Us

        When the Holy Spirit leads you, he prompts you to do something spontaneously. If you have to think hard to figure out what to do, that would not be from the Spirit. When the Lord directs you, you only need to carry out his command. 

***Same Warning Falling on Deaf Ears*

        The Lord has always called us to believe and trust in him, repent our sins, love each other, and pray for each other or we can face dire consequences; yet most people with hardened hearts just don't care. Today with hearts colder than ever throughout the world, heavenly warnings just fall on deaf ears. Here is a relevant video on Our Lady of Kibeho to watch. When will we ever learn and wake up?    

**Union Strengthened

        Communion experience. The Lord fed me, reinforcing our union. Spiritually, it was all I needed.

***Most Personal Lord

        Live a life known to God only. Whether others know about you or not doesn't matter. It's always between you and God. The Lord is that personal to us!

****Secret to Carefreeness

         If you don't have any ego and want only to please God, you become carefree. In other words, obey God and you'll have peace; disobey God and you'll experience unrest. This is how he has made us! 

***Blessed by God

        Today I am aware that the Lord God thoroughly knows my heart, so he makes sure that I hear his voice and tread on the right path. What a joy and consolation!

**Letting Love Rule

        God loves everyone with the greatest love. He loves you and me with the greatest love. I hope this would help us see all others and ourselves in a new light. We must love everyone as best as we can.

***Unique Ultimate Relationship

        Our closest relationship is established between God and us. It's the closest possible, most satisfying relationship you can have that lasts forever. 

*Soul Anchored*

        Communion experience. The Lord has securely anchored my soul; I am heading straight for heaven.

****Reality We Face

        Christ has redeemed us from sin, so we can totally belong to him and return to the Father in heaven. The question is "do we want to do that or not?"

*In th Meantime, Pray*

        I do not know exactly what's going to happen to the world, but I know what to pray for and how everything will end. 

**Most Expedient Way to Know God*

        I really encourage all to seek union with God thru the Holy Eucharist, for it's the most expedient way to know God. It's totally logical to say that if you are willing to give all of yourself to God, he is then ready to reveal all of himself to you. And all his teachings to you become crystal clear.

**Speaking for Christians on Fire

        Christians on fire are easily misunderstood by many. They are thought of as being out of their minds, being oddballs or even menaces. I just want to say that if you ever came to know Christ well, you would likely act exactly the same way. You just want to spread the good news that God loves all. So be kind to them, for their mean well.

**Adoring the Lord

        Today Tuesday is the day for praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. The more I see Jesus suffering for us, the more lovable he becomes to me. 

***Facing-God Ready***

        We'll all face the Lord one day. During Mass this morning, I realized I already knew him. In fact, we already dwell in each other, becoming inseparable. I look forward to seeing him in person and there absolutely won't be any shock, only unspeakable joy!

***Walking with a Blameless Heart

        Today's Psalm 101 response: I will walk with blameless heart. To be blameless is to not do anything wrong and maintain a clear conscience. This is a great feeling. By contrast, the evildoer is always worrying about something. The other day I watched Trump being interviewed on NBC. He was asked if he would consider pardoning himself after being indicted so many times should he become president again. He said he never thought about that and wouldn't do it because he hadn't done anything wrong. That's a cool answer. So remain blameless and do not worry about anything. 

**Charity Motives

        When you make a donation to a charity or help someone in need, there are two possible motives. (1) To truly do some good out of love. (2) To let others know that you are generous. Make sure that you never have the second motive. Donate anonymously always if possible.

**The Lord Overwhelming

        Communion experience. The Lord was too much to bear. I just submit and surrender, letting myself be overwhelmed!  

**Opposite Effect

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 7, a centurion asked Jesus to come to heal his slave who was ill and about to die. When Jesus was a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed." Jesus was amazed by his faith and remotely healed his servant. The more we feel unworthy of the Lord, the more he uplifts us. The Lord exalts the humble. 

***Is Faith a Gift to All?

        I know many people who are intelligent and well-educated, but they are just not interested in Jesus or Christianity. On the other hand, I am pretty intelligent and have earned more than one college degree, yet I believe in Christ with all my heart without the slightest doubt. So what gives? Faith is certainly a gift given by God, but does God withhold this gift from some people? Certainly, he has given his Son to all and the gospel Christ preached is for all. Anyway, those who do not believe have absolutely nothing to rely upon, while in my case, the Lord God has got my back. And the Christ I know is more real than anything I see, hear, and touch!

***Beautiful, Rewarding, and Most Precious

         This is an undying faith in Christ the Lord and Savior.

***Most Powerful Move

         This is surrendering ourselves to the Lord. It is also our most proper, smartest, fulfilling-in-every-way, and absolutely life-changing move.

**Great Intimacy

        Communion experience. The Lord filled me with his peace. I felt that I could ask for anything from him, feeling this close to him. 

*****Heaven Is Our Home!*****

        When we came into the world, we brought nothing with us. As we grow up, we accumulate more and more things. Then we leave the world and have no choice but to leave everything behind. What I want you to realize is that all the things we have now, including ourselves, are not ours; they all belong to God! I hope this awareness will set you free from the world and make you humble (and wise) enough to give yourself back to your Creator. Now your journey back to your Father in heaven begins, fulfilling what has been his intention all along.

***Praying for Ourselves Top Priority

        We pray for the world, for others, for our family and friends, and for ourselves. It's easy to neglect praying for ourselves, whereas that should be top priority. I think the reason is that it's just easier to see others' faults than our own, and praying for them to change is rather effortless compared to praying for ourselves to change. It should be top priority because the world cannot be better if we don't become better ourselves. Like the proverb "charity begins at home," prayer should begin with praying for ourselves. 

***Between God & Each of Us Always*

        The whole point of today's Gospel reading from Matthew 18 is that the Lord wants us to forgive others so that he may forgive us. We heard the parable of the unforgiving servant. I was led to see that each of us is responsible for his transgressions before the Lord and cannot blame anyone else, for the Lord alone is our judge. If someone caused us to sin, that person would have to answer to the Lord, but we still sinned. Mind our own business is right.

***To Remain Free***

        In today's second reading from Romans 14, Paul wrote, "For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." To live and die for the Lord, so easy to remember. Ironically, this is how we become free! For to belong to the Lord who can and wants to deliver us from sin is to become free. Awaken, as long as we remain in sin, we are not free!

***Unforgiveness Unforgivable

        From today's first reading from Sirach 27-28, I heard this verse read: Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. In other words, forgive others and God will forgive you, super easy to remember. If you do not forgive anyone, it's a sin you need to repent and confess before moving on. Don't ever let unforgiveness stop you dead in your tracks spiritually. Look, if we always forgive everybody, we'll have peace instantly in the world.

***Pain of Not Being Understood

        We all feel the pain when people do not understand or agree with us when we know we are right. One obvious example is that people just don't see why we make such a big thing out of Christ. Well, the Lord knew that the world would be divided because of him. Now image how much pain he must feel when billions of his children do not understand or agree with him! Realizing this, we shouldn't mind my own pains much anymore and should instead try to be extra good to alleviate the Lord's pain.

***Focused Living

        I've been advising that we don't let what others say or think about us bother us and tune in only to what God thinks about us. Let me add that we shouldn't even care about what we think about ourselves. Just follow the Lord and never mind anything else. 

*****Why Submit Ourselves to God?*****

         There are many compelling reasons. I'll just mention two less obvious but equally valid ones. (1) Submitting ourselves to God is the only way for us to become perfect, for only he can fundamentally transform us. (2) It is also the only way for the external world and our inner selves to attain peace, for when we submit ourselves to God, all conflicts cease. 

***Most Fundamental Virtue***

        I blogged the other day about not caring about what others think about you. This is part of not letting anything bother you. It's basically being humble. So we should become humble first and let all other virtues follow. Humility is not only our password to holiness, it is also the key that unlocks the door to heaven! 

***Letting God Make It Effortless

        It you find what you are doing is too hard, you haven't let God do the work for you yet. The Lord makes everything effortless for those who trust in him.

***Learning Constantly from the LORD***

        Every time you lose peace, it's a great opportunity for you to learn to become more perfect (holy). Figure out why you are disturbed. Then knowing that God always wants you to have peace, put the whole matter into his hands to let him restore your peace. Submission to God always works. What a great way to improve ourselves constantly, as we get bothered by so many things easily!

**A Great Feeling

        When you take God seriously, pray hard from your heart, and do everything for his sake, he actually lets you know that he hears you and that you help him shape his plans. This is such a great feeling to know that you can influence the Lord and help him in establishing his kingdom on earth.

*****Reminding All of Our Best News

        God's love is universally available to anyone who desires it, and everyone needs it unless you don't know that you are a sinner. Christ has come and made it clear how we can be delivered from sin and gain eternal life. This has to be the best possible news we can truly rejoice about. If you don't consider Christ, there is just nothing out there that makes a good alternative—this is what I see. So there's the reality. If you don't accept Christianity, think about what your reason is. Know that the Lord does not take away your free will because he wants you make the choice so that should you choose to follow him, faith is born! This would mean everything to both you and him. He could have forced you to believe in him, but that wouldn't have meant anything to you. The Lord is all love and kindness. Be fair and consider his invitation to accept his love, which will only be good in your lifetime. There'll be everything to gain and nothing to lose!  

***What You Should Care About Only

        One big reason we lose peace is worrying about how we look to others. It all has to do with the ego. We should always care about what God thinks about us, not what anyone else thinks. This is hard to follow for anyone who still has some ego in them. Do whatever pleases the Lord will make those who love him love you, but those who hate the Lord hate you. Do you want to get to heaven or not? Would you choose being free over not being persecuted? God over the world? Anyway, to begin your journey to freedom, you need to get rid of the ego first.

**How Are We Doing?

        We can grade what we do by the motives behind our acts. I'll list these motives from the worst to the best: (1) to hurt someone, (2) to benefit ourselves only, (3) no particular motive, (4) to help someone, (5) to help someone for God's sake. Acting with the first three, you wast time on earth. Only acting with the last two, especially the last one, will you be storing up treasures in heaven. 

**Being All Settled

        When I call out "My Lord and my God" from my heart to Jesus, everything about me is settled. The past is gone, but my present and my future are being settled by him. I have completely settled down in the Lord.

**The Lord Drawing us*

        I feel the Lord drawing all of us to him like a powerful but gentle magnet. Perhaps it's a gift or a calling, but I believe that if you are open to him, you'll feel it. If you are totally closed to him, of course you won't feel anything. Then if you really open up to him, you should definitely feel his attraction. When you feel it, do not resist, for it's the holy, perfect, most loving Lord drawing you.

****Prayer Attitude****

        When we pray to the Lord, we can see him as high above us and ourselves as little creatures begging for favors. This is proper and fine. Then I see another way I personally prefer. I see praying to my God as fellowshipping with him. He is not just my friend—he is my soulmate, my very soul! Prayer is my time to commune with him and become even more one with him, thus showing that I am totally with him all the way. The Lord needs our support, not just our obedience. To love him is to be dear to him who loves us so much as our Father.

*****Life's Ultimate Attainment*****

        Common experience. Union with God through the Holy Eucharist is our ultimate attainment that fulfills the Lord's most ardent wish. It is God and us melting or melding into one—it has to be the most jubilant occurrence that can happen to us in this life!

***Cure for the Ego***

        First part of reading 2 from Philippians 2: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Every time you feel your ego surfacing, remember the Almighty Lord humbling himself for our sake, and we are all but helpless sinners who cannot even survive without him. 

***Indebted to Jesus*

        Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of of the Holy Cross. Entrance antiphon, Cf. Galatians 6:14: We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered. We owe everything to the Lord!

***Having Great Expectations

        Communion experience. I expect great things to happen to me, for the Lord now dwells in me and the whole heaven is with me, interceding for me.

***Choose to Be Rewarded Wisely***

        Be good and the Lord will reward you. But do not seek to be rewarded in this life, for this life is brief and your reward will pass. Build up your treasure in heaven now so that you may receive your reward in heaven that'll last forever! 

**Readiness Befoe Askng for Mercy

        We shouldn't ask for God's mercy on us if we are not really ready to obey him in all things yet. So surrender yourself completely to him first, then pray "Have mercy on us."

***Our First and Last Resort

        Communion experience. The more I feel my burden, the more I feel united with the Lord and surrender myself to him. And my burden becomes light and even a joy. If you don't turn to the Lord, you can only find some temporary escape and the burden remains. Go to the Lord is our only way out (Matthew 11:28-30).

**God Most Trustworthy

        Our feelings can change and our devotion fluctuate, but the Lord forever remains steady with the same unwavering love and mercy. This is the One we can return to and trust in at all times.

***Experiencing God's Sorrow***

        In Christ, I feel great joy as well as great sorrow. The latter because the Lord is grieving over our disobedience to him. Imagine how you would feel if your children disobey you, ignore you, or even mock and blame you! We normally love our children, but God's love for us is infinitely greater. Then surely any grief and sorrow we cause him would be so much greater too. But there is joy in suffering along with the Lord, as it draws us ever closer to him. 

***Yearning for God

         You may believe in the Lord and feel that life is now meaningful, but if you still do not yearn for him, you don't really know him yet. The Lord is so lovely and beautiful that even if you are already satisfied with him, you can't help desiring more and more of him. That's why we need to get into heaven so that we may be one with him for all eternity.

*****Great Imbalance*

        I got to church early, parked my car in a shady spot and started to pray. I could concentrate better in solitude. But this morning a fire engine went by, loudly sounding its alarm siren—it must be responding to some emergency. At the same time, the sound of many other running vehicles reached my ears. I realized that when we are not asleep, we are always going somewhere or doing something throughout our lives, hardly thinking about God or doing anything just for his sake. The Lord who should be first in our lives usually ends up last. This is a huge imbalance (or injustice) that can make us truly regret later on. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said to his disciples, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides." You don't want to risk being shut out of heaven: no, no, no; you want to solidly secure your eternal life, skip purgatory, and go straight to heaven! 

***Most Beautiful Thing*****

       The love of God is the most beautiful thing there is. It's essential for our existence. It's precisely what we need to be saved from sin. It can transforms us completely to become like God. It's most beneficial for us. Abandon ourselves to God in his love and we'll enjoy peace and joy with him forever!

***Today Much like the Days of Christ

        Today's Gospel reading came from Luke 6. On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up and stand before us." And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus. These hypocrites were so intent on finding a reason to accuse Jesus that they became oblivious to the amazing miracle Jesus just performed. Alas, today so many of our government and Church officials remind me of them.

**Sorrow Will End

        The more joy I feel in the Lord, the more sorrow I feel for the world. In the end, there'll be only joy, this I know.   

**Returning to God Examined

        Because we have inherited the original sin, God requires that we repent and have faith in Christ the Son our Savior to restore our original relationship with him. 

***Best Way to Overthrow the Ego*

        Ego is the worst enemy of a Christian and can only be eradicated by the Lord after you have submitted yourself completely to him. For the Catholic, it makes seeking union with God through the Holy Eucharist your top priority, for that will prepare you best to overcome any spiritual obstacle! 

**Heaven Linked to Earth*

        In todays's Gospel reading from Matthew 18, Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." This shows that whatever we do on earth shall directly shape what happens in heaven and that the Lord will alway be with us when we gather together in his name! 

**The Door We Must Pass Thru**

        We are either united or divided by Christ simply because he is our Lord and God. Our destinies are completely dependent upon whether we believe in him or not.

***Neglecting the Soul

        In today's homily, Fr. Steve mentioned "Too many neglect their souls." How true, foolish, and tragic that is. This applies to Christians too. Being lukewarm is neglecting your soul. Being not watchful, unprepared, or living a self-centered life is totally neglecting your soul. To continue to do evil is to have already lost your soul.

*****Our Most Precious Gift

        Communion experience. The Eucharist is our most precious gift from the Lord, for it is the Lord himself! We must know what we are receiving.

**God Knows Best

        Why doesn't God wipe out evil outright every time for us? In overcoming evil, God makes it neither too hard nor too easy for us so that if we have enough faith in him, we succeed. He always tests us to help our faith grow. Naturally, the stronger your faith becomes, the easier it is to ward off evil.

*****Urgent Message to All*****

        Satan has taken over a large portion of our world. Only by accepting the love of Christ can we be set free. Listen to the latest urgent message from St. Michael the Archangel to Archbishop Vigano regarding the state of this country. (You may skip to 2:03 just for the message.)

**Evidence We're God's Creation

        I am amazed that we eat a lot of different foods and the body knows how to process them so that we absorb the useful part for nutrition and health, and discard the waste that's of no value to us. Furthermore, we understand good and evil. These two facts alone show clearly that an omnipotent God created us.

***Alleviating the Lord's Suffering

        On this Friday, I thought about the horrible sufferings Jesus had undergone for our sake. We cannot possibly go back in time to console him, to help him carry the cross, or to alleviate his pains in any way. Knowing that he is still suffering today for our unbelief and unfaithfulness, the least we could do is to accept our own cross and follow him. I believe this should please him and is also what he expects of us. 

***Christ Understands Me Perfectly***

        Today again, I am aware that Christ is the only who always understands me, thoroughly. This is of great consolation to me. How can you possibly not fall in love with such a beautiful, amazing personal Lord?

The LORD Revealing His Love

        Again during consecration of the bread and the wine at this morning's Mass, Fr. Phil recalled the words of Jesus at the Last Supper: "TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT: FOR THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU" and "TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT: FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME." These words are filled with pure, selfless love that should melt our hearts. 

**Our Calling*

        Today is the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From the first reading from Romans 8, we heard the following read: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son... So God not only wants to save us from sin, he intends that we become like his Son too.

***How to Be Carefree***

        Care only about the LORD—a seemingly paradox that's absolutely true!      

***God as Our Friend

         When you feel God's holy presence and him calling you at all times, it's pretty overwhelming. I love it and can say that the Lord God has to be the best friend we can possibly have.

***At the Lord's Command

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 5, Jesus got into Simon's boat and asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught such a great number of fish and their nets started tearing. What got me was Simon Peter's response "at your command I will . . ." This is the admirable attitude we should assume always, obeying whatever the Lord commands at all times. 

**Weapons to Fight Evil

        These two things empower us: Holiness and Prayer. 

**The Peace Is Worth It*

        When you do not sin, the peace you experience is so good that you're glad you're clean. 

**Only "Fear" Left*

        I no longer fear death, for my Lord awaits me. I only "fear" that I shall not have loved him enough on earth when I see him. 

***Right Way to Live

        What people think about you doesn't matter a bit. Only what God think about you counts. What good is it if the whole world adores you, but you don't make heaven? Anyway, never compare yourself with others. Focus on pleasing the Lord alone. Mind you own salvation first and pray for all others to be saved.

**Complete Blindness Is . . .

not seeing the dazzling light of Christ the Lord.

**Sensible Way to Live

        Life on earth is brief. Compared to eternity, its duration is virtually zero. And there are billions of us living on earth right now. So the smart and sensible way for me to live is clearly to trust fully in my God and follow him faithfully so that I may soon enjoy eternity with him forever!

***God Our Power Source

        John 15.5: I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Jesus is right. All power comes from the Lord. To receive that power, we must acknowledge our total helplessness without him and our total dependence upon him. It'll be total submission and total abandonment to him. This is how we become saints.

***God Is Joy!***

        Communion time thoughts. Returning to God is such a joyous event. Remaining in union with him assures that this joy will last forever and only increase!

***Compelling Love***

        If you truly realize that God is pure love, you would fall head over heels in love with him. And anyone in love with such a beautiful loving Lord will reach the zenith of happiness in both this life and the next!  

**Obedience a Choice for Us

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 4, Jesus ordered the spirit of an unclean demon to come out of a possessed man. The demon recognized Jesus as the Holy One of God and came out of him without doing him any harm. The spirits and demons have no choice but to obey the Lord. If we likewise recognize Christ as the Holy One of God, we should obey him instantly too. But in our case, God does not force us to obey him in any way because he loves us and wants us to show our love for him by choosing to obey him, for faith is necessary for salvation.

***Living Together with Jesus

         From today's reading from 1 Thessalonians 5: Jesus Christ died for us so that we may live together with him. Since Christ has already come to us, we can confidently attain union with him through receiving the Holy Eucharist. Living together with him is absolutely no problem now. Alleluia!  

***A Great Feeling

        Communion experience. Christ is both our light and conditioner. He enters me and lights up my entire soul and puts it in a fit state. Having a healed and clean soul is one of the best feelings you can experience on earth, letting you know that heaven is now awaiting you.

**Dangerous Sleep

         Sleep normally refers the state of rest our body needs to recover from physical or mental fatigue. When a person dies, we sometimes say he or she has gone to sleep. But the most dangerous kind of sleep is being spiritually dead. This is someone who is wide awake and active in the world, but has no awareness of God's existence or relevance. He or she is to be pitied for risking being lost forever.  

**Perfect Obedience Due

        Perfect LORD deserves our perfect obedience. When that happens, there will be perfect harmony and peace in his kingdom. This should be obvious to anyone who is open to God.

***God's Perfect Way***

        Communion experience. The Lord has come up with the perfect way for us to attain union with him. It is ingenious! Praise him!

**Our Ultimate Goal

        We pray for many things to the Lord; but ultimately, we want to become totally obedient to him. In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 16, Jesus gave us the right counsel: "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

*****The LORD Is Real!

        From today's reading 1 from Jeremiah 20, we heard read "I say to myself, I will not mention him [the LORD], I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it." Let me tell you that the LORD is real and you can develop a most intimate relationship with him until he becomes your conscience. Now you lead an absolutely exhilarating, rewarding existence!

***Blunt Reality***

        Sept. 2. We are all being processed on earth to enter heaven, purgatory, or hell right now. And we have total control over this process when we have Christ with us! 

****Every Thought Counts

        Sept. 2. Not just our words and deeds, every single thought we have matters—now we are provided with myriad opportunities for storing up treasures in heaven!

***Experiencing God's Wonders

      Sept. 2. The more you praise Jesus, the more he exalts you. A wonderful way to feel wonderful!

**Beware of Dementia

        Recently, quite a number of old folks I know have developed dementia. This should be a warning to all older persons who have not considered accepting Christ yet. My advice is to look into Christ when your mind is still clear, no matter what age you're at, as he is our only Savior and the one who can give you eternal life. Accepting him has absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.

***Most Appropriate Prayer

        Sept. 2. Asking for God's mercy greatly pleases the Lord and benefits ourselves.         

***Blessing in Disguise

        Sept. 1. Do not complain about your suffering. Accepting it for the Lord's sake will unite you with him and make you strong.

***A Warning to Remember***

        September 1. In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins. The five foolish ones were not ready when the bridegroom arrived and got locked out of attending the wedding feast. They knocked on the door, asking the Lord to let them in. But he said in reply, "Amen, I say to you, I do not know you." Therefore, we must stay awake at all times. It would be the worst nightmare of our whole existence should that ever happen to us! 

**Liberating Thought

        August 31. I became aware that I was "trapped" on earth; basically I was limited to traveling over the surface of this planet only. Then death would set me free from my physical body, enabling my spirit to soar toward my loving creator.

***Living Right

        August 31. This I've said before and became extra clear to me. It always comes down to be between God and us, never others and us. So make sure that you are always on good terms with God and pray for others instead of blaming them.

***A Form of Self-Slavery*

        August 31. The Lord made me see that feeling hurt is a form of self-slavery! We must ask the Lord to deliver us from that. 

*Spiritual Progress Necessary

        August 30. When Christ underwent his Passion on earth, he faced his sufferings squarely, never complaining nor shrinking back, in carrying out the will of the Father. I look at myself and see that when things don't go my way, I easily lose patience, get upset, start complaining, or even pity myself. Shame on us who do not follow the Lord's example perfectly. But things do get easier as we surrender ourselves more to him. Progress we must if we are not to remain lukewarm.

***Unimaginable Burden

        August 28. I felt the burden when I saw that most of the world did not know or had forsaken God, the God of Christ. And I realized how infinitely heavy the burden the Lord God must be carrying when he looked at the ungrateful world. It was unimaginable for me!

***How God Has Made Us

          Nothing but God can truly satisfy us. I enjoy listening to music, but I definitely don't want to do that forever. God hasn't made us to live for this life only, and I am glad that my time here is limited. To live with the Father in heaven forever is what I desire and was made for. Above all, it's the Father's wish. He loves all of us, understands our deepest desire and knows exactly how to satisfy us. Aim heaven high is the way to go.

***Our Perfect Soulmate*****

        On Aug 27 I realized the following. Since we are all unique and different from each other, finding a perfect soulmate is nigh impossible. Then there's the Lord God. Not only he understands each of us perfectly, he can also transform each of us. Submit ourselves to him, receive him in the Holy Eucharist, and we attain union with him and become like him. Now we and the Lord God are soulmates with each other!

**Fundamental Revelation

        At the Vigil Mass on August 26, in the Gospel reading from Matthew 16, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in replay, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father." It dawned on me that many of us also believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, without any doubt, so it's the same heavenly Father who has revealed that to us.

**God Totally Trustworthy

        I am back after I last blogged on Aug. 25. On Aug. 26, I boarded a plane flying to another city very early in the morning. The window shades on the plane were all lowered, so I couldn't see a thing outside. As the plane was getting ready to take off, I only sensed that it was moving in a certain way. Minutes later, we're airborne. I trusted in the pilot that he would get me to my destination on time. Then I realized that this is how we should trust in God, even more so, for he is infinitely more knowledgeable and reliable than any human pilot.