**Holy Love**

         Communion experience. The love of the Lord is not only pure, but also holy, so it needs to be adored, reverenced, and held in great awe.

***Personal-Tragedy Warning***

         The most recent catastrophic Texas flood tragically wiped out many homes and lives, including more than a score of young campers, not to mention the numerous ongoing tragic situations in human trafficking, drug addiction, etc. Yet most of us still focus upon maximizing our own wealth and comfort, while evildoers continue plotting to hurt others. Soon we'll all meet the Lord alone and be judged by him for better or worse. This could turn out to be a great tragedy for those who are not awake to the truth or reality yet. 

**Union with God Our Best Goal

         Today's psalm response came from Psalm 69. It reads Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live. Obviously, "live" means "to have eternal life." Since we are in constant need for the Lord's support, protection, and guidance, we might as well seek to attain union with him for good.

**Reason I Feel Happy Today*

        I realize that the God of Christ I believe in is one for whom nothing is impossible and he is with me.

********At a Fork in the Road****

         In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 10, Jesus said to his Apostles: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." These sayings absolutely challenge us to he core! We are faced with accepting Christ as our Lord and God or not—there's no middle ground, no third choice! It's either the best or the worst for us. To me, they could only have come from the true God.  

**Ready to Go to God?

         Am I? The answer is yes. I believe that it will happen when I have done enough for him on this earth in his eyes. Meanwhile, I continue serving the Lord faithfully in peace.

*******Critical Reality to Realize*******

         If your god is a vague god, it won't do you any good, for you can't really get to know someone vague. On the contrary, the God of Christ is so crystal clear, specific, and personal that you can get to know most intimately! Don't waste time looking elsewhere, for there can only be one God! Christ is all yours for the asking, if you have enough sense and can override your pride. So wise up to receive the greatest possible reward—eternal life in heaven! Otherwise, you'd remain lost forever! I am not trying to scare anyone; I simply feel compelled to make this truth known with love from the only God!

**World's One Big Sin*

         When we go bad, God always gives us another chance. We repent and become good again. The world, on the contrary, has no love. When they hate you, they will always say that you're bad. That's why so many good people are still being persecuted today. It's the lack of love that causes people to judge others. The Lord will right everything in the end by treating everyone the way they treated others.

**Being Foolish and Heartless*

          We claim that we believe in the God of Christ, but how we live often shows a different picture. The Lord is almighty, most loving and eager to help, yet we still choose to live our way, oblivious to his presence and cutting off all that love, kindness, and transformative power available to us. How foolish and heartless we are! Wake up, weep, and repent, for he is our only Savior.

***Total Fulfillment***

         Communion experience. I've found Christ to be the only one who can satisfy me completely. Imagine my joy! 😇

***How Much Do We Love God?***

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 10, a scholar of the law stood up to test Jesus and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He said in reply,"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." I must admit that to love my neighbor as myself is not easy, and it's thru his mercy that he hasn't really tested me on that yet. As followers of Christ, we need to ask ourselves if we're really following these commandments. To not try to do better amounts to being hypocritical.

***Wonderful Blessed Gift***

         Here is the entire text of the second reading from Colossians 1: Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven. How did Paul know all this? It had to be the heavenly Father who revealed it all to him. When you are in union with the Lord, he imparts knowledge to you as he wills. It is a most wonderful blessing (see Matthew 16:17).

***Existence sans Christ***

         I now live in a house that has a temporary address on earth, and I know that my permanent residence will be somewhere in heaven in the house of the Lord. Anyone who resides on earth without Christ is basically drifting thru space and time, not knowing where he'll end up. It is a terrible situation to exist in an unknown. Without the light of Christ, we basically remain in darkness.

**Freedom in God

         Communion experience. When you experience the peace of union with God, nothing else bothers you anymore. You are now living in the house of the eternal Lord!

***What God Loves***

        It's a simple, pure heart. Therefore, trust in him and remain clean, and you will feel better than anything else in the world! 

**God Sees Through Darkness

         In today's Gospel from Matthew 10, Jesus said to his Apostles, "Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known." The Lord knows everything! Therefore, do not sin.

***Love's Secret***

         ONCE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH CHRIST, YOU DON'T NEED TO UNDERSTAND HIM ANYMORE, FOR YOU NOW KNOW HIM PERFECTLY.

**Note on Last Post

        I believe that the video HOW WE CAN MISS HEAVEN was AI-generated, judging from how smooth the deliver was and the word "sower" was mispronounced. Personally, I'd rather see Bishop Barron speaking to us in person. Then since the content was all Scripture-based, I can't really argue against that.

******HOW WE CAN MISS HEAVEN******

         I came across this video today and challenge all Christians to watch it. What we learn should sober us up. To enter heaven for sure, we must get our hearts transformed by God first and then obey him in all things.

***How Good God Is!***

         Went to Mass this morning. What good thing can I say about the Lord today? A lot actually, but I can sum it all up with this sentence: The God of Christ is absolutely most holy and perfect, and is exactly what we need to become like him.

**Most Foolish Decision**

         If you don't believe that Christ is truly your God and Savior and decide to wait until after you die to find out if that's true or not first, that, of course, absolutely won't do you any good. Only a most foolish person will gambol with his eternal future. 

***Good Sensible Video*

         Here's a good motivational video that can benefit us in following Christ, even though it's not presented from a Christian point of view. 

**Exquisite Experience**

         Communion experience. I wasn't consuming any ordinary food—I dined with my most beloved LORD at a heavenly banquet!

***Do You Know?***

         When you pray for physical healing, it may not happen if it's not best for your soul. But if you pray for the healing of your soul, it shall happen without fail! The Lord knows.

***Becoming Heavenly Rich

         Every time you do something for Christ's sake, your treasure in heaven builds up more. Keep going and you become super rich in heaven.

***Simple Great Advice

         When someone sins and causes others to fall also, that sin becomes a lot more serious. Do not follow the sinful ways of anyone. Instead, follow Christ steadfastly to become heaven bound, glorifying God. In other words, don't let anyone make you sin; let only God make you holy.

**Only One Father for Us**

         I am thinking that each of us has one father and one mother on earth. They might not be perfect parents, but I hope that I'll see mine after I get to heaven. Anyway, in heaven all earthly relationships will no longer exist—there'll be just one eternal Father with all of us being his children. So let's realize this and start loving and obeying the eternal Father right now! 

**Under God's Mercy*

        As I age, my eyesight and dexterity are diminishing. This explains why you may catch misspelled or missing words in my posts often. I try to make the correction as soon I see one. The deteriorating eyesight also makes blogging harder, as I now find it harder to discern the words on my laptop screen. Perhaps the Lord will stop feeding me thoughts one day soon—I don't know, and I am not concerned about that either. We are all constantly living under God's mercy. Realizing this gives us great peace. For all of us who follow Christ, we know that the best is yet to come!

*****Know This Truth!***

         I know that some of my messages on the strong side can making some readers feel uneasy, but truth is never weak. Otherwise, many more would choose to follow Christ. You could say that the Lord separates the men from the boys. Then he can make all of us super strong when we submit ourselves to him. Now we hunger for truth and don't mind dying for it!

**Heading the Wrong Way!*

         In the overall schemes of things, our time on earth compared to eternity is practically zero, yet we spend much of our time and energy to make sure that we look good, fit, and healthy, and at the same time are hardly concerned about the state of our soul. Have we already lost both our mind and senses?

*****Incredible Elevation*****

         Communion experience. Receiving the Holy Eucharist is to enter into union with Christ, who is our Lord, our creator, our Savior ... the Almighty God! This is an incredible elevation that's astounding beyond words! Realizing this alone is enough to make us want to give all of ourselves wholeheartedly to him forever.

***Critical Sayings WE MUST KNOW***

       In today's Gospel reading from Luke 10, Jesus commissioned seventy-two of his disciples to visit ahead of him every town and place he intended to visit to proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand. He said to them, "Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 'The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town." This shows that rejecting whatever Christ tells us is no trivial matter—it will bear severe consequences! In Matthew 10:33, Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father." We must remember these sayings, for ignoring them amounts to dismissing the Lord!

***Transforming Joy of Christ***

         Surrendering myself to Christ has to be the happiest experience of my whole life—it made me realize that this is how God has made us! When we do his will, we are set free! The joy of Christ that comes to us now bursts forth spontaneously from our hearts, enrapturing the soul—now we are made anew in the Lord, the old sinner no more! 

***Always Take God Seriously*

         At the end of each Mass, the priest blesses the congregation in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We are so used to hearing it that it's easy not to take it seriously; but this is truly having God bless us! So if we remain open and receptive, blessings will definitely be bestowed upon us. The Lord will take us seriously only if we take him seriously.

***Basic Reminder***

         Before God, we are all sinners; so we are in no position to judge others. If we ask the Lord to save us, we need to ask him to save everyone else too, for he loves all of us. Know that our greatest enemy is our pride, and humility is a must-have for getting into heaven.

***Serious Wake-Up Call***

         Christ is always with us, even when we are unaware of that or when we ignore it, for he is our Lord and our God. Each of us is basically alone with him, as only he matters to our existence. If you lose him, who is our only Savior, by choice or thru negligence, you become alone and lost forever!

*****Great Way to Know God Dearly*****

         Anytime you lose peace over anything, go straight to Christ the Lord to tell him about it, and he'll comfort and guide you. This is such a great way to endear yourself to him to deepen your relationship with him. Treat the Lord as your soulmate and he'll treat you as his. Now, watch how your life takes a wonderful turn!

***Onward with the Lord***

         Communion experience. That the Lord would feed me with his own body and blood through the Holy Eucharist is true giving! After receiving him, I know that I belong to him and my soul is in his most holy hands. Now I am rich beyond bounds and victorious over all obstacles. When the Lord is with you, you are unstoppable!

***Greatest Unjust Misunderstanding***

         Today's psalm response from Psalm 106: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Indeed, God is more than good: His not only sustains us phsically, he also loves us to death and wants to set us free from sin so that we may return to him to enjoy eternal life in heaven! But so many of us have chosen to live for themselves in their brief time on earth—how foolish and blind they are! Have they no concern about their souls? To believe that Christ has come and died for nothing is not only a serious sin, it also has to be the greatest unjust misunderstanding of all times! That's saying that you can survive without God, that he doesn't exist, or that he doesn't care about you at all. If you still have some heart and a mind left, it's time to wake up and give yourself a thorough internal examination. 

***Most Secure Bonding***

        Communion experience. Receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, you then form a bond with him impossible for anyone else to break!

***To Be Blessed to the Max***

         Today is the Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle. He's the one who came to believe that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead after seeing the mark of the nails in his hands, putting his finger into the nailmarks, and putting his hand into his side. Jesus said to Thomas, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." This is true and valid only because he is true God. If you can believe in Jesus to be your God and your Lord without seeing him, without knowing him, or even without questioning about him, then you'll surely be blessed by him to the max! It works because he is true God.

***Critical Awareness***

         Be aware that basically, each of us exists alone with God, for only he knows all about us and shall determine our eternal destiny. All the billions of other fellow human beings are in the very same boast with no direct power to change anything for us. Only we alone can shape the way we want the Lord to shape our eternal future. So start living for Christ right now! 

***Most Soul-Satisfying

         Communion time thought: Doing God's will is the most soul-satisfying thing we can possibly do on earth.

***Key to Salvation***

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 8, two demoniacs met Jesus and immediately cried out to him, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" The demons recognize who Jesus is and we should too. When we truly believe and know that he is the Lord and our Savior, we are saved!

***Sins That Can Sink Us***

         Here's a video that's a little long, but is important for all Catholics to watch. Come to think of it, it's also important for all others to watch so that they may come to understand sins more. It will definitely make some people feel uncomfortable, but you can always choose not to watch it. Mind you, the fact that it makes you feel uneasy only shows that you need to face sin and deal with it. Of course, if you're closed to Christ, to become sinless would be impossible. On the other hand, if you are open to him, sin can become totally manageable and you can even become effortlessly a saint! "To sin or not to sin?" is what we struggle with all our lives.

***Spiritual Elevation***

        Communion experience. As a lowly, finite being, you are overawed in becoming one with the glorious, infinite holy God, knowing that he's going to exalt you to the full. "To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich" (Matthews 13:12) really applies here.

*****Our Only Business*****

        Before the Most Holy Almighty God, our only business is to love and obey him ... no more, no less. Then we become totally free.