***Secret to Salvation

        The last three verses of today's First Reading from 1 Peter 1 read, "Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, Be holy because I am holy." We are to be holy because God is our model and he is holy. If you try your best to be like the Lord, you will be saved.

**An Awareness to Help Living Wisely**

        The Lord God, who creates all things, must know everything that occurs to govern the universe. Being omnipotent, he transcends both space and time, as well as all physical laws. Consequently, he knows our every thought, motivation, word, and deed—there's no escaping him! To live in ignorance of this truth is, therefore, downright foolish!

***A Beautiful Mother for All!***

        I must also mention that in today's Gospel reading from John 19, before Jesus handed over the spirit  to the Father on the cross, he gave his own mother to the disciple John (and all of us) to be our mother. What a great, beautiful gift! We all have an earthly mother, but we do need a perfect mother to fill a void in life, and Mary is the Father's answer to us. I truly thank and praise God for that. I see Mary as a mother who is always keeping me close to her Son, assisting me in doing the Father's will, and comforting me when I am in distress. 

***A Most Beautifu;l Moment in Human History***

        Today is the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. The Gospel Reading from John 19 describes the last moments of Jesus' death on the cross. Here is the first part of the reading. "Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I thirst.' There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, 'It is finished.' And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit." This is a most beautiful moment in human history—Jesus fulfilling the will of the Father out of pure love to save all of us for eternal life!

**Let's Drink of the Spirit to the Full!**

        Today is Pentecost Sunday. Verse 13 of the Second Reading from 1 Corinthians 12 reads: For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit intoxicates us—in the sense of spiritual exhilaration—it is fitting to speak of 'drinking of the one Spirit. 

**Thoughts on AI**

        AI is currently the hottest thing around; everyone is trying to use it. It's truly revolutionary and amazing. For example, not long ago, to make a website, you needed to pay a designer quite a bit of money to get one up. Now, you can build one using AI in no time, and for free. College students have created a big problem for their professors because they can have AI write their essays practically in an instant. Some people feature themselves in multiple videos using AI. You can ask any question online and get multiple answers through AI (although occasionally, you do get a wrong answer). The technology is still in the development stage. My point is, no matter the amazing inventions we create, if they do not make us aware of God, it is not progress. Instead of getting excited about them, we must make sure that they do not lead us further astray from God!

***Perfect syncing with God***

        God the Father already loves us. If we surrender to his love, crying out from the heart, "Father, love me!" beautiful things will start happening, because now we and the Father are in perfect sync.

***Jesus Our Essential Link***

        On the 27th of last month, I posted that I suffered a physical setback which prevented me from going to Mass. I accidentally fell and compressed my spine. The pain I feel around my waist has made it difficult to bend forward, or to sit or stand for too long. The only way to somewhat relieve the pain is to lie flat in bed, avoiding any stress on the spine. I realize that the waist links the upper and lower bodies. Even if those two parts are healthy, you are essentially disabled if that link is weak. Then, the Lord made me see that he is the link between our present and next lives. With him, both our lives are safe; without hm, they fall apart.

***GOD'S TRANSFORMATIVE LOVE***

        Today's Entrance Antiphon, based upon Romans 5:5, states: The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit of God dwelling within us, alleluia. I have zero doubt that once you experience the pure love of God—for even a nanosecond—you will feel wonderfully transformed and never be the same person again. Of course, you must be open to the Lord and truly desire this grace, and this is where most people falter.

***Comforting Love**

        In today's Gospel reading from John 17, we learn that the Father loved all those who believed in his Son just as he loved him. We are not on the same level as Christ, but we can be sure the Father loves us with that same love. This is deeply comforting to us.

**That Secure Feeling**

        I feel so good when I read these two verses from today's Psalm 16: "Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices; my body, too, abides in confidence. Because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption." When your soul is secure in the Lord, your entire existence feels it.

**Give Thanks**

        Here's a popular Christian worship song, beautifully sung by Janella Salvador.

***How We Bear Our Cross*

        Living in an imperfect world, we all have our own cross to bear, and our willingness to carry it is what truly matters. If you follow Christ, you recognize that everything the Lord allows in your life is a blessing, and you accept it joyfully. If you do not follow him, you will likely lose your peace and complain. Since we cannot make the cross go away, it is only by accepting it—just as the Lord Jesus did His—that we may one day be raised too.

***Letting Jesus Complete Our Joy*

        In today's Gospel Reading from John 17, lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the Evil One." Here are my thoughts on the verses I have colored. First, Jesus wants to share his joy with us. Normally, knowing how much he has suffered for us, it's easy to feel his sorrow, but we can receive great joy from him too! So, let the Lord complete our joy. Next, even though the world hates us for not belonging to it, Jesus asks the Father to keep us from evil instead of removing us from the world. The world still needs the righteous to spread the good news. 

**Self-Centered Generation**

        In today's first reading from Acts 20, Paul, before leaving the Church of Ephesus, spoke to the presbyters, asking them to keep in mind the words of the Lord himself, who said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Today, we often practice the opposite: it's mostly "me-first'"or "I want that, too." Besides, many charities turn out to be scams. The amount of fraud committed against the government or other organizations nationwide that has been discovered so far is truly staggering! It is sad that giving has become a lot more difficult for those who want to give.

**To Know Jesus the Person**

        Studying about Jesus won't get you any closer to him. To truly know the Lord, you must go straight to him with a completely open heart and tell him you are ready to receive him fully.

***Effective Praying***

        All prayers must come straight from the heart, said with urgency and total abandonment, for you are talking to your vLord and your God.

**Christ, Our Determining Factor**

        In today's Gospel Reading from John 17, Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and spoke to the Father. Here is part of what he said: "I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them." We see that we who belong to Christ are truly special, for we have been chosen by the Father and given to him. The division between us and those who do not belong to him is immense! Jesus is our determining factor. May God choose all of us!

**Conversion Made Easy**

        In today's First Reading from Acts 20, Paul addresses the Church at Ephesus, "You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia. I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews, and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes. I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me there I do not know, except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace." As you know, Paul relentlessly persecuted Christians before Christ called him. The Lord can convert each one of us completely if we'll let him. Always say yes to him, and we become saints easily and heaven-bound.

**Remaining in Jesus' Peace*

        In today's reading from John 16, Jesus said to tyhe disciples, "Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world." We are not alone anymore, for the Lord promised his disciples that he would be with them always, until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). But we will have to be courageous in facing the trouble in the world.

**True Love Missing**

         Jesus shows us what true love is. He was willing to die for us so that we might have life forever. He is always open and ready to listen to us. He wants us to trust in him to receive the very best from him. He always means what he says and never forgets us, and his mercy is boundless. We claim to love others, but our love is rarely pure. Let me use one example. Nowadays, families are so fractured that many adult children no longer care about their parents. I once lived next to an old lady living alone in an apartment building, and for years, I never saw her children come to visit her until after she died. At church, some of my friends are even barred from seeing their grandkids by their children for various reasons. Once in a while, a son or daughter may call to say, "I love you," and that's it, without showing any true concern for you. True love means being willing to listen to and desiring to know the person you love. Finally, if there is no concern for the salvation of the soul, there is no true love there.

**Miracles in New Mexico**

        Here are two videos about miracles that occurred in New Mexico, USA. I will post the more recent one—which began in 2018—first, followed by the one from 1810.

***Jesus' Ascension***

        Today is the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. This is how the event was recorded in Acts 1: "As the Apostles were looking on, Jesus was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, 'Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.'" For me, chances are he shall be taking me up to him before his next coming. Either way is fine with me.

***Abandonment to God***

        Total abandonment to God should be our ultimate goal, yet it remains our greatest challenge and test. It pits our natural desire for control against his will. Do you truly want to surrender yourself completely?  Can you trust him in all things? In essence, are you willing to let him do whatever he wishes with your life? Logically, your answer should be an absolute "yes,"  yet this is the central struggle for most of us. If you can surrender to it, it will be a breakthrough—leading to deep peace and abundant joy that the Lord has always intended for you. With him, giving in is the true secret to winning.

***KNOW GOD FIRST**

        I just posted that the most beautiful experience is falling in love with God, which means the most unhappy must be hating God. What is truly tragic is that these haters don't even realize they are wrong and are bringing condemnation upon themselves. You see, when you know God, you understand how awful sin is; but for those who don't, they have no idea that knowing him can bring such true joy.

***Most Beautiful Experience***

        It is falling in love with God through Christ, who is Love itself. It is a pure love that engages the whole soul. If we could all love the Lord selflessly in this way, we would have heaven on earth! Sadly, most people of the world not only disregard Christ but actively hate him. Such folly amounts to cutting your own lifeline, which explains why they feel so unhappy. When love for God is absent from your heart, misery begins.

***Perfect Ending for Christians***

        Here is today's entire Gospel reading from John 16: "Jesus said to his disciples: 'Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.'" That day will come to each of us who follow Christ faithfully. It will be the day we forget all our past pain, grief, and anguish, and start experiencing heavenly joy for all eternity while receiving whatever we ask the Father for in Jesus' name—an absolutely perfect ending for all true Christians!

**Following the Lord to Glory**

        Today's Gospel Acclamation, based upon Luke 24:46, 26, reads: "Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory." Each of us has our own cross to carry and must die in the Lord and rise again before entering into our glory.

**God Is with Us**

        In today's First Reading from Acts 18, while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to him in a vision, "Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you." I believe that the Lord is with every one of us who works for him, even if he doesn't speak to us in a vision, for it's impossible that he would leave us alone or abandon us. First of all, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, alone is enough to guide us through all our days on earth. Furthermore, by keeping his word, we remain in him already.

***Most Beautiful Act***

        In today's Gospel reading from John 15, Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love." "Remain in the Lord's love"—it is such a beautiful act and within our reach! The Lord is love. Obey him and you are one with him!

**Being Rich Can Be a Handicap**

         In Matthew 19, Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." Then we can assume that it will be easier for one who is poor to enter the kingdom of heaven. In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16), we learn that the rich man died, descended into the netherworld, and suffered torment, while Lazarus, who lay at the rich man's door covered with sores, was carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham. What can we make of all this? It seems that if we focus on satisfying ourselves physically and materially, we get our reward in this life. But if we endure suffering and hardships while trusting in God, he will reward us in the next. This aligns with Matthew 16:24: "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

**Logical Conclusion**

        In today's First Reading from Acts 17, Paul tells the Athenians that the true God is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything, and that it is in him that we live and move and have our being. Indeed, God not only created us, but also sustains us, keeping our hearts beating and lungs breathing. If we see this clearly, we have no choice but to believe in and surrender ourselves to him.

****Good Reminder and Advice***

        Everything in this life passes. In our next life, whether happy or sad, we shall remain the same forever. So, follow Christ now, live for our next life with him, and let the present life go.

***Another Realization (Ultimate Fulfillment)***

        I am not alone at all! In fact, I have Christ, who loves me and understands me perfectly. He cleanses my heart and mind, making me fit for entering heaven. He totally fulfills all I need! When he is yours, you can let go of everything else—including yourself—and be totally free. Alleluia!

**Salve Regina**

        450 people from 33 countries blend together to hail the Holy Queen.

**Know Our Heavenly Mother**

        This is Bishop Barron's Mother's Day message on Mother Mary. It should clear up any misunderstandings many non-Catholics hold about her. She is the greatest saint, God's most obedient daughter, and our Holy Mother in heaven!

***Power of the Cross***

        Here is Bishop Barron's inspiring speech on the Cross (ends at 14:16, before the presenter's comments).

***Fundamental Realization**

        While praying to the heavenly Father, I realized that he truly created me and is my Father! He is the dearest person to me, and I am now his forevermore! This has brought me immense comfort and unspeakable joy.

***How to Know the Spirit Is in You***

        In today's First Reading from Acts 8, when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God and been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, Peter and John went down and prayed for them. They laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel Reading from John 14, Jesus told his disciples that he would ask the Father to give them another Advocate to be with them always—the Spirit of truth. In the past, I asked the Lord how I would know that the Holy Spirit indeed dwelled in me. Now I can tell you that you will know when he is dwelling in you. Here are some of the telling signs: (1) You love and yearn for the Lord. (2) You wish salvation for all people. (3) You detest all sin to the extreme. (4) You know the Lord's will for you. Seek to attain union with God through the Holy Eucharist, and you are in union with the Spirit as well.

***Heavenly Grace**

        Today's Gospel Acclamation is based on what Jesus said in John 14:23—"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him." If we truly love Jesus, naturally we shall keep his word, for we want to do everything to please him. Then both the Father and he will come to dwell with us, and we get to know them intimately. What a heavenly grace!

**Serving the Lord*

        In today's Second Reading from 1 Peter 3, I read: "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil." So, as followers of Christ, we must always do good for God's glory and not be concerned about consequences.

***True Freedom**

        While we have freedom of speech in America, many often abuse that privilege. This freedom often leads to the false belief that one can do whatever they like without accountability. The truth is that if you are not free from sin, you are not truly free! "Never die in sin" should be our motto, for the wages of sin is eternal enslavement.

**To Whom Do You Belong?**

        In today's Gospel reading from John 15, Jesus says to his disciples: "If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you." It is clear that if the world loves you, you belong to it. And it is also clear that if the world hates you, it is because Christ has chosen you!

**Source of Our Joy**

        Here is today's Response from Psalm 100: "Let all the earth cry out to God with joy." Do you know that God is the source of boundless joy, and that this joy can set us free, completely transforming us? His joy is a heavenly gift that the Lord plants in our hearts, delighting the soul. Experiencing this joy alone is reason enough to entrust ourselves to Christ our Savior!

**Our Little Resurrection*

        Today's Entrance Antiphon, Colossians 2:12, reads: "You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead." Since we died and rose with Christ, we can now live to be like him.

***To Be like Jesus*

        This is today's Gospel reading from John 15: Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete." So if we keep his commandments and remain in his love, we shall be like him, keeping the Father's commandments and remaining in his love! Having our joy made complete is a beautiful way of describing our state when we remain in Christ's love.  

*****The Greatest Miracle of the Sun*****

        While the Shroud of Turin I just posted is an amazing miracle, this amazing Miracle of the Sun took place at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. Over 70,000 people witnessed it, and many newspapers reported it. Even if you are already familiar with the Fatima story, it should be interesting to see how this event affected a famous atheist journalist at the time. I am here mainly to present the miracle, not the prophetic messages on salvation, the end of World War I, the threat of Communism, and the future of the Church which Our Lady of Fatima revealed to the three shepherd children, and which have been or are being fulfilled.

*****The Shroud of Turin*****

        Whether you already know about the Shroud of Turin or not, you must watch this video, as the findings are most amazing! It has been studied since 1898, with serious scientific investigation beginning in 1978 and continuing to this day. When I first saw the image on that cloth, I knew it was the burial cloth of the Lord. While many scientists hope to prove it a forgery, this video presents the latest findings. To me, this is solid proof that Jesus was crucified, rose from the dead, and is our God. If you still do not believe, then God help you!

**A Test Question

        The world is divided into two groups: the faithful, who will go to heaven, and the unfaithful (including the most evil), who will not. If you are faithful and believe that God is merciful, would you be happy with this, or would you pray that all the unfaithful also go to heaven?

**How to Bear Fruit**

        In today’s Gospel reading from John 15, Jesus says to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every branch that does, he prunes so that it bears more fruit." The Father prunes us when we encounter anything trying or unpleasant. If we accept these trials without reservation, we will bear much fruit. The Lord continues: "Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. 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." Are you connected to Jesus like a branch to the vine? If not, you cannot bear fruit.

*****Call to Seek Union with God*****

        When the Lord was on earth, he answered all our questions truthfully. Now that we are on our own, we often interpret his messages to suit our own liking, leading to dissension among us. Therefore, we must seek union with the Lord through the Holy Eucharist, a necessity that applies even more so to the Church hierarchy. Only by knowing the Lord's ways and thoughts in our hearts can we remain fully in him and adhere to the truth.

***Our Goal Is Heaven***

        Fr. Chad Ripperger is a well-known Catholic priest, theologian, and exorcist. Because of his encounters with demons in his work, he seems to know a lot about heaven and hell. I watched his talk on hell—believe me, what you learn will make you believe in the God of Christ fast. Of course, you should really believe because God loves you in the first place. Here is Fr. Ripperger's short talk on heaven. I learned that the joy you receive in heaven is proportional to how much you love him on earth. This made sense to me. A holy person on earth will experience greater joy in heaven than someone who repents and is saved in his last moments on earth. When you yearn for the Lord, it is really a form of prayer, and he answers that! Note: Don't miss the last statement of the talk.

***Requisite for Knowing God*

        In today's Gospel reading from John 14, Jesus said to his disciples: "Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him." People say, "I don't believe in God because I am open and don't hear a thing from him." Now we see that to know God, you must love him first; you cannot expect the Lord to come to you if you don't have any desire to know him. You are not really open when you have not yet cast aside your pride. 

***We Are Not Left Out***

        In yesterday's Gospel Reading from John 14, Jesus makes it clear to his disciples that he is in the Father and the Father is in him. It amazes me that when we attain union with God through the Holy Eucharist, the Lord is in us and we are in him.

**Eternal Salvation Assured**

        I was not able to blog yesterday because an emergency came up. Now that things have calmed down, I am going over the Mass readings. In the First Reading from Acts 13,  I read: "All who were destined for eternal life came to believe . . . ." So if you believe in the word of God, you are destined for eternal life. Persevere to the end and your eternal salvation is assured.

**All for Our Sake!**

        The Communion Antiphon, Roman 4:25, reads: "Christ our Lord was handed over for our transgressions and was raised for our justification, alleluia." We now ought to live for him and die in him in order that we may be raised again. 

**Unforgettable Pronise**

        On this first day of May, what Jesus said to his disciples in the First Reading from John 14 fills me with joy: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be." I shall always remember these comforting words!

***Most Amazing God***

        In today's Reading 1 from Acts 13, Paul quotes John the Baptist regarding Jesus: "Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet." Yet this Lord was willing to die for my salvation and unite with me in body and spirit today. This is so unexpected and overpowering that it is virtually a miracle. I shall rejoice in my most amazing God forever!

***Another Urgent Reminder****

        After swimming ten laps or running on a treadmill nonstop for 30 minutes, you probably feel pretty good about your fitness. Nevertheless, you are still aging. Remember that you were once an infant, a teenager, and then a young adult; perhaps you are already middle-aged. Regardless, the Lord God knows the exact day you'll leave this world. You may feel great now, but you are just passing through. Instead of focusing only on your temporary physical condition, I suggest you pay attention to the state of your soul, which will remain the same forever in the next life.

***Serious, Clear Messages***

      On this Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, I am going to separate the Gospel reading from John 12 into four parts.

         (1) Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.

       (2) I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

        (3) Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.

        (4) And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

         Parts 1 and 4 show that Jesus and God the Father are one. Part 2 reveals the purpose of Jesus' coming into the world, which is to save, not condemn, us. Part 3 reveals the consequences if we reject him.

**Learn This Wisdom**

        When we are young, even if we profess to be Christians, it's easy to put ourselves in charge of everything rather than the Lord. He may come after you, or a long way back. However, upon reaching old age, you may finally realize that all the time you lived without Christ truly being your Lord is time wasted, and you don't have much time left to get ready for meeting him. Of course, this awakening could have started and unfolded gradually earlier. Knowing this reality should help you see that it would be wise to start out letting the Lord be in charge from the very beginning.

**Stop Deceiving Yourself**

        The Apostle wrote in 1 John 1: "If we say, 'We are without sin,' we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, 'We have not sinned,' we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." So the very first step we must take to follow Christ to eternal life is to acknowledge that we are sinners. This is the minimum humility needed to follow him. Do not continue deceiving yourself, for Christ is the Truth.

***Best We Can Do***

        I thought about what Jesus had undergone to save us from eternal death. The best thing I could think of, as a finite being, was to completely obey him in all things—we cannot do any better than that. If we all do that, love and peace will reign in this world before we all enter heaven!

***Look Forward Only***

        As Christians, we must always look forward to Christ and heaven. Looking toward anything else is like moving backward, especially when we wish we had handled our past differently, as this prevents us from growing closer to the Lord.

**Repentance Is a Joy**

         From today's First Reading from Acts 11, we learn that God has granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles. Repentance is truly life-giving because the gate of heaven opens up when you repent. Repentance may sound sad, but it leads to the greatest possible joy.

***True Lord and True God***

        Since I am suffering a little bit, I have started thinking about Jesus' Passion. It is absolutely amazing that he went through all that without complaining and retaliating the slightest. As a matter of fact, he even prayed for his enemies. He truly practiced what he preached. He is indeed our Lord and our God!

**To Be Wise and Prudent**

         I have just suffered a physical setback, which will keep me from going to Mass and the gym for a while. What I miss most is not being able to receive the Holy Eucharist. I do see that suffering gives me the opportunity to offer up my pain to the Lord to unite with him even more. When we are physically sound, we tend to think about this life only. It is often when people get older that they realize death is near and it's time to turn to God. Of course, we should know that anyone can die at any time. So, living as if this is your last day on earth is wise and prudent.

***Are You the Lord's Sheep?*

        In today's Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus says that he walks ahead of his sheep and they follow him because they recognize his voice. Again, this raises some questions. We think we follow the Lord as our shepherd, but do we really hear his voice? And if we do, do we recognize that it is him? I am not talking about hearing him audibly, rather, when you are close to him, your heart simply feels what his feels. There is a union of hearts here. 

**Guardian of Our Souls**

        In today's Second Reading from 1 Peter 2, the Apostle writes: "For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls." I believe that we all have a soul, and that the only guardian of our souls is Christ, our Creator and Savior. If you care about your own soul, you must look to him before you search elsewhere. I can testify to you that he is the perfect one for all our needs. (Read today's Psalm 23 to be affirmed.)

**Peter Raises a Question**

        In today's First Reading from Acts 2, I was struck by Peter's words: "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." We certainly live in such times, so the question is this: "Will you head toward destruction with the majority, or will you let Christ lead you to eternal life?" Do you dare to be different?

**God's Most Beautiful Love**

        Communion experience. God's love for us is the most beautiful thing in the universe. When you embrace it, you are shielded from all evil, receiving strength, guidance, wisdom, peace, and consolation in times of sorrow, freeing you to become pure and beautiful yourself.

***Awakening for All Catholics***

        The Catholic Church has received the whole truth through Christ, who declared that the gates of the netherworld should not prevail against her. While the final victory over evil is assured, for the time being, Satan has infiltrated the Church, causing apostasy from the top, disunity among the clergy, and scandals within her walls. The priesthood and marriage are his prime targets. These events were prophesied by the Blessed Mother throughout the last century (at Fatima, Garabandal, Akita, and Civitavecchia). As a result, the teachings and messages we receive today are often weak, confusing, or even unholy. All the more, we need to seek refuge in and guidance from the Lord himself.

***Two Significant Statements*****

        Today is the Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist. In the Gospel reading from Mark 16, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." Both statements are significant. The first is a direct command, while the second is indirect, warning of the severe consequences of not believing in him. 

**For the Rich to Enter Heaven*

        In Matthew 19, Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." We must understand that a typical rich person lives mostly for his own well-being and cares less about the welfare of others, making him self-centered or even self-serving. This is the problem. So if you are rich but detached from all your possessions and care about those in need, you should be okay. 

**Better Pursuit*

        While we all seek physical comfort, pursuing spiritual consolation offers far greater, higher-level rewards.

**Great Feeling**

        Communion experience. I know that the Lord loves me and has chosen me. It's impossible not to rejoice in him! 

*****Greatest Division (a WARNING)*****

       A great division exists between those who are with Christ and those who are not. After death, this becomes an unbridgeable chasm, as far apart as heaven and hell. If you remain united with Christ now, you will have nothing to worry about!

**What Judging Is**

        Telling others they are offending the Lord and in the wrong is not judging, as it is done out of pure love. Judging is criticizing others without pity. Jesus points out our faults so that we may be saved; he feels sorrow for us, but never condemns us as long as there is still a chance for us to turn around.

***True Flesh, True Blood***

        In today's Gospel reading from John 6, Jesus said to the Jews, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. . . . This is the bread that came down from heaven." After hearing this, it is impossible to believe that the Lord meant his words symbolically.

**"Here I Am"**

        In Scripture, we often come across this response when someone realizes the Lord is calling them. This shows you are ready to follow whatever he asks you to do. It is a response that pleases him greatly—and should please you, too. To be called by the Lord is a great honor, for he calls only those he wishes to exalt.

**A Day in Heaven**

        Any day you allow the Lord to lead you is a day in heaven.

**Beginning Anew**

        Before Mass began this morning, I emptied myself entirely, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me and make me anew. This clean sweep solidifies my union with the Beloved Lord.

***What We Must Secure First***

        Earlier today, I met someone I felt sorry for; there are people like that all around us. She seems very nice and friendly, but she isn't trying to live a holy life and shows no interest in anything beyond this world. I feel for her because she hasn't secured her soul yet. In life, we might miss out on many earthly comforts, but I am talking about missing the opportunity to be free and happy for all eternity! For now, I can only pray for such souls and share the gospel with them when I have the chance.

***Mary's Prophecy***

        This message has been around and good for all Catholics to know: https://youtube.com/shorts/j8nuJbIW0nw?si=yzdeR25zCIGOy2qZ         

***Reason for My Joy***

        Communion experience. I am still on earth bodily, but my soul is already resting securely in Jesus' holy hands! That explains my constant joy in hm.

***WISE ADVICE***

        In heaven, time stands still, and you remain holy, happy, and unchanged forever. On earth, time passes irreversibly. Therefore, it's wise to latch onto Christ before your time runs out.

***Do You Know That . . .

 when you are aware of the holy presence of the Lord God, your ego vanishes?    

***Do You Realize?***

        Christ took on the greatest sorrow so that we may experience the greatest joy. He died for us so that we may live forever!

***You Are Egoless If . . .

 you aim to please God alone.

***Our Biggest Enemy***

         It's not Satan. It's our ego, our pride! Pride keeps us from obeying God. Since the Lord is ever present, ego has no place to exist in us. Unfortunately, it surfaces all the time in us, even when we are supposed to be serving the Lord. We all feel good when people say nice things about us. The ego absolutely doesn't need to be fed; praise is for God alone. Pride also causes the loss of our reverence for the Lord. At Mass, we should focus upon the Lord solely, yet we often hear thing said for the amusement of the congregation—that's the ego acting. Right after Mass ends, the church instantly sounds noisier than a cafe with people talking and chattering—that's the doing of a lot of egos. I know many others don't feel it this way; then to each his own. I do know that if everyone were a lot more humble, the world will be a lot happier place.

***God's Life-Changing Joy***

        Today's Entrance Antiphon based on Psalm: 71: 8 and 23, reads: "Let my mouth be filled with your praise, that I may sing aloud; my lips shall shout for joy when I sing to you, alleluia." And the Response from Psalm reads: "Let all the earth cry out to God with joy." The Lord God is all about joy—he has solved my problems and fills me to the brim! The happiness the world offers is generated externally, channeled through your physical senses, and is temporary. By contrast, the joy of the Lord comes from heaven, landing directly in your heart. It then bubbles forth like a spring, keeping you refreshed and exhilarated forever.

**Most Precious Lord**

        Communion experience. The Lord is as precious to me as my own soul, if not more so. I owe my whole existence, now and forever, to him!

**Critical for Our Survival**

        As long as we remain open to Christ, the chance of getting into heaven is always there. So start talking to him right now, for he awaits and is ready to receive you with open arms.

***Our Only Fundamental Reality***

        To avoid Christ is to avoid reality itself. Though all creation may pass away, the Creator never will. The only one we can trust for all eternity is the only fundamental reality and truth we have: Christ the LORD. Without him, there would be no life whatsoever.

***How to Love God in One Step*****

         You surrender yourself completely to God and don't sin anymore. (This is not easier said than done if your surrender is genuine and total.)

***The Bread of Life***

        Jesus is known as the Lamb of God—a truly beautiful and meaningful title! In today's Gospel reading from John 6, Jesus describes himself as the Bread of Life, telling the people: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." This is yet another powerful and fitting name for him!

***Freedom Found in God Only***

        Today's Psalm Response, Ps 31:6a, reads: "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." A christian should be willing and able to commend his body, mind, will, and spirit entirely into the Lord's hands. This is how you are set free. The truth is that when you obey the Lord completely, you attain freedom; conversely, disobedience causes unrest.

***We Are Made for the Lord***

        We all have hobbies or something else we enjoy doing in this life. For myself, I can name music and photography. I appreciate listening to great music. Some compositions are just beautiful; you could say that they melt your heart and even touch your soul. The question is this: If I never age or die in this world, will I be perfectly happy listening to such music forever? My answer is a resounding no—I feel music alone is not enough to satisfy me for all eternity. Let me now move on to photography. I have a natural eye for it, and my works are so personal that people can tell the images could have only been made by me. In a way, it means even more to me than music. Suppose I am able to explore the world and photograph like that forever—will I be satisfied? The answer is again no, as I feel there has to be something more than that. Anyway, I already have Christ, the one who truly satisfies me. He fills all my hunger and quenches all my thirst. God has indeed made us for Him alone.