**Living Without Fear**

        I love the Psalm 27:1, which shows that God is completely on my side: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?" To be in Christ is to live without fear.

**To Be Honest and Genuine**

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus tells his disciples, "Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the Evil One." Therefore, we must ensure that everything we say does come from the Lord, meaning our egos cannot play a part. Even when a situation requires us to be diplomatic or make excuses, we are not being dishonest as long as our motives remain pure. Being genuine does not mean we have to reveal everything to everyone. Ultimately, if we let love reign in our hearts, we will be fine.

***How to Know Your God Is Real**

       Some people believe that there is a God, but they don't know anything about him. Others believe they know God, but they do not have a personal relationship with him. I am especially happy because I realize that Christ is my God without a doubt, and I am deeply in love and in union with him! When your God is more real to you than you are to yourself, he is the authentic, genuine God. But if your God is impersonal and nebulous in the slightest degree, he is a fake.

**Learning from God**

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus exclaimed to the Father, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to little ones." Here is revealed the simple secret to learning from God: Be a little one.

*****Mighty Power of LOVE*****

        Today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the Second Reading from 1 John 4, John writes, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. [...] God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him." By loving one another as God loves us, we become perfect and achieve union with the Lord!

***God Alone Matters**

        Here is the famous Do It Anyway poem that was tacked to the wall of Mother Teresa's children's home in Calcutta, India. It was originally written by  Dr. Kent M. Keith. I have blogged about it before, but here it is again in case you have not read it.       

• People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
• If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
• If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
• If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
• What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
• If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
• The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
• Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
• In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never. between you and them anyway.

        I would like to elaborate on the meaning of the last line. It is true that only what God thinks of us matters, not the opinions of anybody else. We can have many helpful friends in this world, but they are just as limited as we are. God is the only one who can lift us to the next level of existence to set us free for all eternity.

**Requisite for Pleasing God**

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus said to his disciples, "If you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Wow, if we have not yet reconciled with our brother, trying to please the Lord without doing so just seems hypocritical. This should make us think about our relationships with everyone! If we are filled with love for all, then the Lord will be pleased to receive us.

**Avoiding Reality?**

        We Christians are kind to each other. We serve the Lord together, helping and praying for each other and the world. Yet, when we are with each other in our leisure time, Christ is rarely mentioned—that seems a little odd, to say the least. To talk about all kinds of things but him is to forget that, as our Lord and Creator, he is the truth and the most important person to our existence and eternal happiness! 

**To Be Great in the Eyes of the Lord**

        In today's Gospel Reading from Matthew 5, Jesus says to his disciples, "Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." Today, we can say that if we follow Christ faithfully and teach others to do so as well, we will be the greatest in the eyes of the Lord.

**Best Thing for Our Heart**

        Today’s Psalm 4:7 reads: "You put gladness into my heart, more than when grain and wine abound." This verse truly resonates with me, as the joy of the Lord exceeds anything the world can offer.

***How Jesus Suffered***

        Today is the day to pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. The Shroud of Turin shows that there are up to 372 distinct bodily wounds caused by scourging, and about fifty puncture wounds clustered around the head and scalp caused by the crown of thorns. The Lord carried the heavy cross on his shoulder and fell at least three times—that must have hurt his knees badly. Long, thick iron spikes were driven into his wrists and feet. Finally, the cross with Jesus on it had to be moved to and dropped into the hole, and be set upright—all that shaking and rocking must have caused him a lot more pain. It dawned on me that he suffered mentally too. He came to his own people out of love to save them, but they not only rejected him, but also crucified him! The mental anguish had to exceed even his physical agony!

***Let God Initiate the Action***

        While you can love the Lord, it is far better to let him love you; this is true abandonment. Similarly, to know him, simply open your heart so he can reveal himself to you. Let the Lord initiate the action to make things effortless. He desires to do so much with you and for you, completely for your good.

***ONLY TWO OUTCOMES***

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount. The final Beatitude reads, "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me." He then concludes, "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven." This shows us that if we remain with Jesus, no matter what happens, we will be happy for all eternity. To go off on our own is to be lost forever.

***Pleasing God**

        Did you know that living a holy life not only delights the Father's heart, but also makes us a beautiful sight for him to behold?

**On Knowing God**

        Since God is real, he is to be experienced and enjoyed. Once you know enough about him, you need to let your heart take over completely so that you may truly know him.

**Fools Can Wait**

        Since God is real, believing in him without doubt allows him to reveal his existence to you. Consequently, if you do not believe yet expect him to prove he is real, that will never happen.

**Antichrist Concern

        Most people expect to see the Antichrist appear as an individual, whereas the Apostle John regards anyone who denies Christ in any way as an antichrist. Personally, I see our secular world as the Antichrist. In any case, if you have Christ as your Lord, you need not worry about who the Antichrist is anymore. 

**Returning to God, Most Fitting**

         It is truly fitting for us to return to God like the prodigal son in the parable. All of heaven now rejoices, for you have been forgiven and saved! If you love God, he will always make sure that you remain happy for all eternity. 

**The Lord Consoles Those Who Miss Him**

        Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Since I am still recovering from my fall six weeks ago, I had to miss Mass. But the Lord consoles me by giving me an abundance of thoughts, overfilling me with joy. Today I especially feel the goodness of the Lord, my "perfect" connection to him, and the beauty of the Holy Trinity. Praise God!

***Our Greatest Joy on Earth***

        Christ came to save sinners. We all need him, but the more sinful you are, the greater your need for him. I hope you realize this. The good news is that no matter how sinful you are, if you turn to him, he will make you clean. Indeed, there is no greater joy than letting Christ save you!

***Perfect All Around***

        God is perfect on his own and perfect for us. As imperfect people, we are the perfect candidates for him to perfect—allowing him to be our perfect Father. Now, we have arrived at a perfect end.

***Simple Truth**

        You are not secure until your soul is secure.

*****BE AWARE OF YOUR SINS*****

        Be aware that every time you sin against the Lord, you hurt him and make him feel sorry for you. Saying one unkind or bad word is like giving the Lord a quick prick with a needle. If you don't watch your language, you could end up pricking him hundreds of thousands of times in your whole lifetime!

***Sign We Have Gone Against God***

        Anytime we lose inner peace, we have gone against God in thought, word, or deed. It sounds strict, but it is true. In perfect union with the Lord, we would have peace at all times.

***Good Question for Us**

        Our God is infinite in every way: in his mercy, his joy, his knowledge, and his creative power... Look at how he loved us to death (pun intended), and how vast our universe is! Realizing how finite we are in every way, how can we possibly not let him be our Lord?

**True Food to Live By**

        Food is a massive trend nowadays, with foodies everywhere and many chefs achieving celebrity status. People love collecting recipes and dining at famous restaurants. In today's First Reading from Deuteronomy 8, Moses reminds the people that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. While enjoying good food is a wonderful pleasure, it won't bring you closer to God. Ultimately, it is living by his word that leads to eternal happiness.

***Secret to Receiving What We Pray For***

        In today's Gospel Reading from Mark 12, we read: "Early in the morning, as Jesus and his disciples were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, 'Rabbi, look. The fig tree that you cursed has withered.' Jesus said to them in reply, 'Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be lifted up and thrown into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.'" The last statement here reveals what the Lord wants us to know. The dramatic example of commanding a mountain to be lifted up and thrown into the sea was simply used to make his point. What we ask for must be reasonable, and above all, conform to God's will. The withering of the fig tree serves the same purpose. By the way, Matthew 21 reported the same incident. There we learn that Jesus was hungry upon seeing the fig tree. When he found no fruit on it, he cursed it. Perhaps the lesson there is that if we do not bear fruit, we will wither.

****Making God Come to You*****

        John 14:23, today's Gospel Acclamation, reads: "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." What beautiful and endearing words! Now you know exactly how to invite God into your life.

***Big Wakeu-Up Call to Unbelievers***

        God has given his own Son so that we may have eternal life. Can you think of anything you want even more than eternal life? If that cannot make you happy, you really don't deserve it. Are you so blind that, knowing that you can never find true happiness in this life and will only be on earth for a short while, you still don't want to let the true God of Christ be your God? Wake up now before your last moment arrives! 

**Hell Exists**

        In today's first reading from 2 Timothy 3, Paul writes, "In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived." Watch the news, and you will see that corruption and fraud are out of control in this country, resulting in the loss of hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars every year, the rise of political riots funded by those who want to destroy our democracy, stolen elections, and a lot more. Do you think that there will be no consequences for all the evildoers? Common sense alone tells me that hell exists, notwithstanding the evidence offered by Scripture, many saints, mystics, and those who have died and returned. If hell is real, then heaven is real and God exists. Pity the evildoers who are now only digging their own graves, so to speak.  

***The Apostles I Can Relate To**

        Among the twelve Apostles of Jesus, Peter and John are probably the best known. When Christ asked Peter if he loved him, Peter replied, "Lord, you know that I love you." In his Gospel, John referred to himself simply as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." Because the Lord knows that I love him—even though I fall short time and again—and I know without a doubt that he loves me, I feel that I can relate to Peter and John the most.

***Know God's Mercy***

        Watch this video to know God's mercy. Obviously, it would be wise to settle the matter before your moment of death. The lesson: Never despair, for there is always hope in God.

 

**How to Convert Others**

        I recall one particular person whose example led me to Christianity. His name was Harry Burke, and though he is most likely no longer with us, his impact remains. He was a member of the Inter-Varsity team at the University of California, Berkeley, during my graduate school years. Like most graduate students, I was under immense stress and began questioning the deeper meaning of life. That was when I noticed Harry. He dressed simply and didn’t even own a watch, yet he always appeared genuinely cheerful and kind to everyone. At social gatherings, he naturally shared his faith. After about two years of observing his life, I finally accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. My experience taught me that the best way to win others to Christ is to first focus on your own transformation. When you live a life filled with Christlike love, you stand out. People notice, and they remember. In short: Embody Christ, and leave the results to the Lord.

***The Story of Jesus**

        It has to be the greatest true love story in history. We have a God, our heavenly Father, who loved us so much that he sacrificed his own Divine Son so that we might not die from sin, but have eternal life. No writer could have come up with such an incredible story! Since it did occur like a miracle, it must be  true and worthy of belief.

**Joyful Realization**

        Although I was not feeling too well physically this morning, I felt great joy when I realized that because I now belong to Christ the Lord, no evil can ever touch me anymore!

****This You Should Know*****

        In this earthly life, any pleasure we experience is never truly pure, though those who know the Lord intimately do taste heavenly joy at times. Once we are with him in heaven, our joy will be completely pure—described more accurately as ecstasy or bliss. This is exactly what our Lord wants all of us to experience for eternity!

**Three Markers of Faith**

        In today's first reading from 2 Timothy 1, Paul writes, "I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control." These are what we need to possess: a spirit of power, love, and self-control—they go together. We must measure ourselves against these three gifts.

**Only One Judge for Us**

        Since God is the only perfect, holy One, and we are all imperfect sinners, he alone should be our judge.

***Praying Slowly**

        I have found that when saying any fixed prayer—such as the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Rosary, or the Divine Mercy Chaplet—slowly, I get a lot more out of it. When you rush through a prayer, your heart is not really in it. Dwell on each word a little bit, and you feel that the Lord is truly listening to you. My last post was about patience being a sign of holiness, and it applies here too. By the way, when I learn a new piece on my piano, I do much better when I play slowly and pay attention to all the notes. It is easy to play fast after a while, learning it by rote. Then, when muscle memory fails, you are stuck. Playing slowly enables you to remember all the notes in your mind as well. 

**Patience: A Sign of Holiness**

        God is most wise for he is infinitely patient with all our faults, forever waiting for us to turn to and put our trust in him. Nowadays, people often get upset when things do not go their way. When that happens, they can no longer think clearly, and things get even worse. Impatience is caused by a lack of trust in God, turning people into fools. 

*****Why We Must Trust in Christ*****

        Life flows seamlessly into death; there are no barriers to cross or overcome. It happens when our time is up. Therefore, we must trust in Christ, putting ourselves totally in God's loving hands!

**No Fruitless Toil and Drifting Away**

        This verse from today's reading from Psalm 90 strikes me: "Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong. And most of them are fruitless toil, for they pass quickly and we drift away." This holds true for those who do not follow Christ. When we know him, we will bear fruit and walk the path to paradise.

**Ultimate Freedom**

       e.Without faith in God, life can feel absolutely meaningless. Believing in him brings hope. And when you believe that Jesus is truly our Savior, everything in the Gospels falls perfectly into place, ultimately the truth setting you free.

**Be Like God, but Don't Play Him**

        When we say someone "plays God," we really mean that the person thinks he or she is God. Of course, that is impossible, for God is infinite and utterly humble, while we are the very opposite. So, to play God basically is to be like the Devil.

**Pathetic Belief**

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 12, as in many other Gospel passages, we read that the chief priests, scribes, and elders sought to arrest Jesus, but they were afraid of the crowd. It is ironic and sad that they feared the people, but not the true God.

***Presence of the Spirit in Us***

        Galatians 4:6, today's Communion Antiphon, reads: "Since you are children of God, God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out: Abba, Father." When you pray to God, do you just say "Father" or cry out "Abba, Father" from your very heart?

'*****Most Beautiful Message*****

       On this Solemnity oI the Most Holy Trinity, I am going to reproduce today's entire Gospel Reading from John 3 without comments:

          God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

**Know How Good You Actually Are**

        Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The First Reading from Exodus 34 reveals that the LORD came down in a cloud on Mount Sinai and stood with Moses. Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship and said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own." We also need God's pardon: All the great saints see themselves as most wretched sinners, yet so many of us today think that we are pretty good people and that the Lord will surely ignore their minor sins. He is indeed infinitely merciful, but this does not mean that his high standards can be lowered or we don't need to repent of our sins. The Lord God is precise and does not fudge on things. He is holy, and we, measured against him, are deplorably wretched. Know that if you think you are better than you actually are, you are not good enough.

**Know That You Are Not God**

        When God created us, he gave each of us certain abilities and talents besides our conscience and free will. So, we are definitely finite beings. To think that we are great in any way before the omnipotent Lord is both outlandish and laughable, but this is exactly how many people see themselves. To be humble is to be humble before our God and Creator. Sadly, the proud do not see that this is the key to inheriting eternal life.

**On Questioning the Lord**

        In today's Gospel Reading from Mark 11, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached Jesus and said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things?" Jesus said to them, "I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin?" They discussed this among themselves and said to him in reply, "We do not know." Then Jesus said to them, "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things." You see, when we approach the Lord, we must genuinely want to know something. If our intention is insincere or malicious, we will only set ourselves further back. With the Lord, we must be sincere, humble, and reverent always.

***On Departing This World**

        To remain a lost soul is to depart this world and stay lost forever. You might reunite with others you once knew in the afterlife, but it will offer no comfort. Because of this, I would absolutely follow Christ to gain eternal life; bidding farewell to this world would be the happiest thing I could ever do. Besides, I will finally be reunited with all my saved loved ones.

***Prayer Secrets***

        Also in today's Gospel reading from Mark 11. Jesus said to his disciples, "Have faith in God.  Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it, and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions." So here we learn the secrets to effective prayer: Make sure that we don't hold any grievances against anyone, and believe without a doubt that we shall receive whatever we ask for. May I add, this is how we will always have peace.

***Reverence for God's House!*

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 11, Jesus entered the temple area and began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. Then he taught them saying, "Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples? But you have made it a den of thieves." If the Lord even cleansed the area outside his house, imagine how much more we should revere the Lord inside our churches!

****Lesson on Love***

        In today's First Readind from 1 Peter 4, Peter writes: "Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." Yes, we are to love each other intensely! Yes, we are to love each other intensely! If we have God in our hearts, we will be able to love others. Every moment of every day is an opportunity to love someone. But we must always let the Lord love us intensely first, so that we may truly become a channel of his love.

**Suffering for the Lord**

        Physical suffering can draw us close to Christ. First, when I suffer, the greatest suffering the Lord  underwent out of love for us immediately springs to my mind. He is still suffering today for the innumerable souls who still have not yet submitted themselves to him. My suffering is nothing compared to his. Nevertheless, the fact that I am suffering along with him really brings us together as one. Secondly, when I suffer, I sense his holy presence acutely and know I can slip into his side instantly, should he call me home. This further unites us. In conclusion, suffering for the Lord in this life is a blessing. God's mercy is infinite and his joy, eternal. 

**Danger to Be Aware Of**

        Verse 11 of today's First Reading from 1 Peter 2 struck me: "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul." It made me see how the world is constantly luring us away from God.

***Requisite for Understanding God***

        You do not need to be highly educated to understand the Lord; in fact, it is best to approach him like a child. All that is required is an open, humble, and loving heart!

**Universal Way of Serving God**

        To serve God, we can do the following: (1) witness for Christ, (2) help others with physical needs, (3) help others with financial needs, (4) fast so that God's will is done, and (5) pray that God's will is done. If, for whatever reason, you cannot do any of the first four, you can always pray unceasingly and do just as much good, or even more.

***How to Be GREAT and FIRST***

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 10, Jesus said to his disciples, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." "To be the servant and slave of all" truly goes against our grain, but we must do our best to imitate the Lord. This I know: If we can achieve that, we'll be ego-free and experience great peace. Even if that goal is difficult to reach, we should always aim for it. Don't forget that nothing is impossible for God!

****Going Infinite****

        God's love is infinite. It follows that we should not limit our love for him and others. The more we love, the more free and fulfilled we become—this is what makes following Christ exciting! Let this love be our only motivating force; let's go infinite after the Lord, embarking on the greatest and most rewarding adventure! 

**Only Way to Know Jesus Is God**

        Unbelievers often demand proof that Jesus is the true God, or that God even exists, but it is ultimately impossible for a creature to prove its Creator. My response to them is this: You will come to know that Jesus is our God, and the absolute truth, if you are humble and receptive enough to ask him to reveal himself to you directly. Once you hear from him, all your doubts will vanish. (Note: In rare cases, God converts specific individuals to serve him, as in the case of St. Paul.)

**Sure Way to Be Saved**

        I stopped posting when I didn't feel too well yesterday, I am back now. In yesterday's Gospel reading from Mark 10, Jesus said to Peter, "Many that are first will be last, and the last will be first." In general, this is true, for we have no way of knowing who will be saved. But if we always make following Christ our first priority, we can be sure that we'll be saved, and this is what matters. 

***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!