***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!