Know What You Do

        The sad news on BBC today: Satellite images confirm that the 1,400-year-old Christian monastery near Mosul in Iraq, the oldest, has been destroyed by the jihadist group Islamic State. Then in sharp contrast, this touching story also on BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35201822, shows that there is still goodness in man. Jesus prayed for those who crucified him: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." Clearly, Jesus sees the goodness in us and that we turn bad when we are misguided. Stick with Jesus to avoid ever being led astray.

Fighting Satan

        When Satan is allowed to attack you, God is putting you through the test. The Evil One always tempts you into believing what you are doing is justifiable, even though you know deep down in your heart that it's wrong. Loss of peace is a strong sign that you've been trapped. Praying hard for deliverance and talking to someone spiritually wise can be most helpful. Know that once you pull through, you'd be brought closer to God, just as after a storm dies down, the sky turns blue again.

Peace in Jesus

        The best known Psalm has to be Psalm 23. It portraits a scene of extraordinary repose. The other day I saw most vividly myself and Jesus together in a green pasture. On the grass, I was lying facedown with the Lord sitting next to my front right, his right hand supporting his leaning position. I felt great peace, knowing that he is always with me, taking care of all things for me.

Why I Welcome Jesus

        Today's Communion verse, Psalm 23.5, at Mass: You have prepared a table before me, and how precious is the chalice that quenches my thirst. Jesus not only quenches my thirst, he also fills the heart with joy that bubbles forth like water from a spring.

Why I Love Jesus

        I love Jesus because he renews us, giving us hope, new life; and we are reborn in the Holy Spirit. This is for everyone ~ never late as long as you are still alive in this world. He is forever refreshing as the spring water. He is pure joy and, don't forget, also our door to heaven.

Joy in God

        Communion experience. Who am I that the Lord should choose, call to his supper, and enter himself? I could only rejoice.

Normalizing Relationship With God

        Really, God loves us, delights in us, and yearns to be one with us. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and the subsequent great saints throughout the generations have made this amply clear. So we ought to reciprocate his love, delight in him, and seek union with him. As I have said, God is to be enjoyed, not feared, unless, of course, you choose to hide from him to remain in darkness for whatever reason.

Sacrifice and Grace

        The annual March for Life is coming up, to be held in various cities across the nation. I saw one priest who is involved with the March being interviewed on TV. He was asked if he was concerned about bad winter weather possibly dampening the march. He said in fact that he was hoping there would be snow or rain because the greater the sacrifice, the greater the grace. I did not catch his name but will always remember what he'd said.

Perfect Your Love

        Jesus wants us to always forgive others ~ to forgive is to love. If you don't get along with someone, possibly a member of your own family, don't expect the person to change to meet exactly your expectations. Instead, accept and keep loving him or her as is. This is the way of Jesus, the right and best approach. Let your example convert others. Remember that Jesus wants us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.

Only One We Need

        Communion experience. The Lord entered me. He fulfilled all my desire; now I could let everything else go.