*One Great Feeling

        Being with Christ, one great feeling I have is that I can start afresh with a clean slate at any moment, for he constantly keeps me clean.

The Least You Could Do

        If you can not love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you mind, with all you soul, and with all your strength, the least you could (should) do is to believe that Christ has died for you so that you might live, for he is our only lifeline. 

Superior Prayer

        You can ask God to grant you any number of specific requests, but the superior prayer is to ask him to help you simply do his will always. 

Impure Thoughts

         Even if it were true that entertaining impure thoughts in your mind does not harm your soul, it's still a big waste of time, for it does not advance the status of your soul.

*Easier to Become Holy

        I play the piano and find that becoming holy is a lot easier than learning to play the piano well. In fact, it is easier than learning most other things. Let me explain. To learn to play the piano well, you must understand the piece you are playing, analyze its composition, and know how you wish to interpret it. Then it takes a lot of practice to learn all the notes. Even talented pianists spend up to 6 hours a day on practice. Some won't even play any work in public until they've mastered it for at least a year. You want to reach the point to be able to play the piece exactly the way you'd like to hear it played without any concern about the notes. As to becoming holy, you simply submit yourself to God. He then takes over and you place all your trust in him. The rest is up to the him, with no analyzing, no figuring out what to do, no memorization or any drudgery on your part. 

*Only Truth

        It is the coupling of authority and 'love and mercy' that distinguishes Christianity as the truth and not just another religion. No other religion can come close. (And please do not judge Christianity by the acts of some of its members, for all sinners fall short of being perfect or they wouldn't need Christ anymore.) 

Christ the Life Giver

        In today's Gospel reading from John 6, Jesus said to the crowd, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." I am here to testify to you that Jesus had spoken the truth, for all my spiritual hunger and thirst have been completely fulfilled. It's only after this happens that one can start living a happy and meaningful life. 

Appropriate Submission

        Today's response to Psalm 31 of David (verse 6a): Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. It was what Jesus cried out to the Father before he breathed his last on the cross. And this is exactly what we should be able to say to Christ as our shepherd and our God.   

*Freedom in God

        Do you realize that God cannot be a burden to us? If you think that he wants to control or enslave you, you've got it all wrong. The fact he has given you the free will shows that this fear is all conjured up by you in your heart and mind. In truth, God is our doorway to freedom. Once you submit yourself to him, you enter his infinite space and are free to do anything you want. The fear of God is basically caused by your rebellion against him and not by him.

*What Life Is All About

        Today's entrance antiphon at Mass: The Good Shepherd has risen, who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his flock. Here is the supreme example of God showing his love for his children. Hampered by the original sin we carry, we need his help to respond to this love and return to him. It all comes down to straightening out our relationship with God.