**Heaven and Hell Both Real

        It would be illogical to say that no matter how we live our lives, we would end up in heaven, and hell doesn't exist, and vice versa. If both good and evil are real, then both heaven and hell must exist. Listen to Fr. Mark Goring on this. Please, let's all aim for heaven.

        [A footnote: I want to let all know the reality of hell because it's such a horrible place that I do not wish anyone to go there, not even for a minute, let alone for ever. Then I realize that when we tell others about hell, they might think we're trying to scare or judge them. So we must be careful and do it with love.] 

Getting the Priorities Wrong

        I see so many people worrying about their health, but showing no concern about life after death. Take care of your eternal life and you take care of all your temporary worries as well.

***God's Calling Today

        The Church is in bad shape. Many decades ago when I was traveling through Europe, I already noticed the mostly empty pews and absence of young people at Sunday Mass. Today the German Church has gone against church tradition. Ireland no longer prohibits abortion. The American Church is more in sympathy with the leftists who support abortion. Many countries seem to embrace LGBTQ people more than they do Christians, who are increasingly being persecuted around the globe. The Church is fractured now due to internal corruption, scandals, and the lack of clear teaching and leadership from the Holy Father. Overall Church membership is declining fast in this country. Local churches in general are not much more than being lukewarm. We must become more vigilant and militant and go on attack if we ever wish to turn the tide. I can see that evil has infiltrated all levels of our society in the last half century or so, while we remained complacent. To win the spiritual battle, the Lord wants us to become holy foremost so that we may fight evil with great fire and zeal.

*Indication Jesus Is God

        In today's Gospel reading from John 1, John the Baptist testified that Jesus was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Earlier he spoke of Jesus as one who ranked ahead of him because he existed before him. This is interesting because we all know that John the Baptist was born some six months before Jesus. So if he knew that Jesus existed before him, it must be that Jesus had always existed before coming into the world. 

***First Things First!

        While exercising on a treadmill at the gym early this morning, a Sunday preacher was giving a sermon on TV. He asked his audience to have perseverance. I started thinking that we were always told to do this, to do that, but never to surrender ourselves to God first. Surely we already know that we should believe in God more, love and forgive others, pray more often, persevere, etc., but where do we get the power? Now, if we can surrender ourselves to God first, then he will help me accomplish whatever we wish to accomplish via the power of the Holy Spirit. Without surrendering to God's will first, it's putting the cart before the horse. Think about it, or better yet, try it.

***Using Your Heart

      To get to know the Lord, to love him; use your heart, not your mind. Union with God would be impossible if your heart remains uninvolved. In fact, do everything for God at the heart level. Offering your heart to him makes a good start.

From Restlessness to Stillness

        Communion experience. In my college days before I found Christ, I can remember that my heart was always restless. Today after I received the Holy Eucharist, my spirit experienced an absolute stillness, thanks to Jesus. This is the Lord who can get us into heaven!

Egotistic Hypocrite

        Be the genuine you always, no duplicity. Never do anything for show (no ego play). If you cannot do it, then you have to be categorized as an egotistic hypocrite. 

*Do We Need Jesus?

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 2, some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinner and tax collectors and asked his disciples why he ate with them. Jesus heard this and said to them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." Are we the righteous or sinners? Do we need Jesus? The fact is that we are all sinners and need him. It is interesting that those who believe that they are righteous and do not need Jesus are the ones who need to be saved the most, while the great saints always regard themselves to be the most wretched sinners before the Lord. Looking at our world realistically today, my assessment is that we need Jesus most desperately!

The Life in Union with God . . .

is a life of joyfully waiting to hear from the Lord and doing what he wishes you to do, without any anxiety.