**Why Follow Christ?

         To learn how to love rightly.

**God Incredibly Kind!***

        Today's Communion experience. I receive the Lord and know that he has already taken care of my eternity. More than feeling relieved, I still can't quite get over the fact that the Lord should be so incredibly kind to me.

***Blessed Lightning

        Just a few days ago, the Brazilian photographer Fernando Braga shared his image of Christ the Redeemer statue being struck by lightning on Instagram, and it has gone viral. As you know, this is the 98-foot-tall colossal statue that sits atop Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. It's considered to be one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Could this event be some kind of an omen? Ten years ago also in February, lightning struck the Vatican and a little over two weeks later, Pope Benedict announced his resignation. Anyway, here's the video posted by Braga on Instagram. (Watch it full-screen best.)

**False Joy

         The world is full of it. Just look at the ads, the TV commercials, and the entertainment industry. Leave out the word "joy" and look for falsehood, and you'll find it in the news media, the big corporations, many politicians, many government agencies, and even the churches. The world has lost genuineness and cannot be trusted any more. Only the God of Christ stands alone as our Savior. He's the one who will resolve all our issues and lead all genuine souls to victory in the end.

**Communion Experience

        The Lord is sweeter to the soul than honey is to the tongue. 

*****Spicing up Your Spiritual Life*****

        Do you know that God can make you as perfect as you want him to? It all depends upon how much you get out of his way. The fact is that there's no limit to how holy you can become. Realizing this can make following Christ truly exciting! By the way, becoming perfect as much as possible before you leave this earth will also provide you with a most smooth transition to life in heaven.  

**Restless Wanderers

        Today's first reading from Genesis 4 tells us that Eve bore first a son named Cain and then a second one named Abel. Later, Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy and resentment. The LORD then punished Cain and told him that he should become a restless wanderer of the earth. This is a good term to describe all evildoers. They wander because they don't know the way and are lost. They are restless because they don't know God and so have no peace. They are the very opposite of the Christians who know where they are going and have inner peace in their hearts.

*Loving God over Repenting Sins*

        We need to love God and repent our sins. Of the two, loving God takes priority over repenting our sins, for if you love God, you will automatically want to repent your sins. Conversely, repenting your sins may not mean that you truly love God. Besides, focusing on loving God will also lead you to doing many good deeds.

***Bonding with God***

        When God calls us to follow him, it's our highest calling and a great honor to us. When we submit ourselves willingly to God to do his will from our very heart, it's the most beautiful response we can possibly give that he'll remember forever.    

*****To Be Perfect Should Be Easy*****

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5:17-37, Jesus gave his disciples many teachings. He said he came to fulfill the law and even "went beyond" the many commandments. They are hard to any average listener, but listen we must, for they come from the LORD. Essentially, he wants us to be perfect in following him. Since he did ask, it must be possible. And if we comply with his will, success is assured. So trust in the LORD, follow his will, and let him make it effortless for you!