***On Giving to God

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 12, Jesus was teaching in the temple area. He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." So how willing we are to give counts more than how much we give. Once we decide to give, we must do it and never look back. This is the extra message I received from the Lord.

**Joy Tinged with Sorrow**

        Communion experience. The Lord fills me with great joy; but it's tinged with great sorrow, for many have not yet accepted him!

**The Most Pitiful

        There are those who not only ignore God who loves them and wants to save them from eternal death, but keep doing the evil works of Satan, heading toward total self-destruction. They are to be pitied the most. It's good vs. evil the whole time.

**God Made Me See*

        Before morning Mass started, my first thought was that I used to be blind to the truth, but now God finally made me see everything, the true and the false. Fr. John started the Mass with Amazing Grace, the hymn containing the line "I once was blind and now I can see." Later the first reading from Tobit 11 told how Tobit's sight was restored by God through Tobit's son Tobiah. All confirming my initial thought.

*An Evil We Must Fight*****

         Another video to make your aware of the reality of child trafficking. This sin is as evil as abortion, and we Christians must fight this and pray to the Lord for his intervention! It is most urgent, so make it your top petition. Here's this 17-minute video on Rumble. By the way, O.U.R., Operation Underground Railroad, is an organization that's been fighting child trafficking effectively on the frontline and deserves our strongest support.

***Our Greatest Burden (Why We Are Unhappy)

        Sin is our greatest burden. That's why those who remain in sin do not have inner peace. That's why I feel so free and happy every time Christ takes away my sins. In union with the Lord, you get to enjoy him and remain holy. This is living in heaven on earth.

***Our Greatest Folly***

        Communion time thoughts. All the Lord knows is to love us with the greatest possible pure love. He only wishes us to be happy for all eternity. Yet we still do not submit ourselves to him. In so doing, we do ourselves the greatest possible disfavor, forgoing having the most beautiful, intimate relationship with God that can fulfill and satisfy us to the fullest!  

***Jesus Our Brother***

        Jesus taught us to address his Father as Our Father and from the cross he gave his own mother to be our mother. So he is not only our LORD, but also our brother. Let us rejoice and thank him for such generosity!

**Sensing Eternity

         Communion experience. The Lord is eternal. United with him, I become eternal with him. Mind-blowing realization!

*No-Worry Living

        Today I am aware that Almighty God, my creator and Father, loves me and has already promised me eternal life. He is totally for me, so there is nothing for me to worry about anymore. To live in God is to live for God.