**Cause for Elation

        Today my first feeling at Mass was pure elation when I realized that Christ my most beloved Lord had chosen me to belong to him!

*** Loving Christ to the Max***

        Christ has willingly died out of love for us, and we should love him back. Even if we don't get the chance to literally die for him, we should be willing to do so if given that chance.

***Ugly Consequences of Not Knowing God***

        This is today's Gospel reading from Luke 6. On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up and stand before us." And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus. The scribes and the Pharisees are so intent on finding a reason to accuse Jesus that they became totally blind to the wonderful miracle he performed on the man with the withered hand. Today we have radical politicians filled with so much hatred for their political opponents that they have become completely blind to their own sins and anything good about others. This is deadly to the soul! Only knowing Christ can save them!    

**Proper Way of Approaching God*

        We should always thank God first, for he has loved us and given his own Son for our sake. Then it's fitting that we praise him next. Finally, we can ask for what's good for us and for his glory. So it's with gratitude we praise God, then we petition him for we need and want.

**Clear-Cut Truth**

        The Lord God is all holy, but we sin and become defiled. So all that's good for us comes from the Lord and all that's bad for us are caused by ourselves. Then Christ can transforms us to make all things that happen to us good.  

Pope Gets Called Out

***Our Choice Again**

        The God of Christ, our creator, can fundamentally change us. We can let him make us holy or remain the same sinners.

**God's Power & Our Openness*

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 7, Jesus healed a deaf man. Of course, Christ being God, nothing is impossible for him. From the Gospels we know that raised the dead, calmed storms, multiplied bread and fish . . . his power is on an entirely different level, and we can receive or benefit from this power if we believe in and are open to him! That he can get us into heaven is without question absolutely certain.

***Supreme Rule to Follow***

         Have faith in the God of Christ and let nothing ever disturb you, but let only the Lord inspire and support you all the way on your return to him.

*****The Holy Trinity Is Real

        Communion experience. I experienced all three; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!