***Showing Love Again***

         In today's Gospel reading from Mark 8, Jesus said to the crowd and his disciples, "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it." That was a big statement. Jesus was either someone who's totally out of his mind and didn't know what he's talking about or he knew the truth and told it out of pure love. And I know that Christ is nothing but love.

***Letting Go in God

        Today's entrance antiphon from Psalm 31: Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me, guide me .... The Lord can do so much more than just saving us, for what he can do is unlimited and he loves us with an infinite love! So take advantage of this, for in a way, he is totally at our disposal. Let's abandon ourselves to him without reservation and everything will turn out right in the end for us.

**Sermon Levels

        The top sermon focuses on the Lord exclusively, glorifying and praising him. It inspires and draws you closer to Christ. The more the speaker draws attention to himself, the less effective his sermon becomes. At the bottom level, the sermon giver mainly tries to amuse his listeners. The talk is now instantly forgettable, for Christ is not really in the picture.

***Most Serious Commitment***

        Communion experience. Receiving the Lord in the Eucharist wholeheartedly is to give yourself completely over to him, promising that you'll always follow him by doing his will. 

***Becoming Powerful in Serving God*

        God is great because he is almighty and most humble at the same time. If we become humble like him, we'll be most powerful in serving him.

**God Is Either Remote or Close

         God is all over the universe at the same time. If you ignore him, then it's like he doesn't even exist for you. That would surely make you look pretty bad. On the other hand, if you totally accept and are open to him, you'll find him dwelling right in your heart. 

**Vastly Different Outcomes**

        Today I see that we can all link ourselves to God, our creator. Not linked to him, we are basically lost and become the loneliest souls in the whole universe. Link to him perfectly and we will enjoy his holy presence in heaven forever one day. Can the difference between these two outcomes be any greater? I don't think so!

**Our Proper Response to Christ*

        Christ's foremost desire is to save us from sin so that we may have eternal life, and to prove it he died on the cross fin our place. It is totally logical and fitting that our foremost desire should be to thank him for his love by following his every will for us so that he may be pleased. After all, he is our God and creator!

**God Fulfills Us

        Today's Gospel acclamation from Mark 8: Jesus healed a blind man and he was able to see everything distinctly. Communion antiphon from Psalm 78: They ate and had their fill, and what they craved the Lord gave them .... These verses describe my present feeling: Jesus has made me see the truth clearly and fulfilled all my desires. Psalm 23:1 also speaks for me perfectly: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

***The Most Beautiful Face.***

         It is the Lord! Here is a good portrayal of the Holy Face based upon the image on the Holy Shroud of Turin.