***We Should Imitate Christ Because . . .

he is the perfect example of carrying out the will  of the Father.

**Be Righteous in God's Eyes**

         In today's Gospel reading from Luke 1, God chose Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth to become the parents of John the Baptist because they were righteous in his eyes. We can never be really perfect, but we can surely be righteous. So, let being perfect be our goal and being righteous, our way. Intention and effort count. Obey the Lord always and we'll be favored by him now and made perfect one day. 

***Fulfulling God's Greatest Desire***

         Christmas Day is just a week away. We'll be celebrating the coming of the Messiah. The fact is that he has already come and is here with us. What we need to do has gone beyond making his paths straight—it's now making his dwelling in us as comfortable as possible. This requires our total trust in and complete obedience to him. It is fulfilling the Lord's greatest desire to lead us to the greatest possible happiness of our existence!

***Enormous Change for Us***

        Holding onto yourself is like trying to pull yourself up by your bootstraps—you're not going to get anywhere. It's submitting yourself to Jesus Christ that sets you free. Now you experience his love, power, wonders, and enjoy his eternal peace. You were a defiled sinner, now your are made clean and heaven bound. The change is truly enormous! When you go along with the Lord, no way can you go wrong.

*****Rock Solid Truth and Reality*****

        Everything in our life will pass except our life in Christ that's everlasting! So rejoice in the Lord always!

***Only Connection We Need*

         Communion experience. I know I am now connected to the Lord God and heaven through Jesus. There's nothing else I need nor wish to connect to anymore. 

**Spiritual Dementia?**

         In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 21, Jesus told the parable of the Two Sons. The lesson was that whoever ultimately believes and obeys the Lord will enter his Kingdom. We know from John 3:16 that anyone who believes in Christ will not perish but have eternal life. It's so simple, but many just don' believe. This is like being given an admission ticket to heaven and you just don't want to take it. Spiritual dementia might be an appropriate name for it.

***Valid Question**

        In Mark 8 (also Matthew 16), Jesus asked, "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" I see people who pride themselves on getting along with everyone else (at least according to them). So you could also ask: "What profit is there for one to get along with the whole world, but not with God?"

***How We Need Christ!***

        Communion experience. We absolutely need Christ, for only he can take away our sins and make us perfect!

*****Following Christ Perfectly*****

        Today's Entrance Antiphon based upon Jeremiah 31:10 and Isaiah 35: 4—Hear the word of the Lord, O nations; declare it to the distant lands: Behold, our Savior will come; you need no longer fear. For us, Christ our Savior has already come, so we only need to trust in him and let nothing bother us anymore. We may appear cold externally, but I believe this is how the Lord wants us to follow him. When we don't let our will, feelings, and emotions get in the way, and remain unperturbed, we'll be able to see God's will clearly and carry it out confidently.