**Be Worthy to Be Chosen

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 18, Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow and asked, "Will not God secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily." I see that God calls us, and how he answer us will depend upon how we respond to him. If we call out to him day and night, then he will do justice for us speedily. In short, pray to the Lord unceasingly to receive the best response from him always.

** Learning from God

        God is always teaching us, so there is a lesson in everything that happens to us. But if we don't tune in to him, we learn nothing from him. 

**Sign We Are Not with God

        We are always with our thoughts. If we don't think about God, we are not with God. 

**Sign You Belong to God

        You have no hesitation leaving all things behind and going to God.

**Wise Thing to Do

        Live for the Lord right now, for your next hour may be your last on earth. 

***Christ My Consoler

        I was breast-fed by a woman after I was born for many months. I don't remember much about my earliest years except for the moment I realized that she's going to leave me, and I cried. That was the first big sorrow of my life. Now that I am already an old man, My soul bears great sorrows for the world only my most beloved Christ can alleviate. This draws me ever closer to him and I rejoice in that. 

***Sad Reality to Awaken To

        This is the day after midterm election with votes still being counted. At this point the leftists still seem to remain firmly leftist and the conservatives have made only small gains. Here in liberal California, sadly over 60% voted to modify the state constitution to allow for abortion. The grip Satan has on this nation is strong. Not until people realize that there is a war going on between God and Satan and start praying, things will only get worse. A polarization such as the one we have now could lead to a civil war one day All of us need to wake up to this reality or many will perish. We cannot escape the judgment of God.

**Falling Short of Loving God!

        Communion experience. I am out of town now and attended morning Mass at a new church. After receiving the Lord, I shed tears, as I realized how far we had fallen short of loving him.

***For Our Payer to Be Effective

        (1) God-centered Prayer: We acknowledge God's mercy and power and ask him to help us in all things. (2) Self-centered Prayer: We acknowledge our rebellious nature and submit ourselves to him. Both are essential. The reality is that we often forget 2. As a result, 1 becomes ineffective. We need to meet God all the way for us to receive his full power. 

***No Longer Questioning God***

        When you trust in God completely, you are no longer concerned about anything else but his will.