**Becoming Rich Forever**

        In Matthew 13, Jesus said to the disciples, "To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Now, if you have Christ the Lord, imagine how rich you will be!

***Truthful Living**

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 9: JesusI said to his disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,  but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Every day is no different from the day we were born or the day we die, for the world remains sinful. As long as we deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Christ, we are doing the best for the Lord, ourselves, and the world. Living to lose our lives for his sake is the way to go. 

***Jesus the Eternal Truth***

         To those who have faith, no proof is needed, but for those who always ask to see proof, none shall be found. God is greater than us, and we can only find him if we submit ourselves to him.

**Communion Experience*

        My soul was fed the sweetest juice.

**Secret of Joyful Living**

       In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6, Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father." He added, "Do all your good deeds in secret and your Father who sees in secret will repay you." 

*Greatest Joy & Greatest Sorrow*

        We experience the greatest joy when we attain union with God and the greatest sorrow when we reject and lose him forever. 

**Ash Wednesday Thoughts

        On this first day of Lent, it's fitting to remember that we are but dust, and that we must repent and reconcile ourselves to God. The Lord is merciful and never wishes to condemn us; if we get condemned in the end, we have only ourselves to blame.

**Be Truthful Like God**

         From today's First Reading from James 1, we heard: "God himself tempts no one." Satan always tempts us, but God never does, for he is always truthful. Like the Lord, we must also never do anything to cause others to sin.

The Great Confirmation Sign**

         Communion experience. After I believed in Christ, the Holy Eucharist was the great confirmation sign.

**Christ Is Our Sign**

         In today's Gospel reading from Mark 8, the Pharisees demanded to see a sign from Jesus to test him. The unbelievers of our generation see many wonders and signs and still do not believe; they are basically atheists. To me, the greatest sign is Christ the Lord himself. He alone is enough for me to believe in and follow him..

***Perfectionist Not Perfect*

        Some people are perfectionists; they keep all their material things in perfect condition and expect all their plans to go exactly as planned. This is already an imperfection in itself. It's ironic that they are not bothered in the slightest by their many moral imperfections.

**Serious Business**

         God is merciful but strict, for we need to be holy in order to be saved.