**God's Power*

        In today's Reading 1 from Acts 5, Peter and the other Apostles fearlessly preached in the name of Jesus, even when the Sanhedrin forbade them. It is easy to follow someone in the world who is outwardly strong and powerful, yet many of us would happily live and die for Jesus, who is the most humble and meek person you can find. This is truly amazing, proving that he is indeed our Lord and our God. 

**Our Most Foolish Choice**

        The Lord God wants to take complete care of us, especially our souls. But if we reject him and choose not to place ourselves in his hands, we cause him the greatest possible sorrow for being so heartless and foolish. And this will come back to haunt us for all eternity!

**That Great Clean Feeling**

        Being clean all over is a great feeling, but when the Lord makes your heart and soul spotless, making you fit for heaven, that is absolutely the best 'clean feeling' this side of heaven. And that is only possible through Christ.

**What Christ Wishes for Us**

        If you already have Christ on your side, let nothing disturb your peace, no matter how chaotic the world is around you. All worries and fears are not only counterproductive, but also displeasing to the Lord. Remember how he first greeted his disciples after he had risen? He said, "Peace be with you!" And this is what he wishes for us.

**Check Your Fruit**

        Today's Communion Antiphon, based on John 15;16, reads: "I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, and have appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, alleluia." We all bear fruit, but some of us bear only fruit that quickly perishes. So examine yourself to see what kind of fruit you are producing. Does your fruit last? Does it help you store up treasure in heaven?  

*****Truth We Need to Know*****

          Today's Gospel Reading: John 3:16-21, reveals first the absolute central truth, then an explanation of why some people do not accept it. You are most likely familiar with these verses—but since it is critically important that we take this message most seriously, I am reproducing it in its entirety below.

        God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.

        And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

***Truth Has to Come to Light**

        In today's First Reading from Acts 5, the captain of the temple guards and the chief priests learned that the apostles whom they put in prison were in the temple area and teaching the people. When you know the Lord, you can't help but share the gospel out of pure joy! It is humanly impossible to keep such a glorious truth secret. This is how the Lord has made us!  

**Including the Lord Always**

        We ask the Lord for help when our hearts are troubled. Why don't we incorporate that whenever we face any problem? For example, I have a computer problem which I don't quite understand right now. I am not going to ask the Lord to fix it for me, but I could certainly ask him to lead me to find the solution somewhere. It is good to integrate the Lord into every part of our life just to strengthen our union with him. 

**Communion Experience**

        The Lord is present in person, transforming the consecrated bread and wine into his own flesh and blood. We stand on holy ground, basking in his light. When we receive the Holy Eucharist, our souls are healed. Though we are not in heaven yet, the Lord is already with us.

**Logical Conclusion**

        Since God loves us and understands us perfectly, his judgment of us will be perfectly just.

***Ideal Easy Living**

        In today's Gospel reading from John 3, Jesus said to Nicodemus: "You must be born from above. The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." It is all the Lord's doing—we simply believe in him and let him accomplish whatever he wishes with us. This is living the ideal "easy life"!

**Understanding How God Loves Us**

        Verse 13 of today's Gospel reading from John 3 reads: "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man." And the Communion antiphon, based on Luke 24: 46 & 26, reads: "The Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory, alleluia." By seeing the truth of these two statements, we understand how God the Father loves us.