***Last Message of 2024***

        I am posting Christine Niles's latest beautiful message to conclude my 2024 blogging. 

***Most Satisfying Fulfillment*

        Communion experience. It is the most satisfying fulfillment to end the year when you know that you have the Lord. 

***My Statement of the Year***

         There will be no peace until we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that he is our Lord, our God, and our Savior.

***Year End Thoughts***

        Today is the last day of 2024. It is fitting that my church has planned a Eucharistic procession for this afternoon so that we'll have a chance to walk, pray, and witness together through the neighborhood. Our year end joy should be that we are getting closer to meeting the Lord in person. And the most appropriate New Year's resolution for us should be to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

*****One More Reason We Need God

        Everyone had close calls in life. We do our very best to remain alert, watchful, and prepared, and bad things still happen. Clearly, we need God's help by trusting in him to the fullest. Now, even should the worst of the worst happen to us, we still end up safe, sound, and forever happy in heaven! How cool can that be!

**Good Test Question*

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 2, we heard read the encounter of the Holy Family with the prophetess Anna at the temple where the presentation of the child Jesus took place. Now, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah. Earlier, he came in the Spirit into the temple; when he saw the Holy Family, he took the child into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation ...." Now, many of us have already known the Savior, even attained union with him thru the Holy Eucharist—are we ready to go in peace yet?

**Can't Love God and the World*

        In today's first reading from 1 John 2, we heard read "Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world." We should know that whatever makes us forget about the Father is from the world and is not to be indulged in or embraced. Accept only what comes from the Father to remain in his love.

***Trust in God Alone*

         Love and trust fully in God; love but do not trust fully in any fellow human.

***Be Holy First***

        In John 8, the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery to Jesus. To test him, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” He said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Of course, if you were without sin, you wouldn't throw a stone at anyone. Anyway, to me the Lord here makes it clear that we need to be holy ourselves first.

***The House Where We Belong

         Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. When Jesus was twelve years old, the holy family went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. As they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him. Not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Since Jesus' Father is also our Father, we must be in that house too.

****Dishonesty Galore*

        We get a lot of fake news nowadays. Looking at You/Tube videos on news and other topics, you can see many of them are fake or grossly exaggerated to attract viewership in order to make more money. Usually, the thumbnail image is staged or doctored with a clickbait title or description, and the narration AI-powered. So always use your discernment and don't trust in anything that's been manipulated. The world is full of scammers and we need to remain vigilant. We need salvation more than ever!  

***God's Message*****

        Every time you do something and lose peace, it's the Lord God telling you that you did not seek his will.