**Between Knowing & Not Knowing

        A good friend passed away yesterday after suffering a stroke. Life hangs by a thread. When that thread breaks, you fall either into the safety net you knew Christ had prepared for you or into some abyss unknown to you. You see, if you know Christ, you know where you'll be. Without him, you are simply lost. The difference is huge! Make your own choice now.

Dishonest Generation

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the Evil One." Our pastor correctly pointed out that those who put out fake news today are ignorant of this counsel. A lot of dishonest politicians and new media spread fake stories in pursuing their own agenda for their own gains. This puts their soul in danger, for according to the Lord, they have tuned in to the Evil One.

*Our Greatest Revelation

        That is, God is love. You may have heard this said so many times and never thought about it. But it is an amazing truth. I don't think that anyone who does not know God could have guessed it. 

Claiming God's Promise

        Communion experience. Jesus said, "I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours." (Mark 11.24). After receiving the Lord, I asked for making me new in prayer and believed that I would receive it.

Reckless Living

        Total abandonment in God is living with total freedom in God, which may be considered reckless living in God, if you prefer.

*Our Greatest Consolation*

        The Holy Eucharist sets one apart. Believing in and receiving it opens the door to union with God and assures your place in heaven, marking you as a sheep of Christ and a child of the Father heading home. Spiritually, receiving this Most Blessed Sacrament is our greatest consolation on earth.

*Living for Christ

        I feel that we should behave as if Jesus were standing right next to us and we do everything for the love of him. This is possible once you know him intimately, as in union. In fact, you can't help becoming that way after seeing how compellingly beautiful he is.

Our Attitudes Toward God

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus first said to his disciples, "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Since the scribes and Pharisees were known to be hypocrites, it seemed then that getting into the kingdom of heaven shouldn't be too hard. Then Jesus said things that made me think otherwise, among which were statements such as "I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment" and "Whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna." To play it safe, of course, we can strive to be as perfect as possible, which is what the Father wishes anyway. 

         In general, there are three prevalent attitudes out there. (1) Some just do not believe in Christ at their own risk. (2) Some believe, but not really follow all his teachings. For example, when it comes to forgiving others, they would say "I can't do it" and not even try to do it. These are closed-minded people. (3) And there are those who are open-minded and, despite being weak, ask God to help them follow him in all his teachings. It is clear which one of these attitudes pleases the Lord the most. 

*Winning Tactics*

          The best way to shake off Satan is to run away from him, and the best way to catch God is to run toward him. You goal is to hide yourself in God to remain hidden from Satan and be safe and secure forever.

**What Makes God Beautiful?

        The beauty of nature and many other things we enjoy seeing all reflect, but not reveal the beauty of God. Then how do we discover the beauty of God? I did not know until I got personal with him. Once I entered him, what impressed me the most were his perfection, his holiness, and his love for all of us. He amazingly cleansed my heart, healed my soul, and took away my sins, making me anew – these experiences further bowled me over. It's this total awesomeness that makes him truly beautiful.

Going to Heaven for Sure

        If I tell you that I am going to enter heaven, it's not because I want to let you know that I am holy or anything like that, for I am a great sinner; I know because Jesus promised that whoever believes in him will have life eternal, and all God's promises must be ironclad and true. I am simply "taking advantage of" his free offer out of his love and mercy. It's really all his doing, working out so nicely for me.  

*Most Beautiful Hideaway

        Communion experience. Christ is now my most beautiful private hideaway. He is precisely the refuge every single one of us needs!

**Just You and God

        Everything will be settled between you and God in the end, depending upon how you and God get along in this life. God's love for you is so strong that nothing can change that, so you should stick with him so that nothing can take you away from him. Observe these three rules to secure your soul for all eternity. (1) Follow Christ with all your heart and soul so that no temptation can possibly lure you away from him for even an instant. (2) Never mind what others say or think about you. (3) Don't even think about yourself. God is now your only companion and kindred spirit. Persevere for just a short lifetime and you'll be richly rewarded for all eternity! 

How We Live Viewed

        It seems that many of us live as if we are going to live forever, since we just plan for this life. When I was young and healthy, that's how I lived. Now I realize that we all know that we are going to die one day, so perhaps it is more accurate to say that many of us live as if there will be no life after death. But, of course, either view is incorrect and we live or have lived wrongly.

*Thorough and Forever

        God loves us all the way; he wishes us to be one with him completely; he wants us to be happy forever; when he forgives us, he makes us thoroughly clean; when he heals us, he goes straight to our soul; if we keep him away, he waits with infinite patience and will never turn away from us. He first loved and will never stop loving us. There is nothing more we can ask or add.

Thoroughly With Me

        Communion experience. God came not just to be with me for a while, but to dwell in me forever! 

How to Get Blessed

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, we heard the declarations of blessedness pronounced by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. We learn that God bless those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are merciful, who are clean of heart, who make peace, who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, who are insulted and persecuted because of Christ. May I also include those who are intent on seeking union with God.

*Lack of Humility Lamented

        Humility is letting God be God. Therefore, it is correct to say that the lack of humility is the cause of much of the chaos in our world. Since most people have forgotten about God, humility is all but extinct. Any politician or well-know personality nowadays showing any sign of meekness would surely be perceived as being weak and laughed at. As long as we think that we know more than God, we'll never be able to break free from this self-imprisonment. More importantly, we won't be able to get into heaven.