**Power of Our Free Will*

        God gave us the free will to test our faith. The faithful choose wisely and gain eternal life. The faithless choose foolishly and lose life altogether.

*Soul Over Body and Mind*

        Christ came to save our souls. Therefore, do not worry about losing your body or your mind; but by all means safeguard your soul!

**Union With God, His Desire

        God is more than just being within our reach; he ardently wishes that we enter to dwell in his house! God is more than merely being accessible; he yearns to take up residence in our hearts! This makes intimate union with him possible when we yield to him. This is the endearing God of Christ!

Are You in Trouble?

        If you you do not want God in your life and wish to manage everything by yourself, then you are running away from him or believe falsely that you know more than God. Either way, you are in trouble. My advice to you is that you seriously search your heart to understand the cause and ponder upon the consequences of your decision. This is being honest with yourself. It is a good idea to face yourself first before you face God.

Beyond Our Comprehension

        Communion experience. Our omnipotent and omniscient God is way beyond our comprehension. For example, how much he loves us is more than we can possibly fathom with our finite mind. In receiving the Lord today in the Holy Eucharist, obviously he entered me physically, but by faith I knew that spiritual union also took place, even though it was beyond my comprehension. 

A Reason to Rejoice

        We can repent to God of our sins at practically any time as long as we are alive.  

At Peace in God

        Communion experience. I have settled accounts with my Lord, so everything else doesn't matter anymore.

**Yes, Love Your Enemies*

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus spoke of love of enemies. He said to his disciples, "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father." If you find it hard to love your enemies, let me put aside for a moment that it was Jesus' command and ask you what you would gain from not forgiving your enemies. I can't think of anything good. In fact, I see that hate begets hate and not forgiving our enemies will only be destructive to ourselves. If you can't come up with anything either, then you must accept the Lord's counsel. Know that God is not our enemy, but loving our enemies is loving God! 

Fair Treatment in the End

        Sin not only stains our soul, it also clouds our judgment, causing confusion. People are made to think that God is not always fair to us. We forget that there is life after death. You could say that life is unfair if we die and no longer exist, as some have a lot more of everything than others while on earth. Then again, if we all become nothing sooner or later, what's point of talking about being fair or unfair in our brief existence? Because the soul lives on forever, we can be sure that after God judges us, we'll see that everyone will have received fair treatment.  

Don't Be Lukewarm!

        Revelation 3.16: Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. God does not like us to be lukewarm. A lukewarm Christian is one who takes God only half-seriously. Picture him hanging off the edge of a cliff – he risks falling all the way down. Achieve union with God will put you on solid ground, for now you are with(in) him wherever he is.

*Breaking Down Barriers

        The amazing love of our Lord God is such that it can absolutely unite any two people anywhere in the world in him that they become adopted children of the same Father. Music also has the power of breaking down barriers among us so that we might live in peace on earth. Christopher O'Riley, an American classical pianist, has featured brilliant young musicians on his weekly hosted program From the Top on National Public Program for many years. Here he has six talented young immigrant musicians who came from various countries playing his composition This Land/Our Land together. It is beautiful when people can get along with each other happily. The most beautiful world, of course, would be one in which all people of the world are in union with God as one.

 

Our Foremost Mission Is . . .

to save souls through God's love, for this was the mission of Christ when he came to us, still is today, and will be until his Second Coming.       

Turning Away From Sins

        From today's first reading, Ezekiel 18.21-28: When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, he shall surely live. It is clear that stating out, no matter how virtuous or wicked we are, turning away from all our sins is what matters. And the superior way of vanquishing all sins is to seek refuge in the Lord, for where sanctity prevails, evil cannot not exist.

*Our Dumbest Mistake Is . . .

trying to run away or hide from God, much like trying to forget that we shall die one day. We look extra foolish for running away from One who actually loves us and wishes to save us from death. The wise recognize that there is absolutely no escape from an all-knowing God.       

*God Our Perfect Example

        Jesus said that no one has greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends, and he did just that to show how much he loves us. He teaches us to be meek and humble, and he was the most meek and humble man himself. He wants us to always forgive others, and he asked the Father to forgive even those who crucified him from the cross. Follow the perfect example of our Lord and we'll be perfect.

Eternal Life Settled

        Communion experience. I was aware that I was consuming Christ, the son of the Living God, who is God. This not only made my day, it settled my eternal destiny!

God Forever Personal

        When I was sick in the hospital, the doctors did all they could do for me, and my family members just waited – it was God who was truly there with me. In reality, God is the only one who can be with us at all times. After I die, unless I rebel again him, I'll have him again with me always. Therefore, hold onto the Lord who will always be there for you and is all you need to have.

Clearing Our Way to God

        Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." It is the "denying yourself" that trips us up. If we can get past that first part, the rest of the way becomes smooth sailing. Again, we are our own greatest obstacle in journeying toward God. Surrender our free will to God is our only way out.