*Reminder

        If you cannot repent your sins to God, you are not humble enough. Just remember that a big ego cannot get through the narrow gate to heaven.

*Advice

        You may dislike a lot of people, but still love them, for you must never alienate the Lord your God.

Cooperation Between God and Us

        Both "Only God can change us" and "Only we can change ourselves" are correct. "Only we can change ourselves" means we are the only ones who can initiate the change by permitting God to enter us. From this point on, God is now the only one who can make and complete the change in us.

Mixed Feelings

        I get mixed feelings about Jesus' Second Coming. Of course, for the sheep Jesus will take with him, we shall naturally rejoice. Then what about the goats that's going to be left behind forever? You can't help feeling sad about them, but again, they were the ones who made the Lord sad for not loving him. So I believe that our joy would overwhelm any sadness we feel. After all, that's the time the Lord will wipe every tear from our eyes.

*Not Any Lord

        Communion experience. Jesus is absolutely my most intimate Lord.

Intention Matters Most

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 21, Jesus saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into treasury and a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood." Again, the intention behind our action is what counts. It boils down how much we truly love the Lord.

How God Leads Us

        Each one of us is a unique creature of God. We all have different dispositions, temperaments, talents, upbringings, etc. The Lord, knowing it all, puts us who love him on different paths to perform tasks for our maximum spiritual benefit and his greatest glory. Whether we are poor or rich, erudite or uneducated, adroit or clumsy, shy or outgoing, mystical or not . . . the Lord knows exactly how to lead us on. In my own case, I have a pretty simple mind, always trying to simplify things to go straight to the point. God, accordingly, makes everything simple for me to understand and follow. Whoever and wherever you are, serve the Lord faithfully with patience as he leads you through life. 

Our Hope Eternal

        Communion experience. I see Christ as our brightest hope. Since he exists forever, I shall never stop hoping in him. Therefore, I shall never stop praying for all the souls until his Second Coming, whether I am still living in this world or not.

Greatest Revelation or Stumbling Block

       Today is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. In the second reading from Revelation 1, the Lord God says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty." For those who already follow Jesus, this must have been their greatest awakening or revelation. But for others, especially those who are power hungry and proud, it remains their greatest stumbling block. The world divides because of the Lord.

False Freedom

        People do not want Christ in their lives because they want to feel free to do whatever they want to do. Unknowingly and foolishly, they instantly lock themselves inside a cage they have built for themselves. Meanwhile, those who follow Christ is enjoying complete freedom in his infinite space, doing exactly what they wish to do, the will of God.

*God Our Great Healer

        Going through life, we all get emotionally hurt or suppressed from time to time. And when we can't take it anymore, we get angry or out of control in some way. Certainly, talking to someone or getting counseling somewhere can help, but none has the power to heal himself or anyone else. The only one who can heal all our wounds and hurts is the Lord God our creator. Naturally, you must ask for help from him first to let him enter before he can heal you. Unfortunately, many with too much pride just do not believe in the Lord, and they continue to suffer. 

To Die for Jesus?

        Are you willing to die for Jesus who has died for you? If to die means to let your old self die by letting the Lord make you anew, the answer should certainly be yes.

Reverse Déjà Vu

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 19, we read that while Jesus was teaching in the temple area every day, the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were seeking to put him to death. This scene is familiar today when you see politicians of one party seeking to bring down the leader of their opposition party no matter how much good he or she is doing.

Be Good for God

        When Jesus shows up unexpected upon his Second Coming, would you like to be caught thinking about how you dislike someone, or speaking unkindly to a member of your family, or checking out an impure website online? If your answer is no, no, no, then be holy and do not sin in thoughts, words, or deeds.

***God Not Doing Anything?

        We wonder why God does not crush all evil and bring peace to the world. Let us remember two things. First, God has already done his part paving the way to salvation for us. Now it's time for us to respond. Don't you see that if we all turn to the Lord and obey him, there will be instant peace in the world? Secondly, read this response from Jesus to Pontius Pilate during his trial: "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. Bt as it is, my kingdom is not here." You get the idea. The Lord's chief wish is to have us join his kingdom so as to have life eternal. Any peace he can bring to us on earth who do not change our hearts will be short-lived and imperfect. 

Heavenly Bond

        Communion experience. It's bonding with Jesus in heaven! 

***Perfect Union Now

        Christ loves us so much that he wants to possess all of us. Our perfect reaction should be to want to possess all of him. In practice, we would just let him possess all of us and he becomes ours in the process. Now we have perfect union this side of heaven!

Key Step to Salvation

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 17, Jesus cleansed ten lepers and only one of the ten returned, fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. Jesus told him that his faith had saved him. In many other cases of healing, Jesus had said the same thing. It strikes me that to have faith in the Lord is the most important step we can take. There are many others things we need to do afterwards, but to have faith in him is the key step to take to be saved.