*Becoming More Inpedpendent

        We have the Walkaway and Blexit movements going on in this country. They both attempt to teach voters to do their own thinking and come to their own decision to vote for the right party instead of being told by one party that they should always vote for them. We Catholics are used to follow spiritual guidance from the clergy. I think it'll be good for us to become more independent by learning what's going on within the Church, the good and the bad, as well as the teachings of the Church on our own. There is so much on the internet out there. Of course, you need be sure that the sources are legitimate and reliable. Then we can become better informed Catholics, more fit to fight the spiritual battle.

**How to Welcome the Lord (Perfect Obedience)*

        Christmas is approaching. Jesus is already here; all we need to do is to open our hearts wide to let him in to do whatever he wishes with us. This is perfect obedience.

*Faith Vanquishes Fear

        If you know that Christ has saved you and you are on your way to him in heaven, all your fears on earth should vanish.

***To Be in God!***

        It is so good and incredible that we can get to know God, our Father and creator, personally so well that we fall deeply in love with him, become his soulmates, hear his sweet voice speaking to us in our hearts, and long for him so much that we lose all fear of death. Surrender yourself to him completely and you'll know.

***Quitting the Catholic Church

        Recently, a well-known TV show host had announced that he was leaving the Catholic Church because of "institutionalized corruption." I have a lot to say about this, but here are just a few thoughts. (1) Since he was a cradled Catholic, I see the failure of the Church to teach him what the Church was all about, the significance of the Holy Eucharist, etc. Even today when we are facing major crises within the Church, business goes on as usual within most dioceses as if everything is all right. I understand God wants us to trust in him, but he wants us to go all out to fight the spiritual battle too. (2) The Catholic Church was established by Christ himself and he told us that the gates of hell should not prevail against it. Anyone who quits the Church is not placing his faith entirely in Christ. (3) Those with true faith will remain Catholic even if they are the only Catholics in the world who are not corrupt. Our government is corrupt, but no one gives up his citizenship or leave the country. (4) The Holy Eucharist is God's greatest gift to us. It's unthinkable that any true Catholic would ever want to give that up, literally excommunicating himself. Please pray hard for all Catholics now! 

**Time for Total Abandonment

        God can accomplish infinitely more than we can. Of course, we need to do our part. We need to pray, trust in him, and follow his will. Then we reach a point we just have to let the Lord take over completely, while we continue providing prayer support. This calls for greater trust and total abandonment in him. It's always exciting to see how God triumphs in the end.

**Only God Knows Us*

        I know many fellow beings, including my own family members who know me the best, yet no one knows all about me nor the true me. But God our Father and creator knows all about me, inside and out. At judgment time, we'll be totally exposed before all. But know that even now, we are totally exposed to God alone every moment. So only God truly knows us and we can now choose to be either his friends or his enemies.

*To Remain Unafraid

        Jesus always tells his disciples to not be afraid. If we always do God's will, then truly we do not need to be afraid of anything, for we'll always be doing the right thing as we head for heaven. 

*All Sinners Are Equal

        It's just eight days from Christmas. Today I see that we are all sinners, so we don't have the right to judge anyone. Before the Lord, we are all unclean, but he loves us all. We need to pray for ourselves first, then the others.

*Heavenly Experience*

        Communion experience. God came, entered me, filled all of me, and remained in me!

**Jesus Christ, Our God and Judge

        Jesus came and preached the best possible news to us. Those who were evil felt threatened and became hostile to him, but those who were good and open-hearted accepted him. It is the same today. Christ has made both enemies and friends, so he has brought us division. The people who wish to remain in darkness do not like to be exposed, while those wish to get out of darkness welcome his light. Jesus Christ is truly our God and judge.

**Mercy and Peace

        Communion thoughts. The Lord God is my true source of mercy and peace. When I place myself at his mercy, I receive peace from him.

**Capturing God*

        The only way to capture God is let yourself be captured by him first.

*Rejoicing in Order

        Today's entrance antiphon started with Philippians 4.5: Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say rejoice. Jesus has come and saved us from our sins so that we can get to heaven to enjoy eternal life—how can we possibly not rejoice? Can you possibly think of any better news than this?  

When to Repent

        Don't put off repenting your sins and think that you'll have time to do it later. True, some people get to repent just before they die, but you might not get that moment. Besides, if you plan that way, the Lord would see your insincerity and it may not work for you. My wise advice: Repent now while you are still alive and your mind still clear.

Passing into Our Next Life

        The soul lives on forever and life is continuous. We can make our transition into our next life smooth, easy, and joyful or rough, difficult, and horrible. It all depends upon how much we let Christ into our life.

God Always with Us

        Look at one of your good friends. You see him, you hear him, and he sees you and hears you. You ask him for help and he often complies. But he cannot always be with you. Now look at God. Even if you don't see him, he sees you and knows all about you. He hears you instantly and you can hear from him too if you are open to him. You ask for his help and he always complies in the best way possible for you. The Lord God is our superior and most trustworthy friend. And he is with us always!

God's Challenging Promises

        I have not gone through the Gospels to see how many times Jesus had promised that we would never die or have life forever if we believed in him, kept his words, did the will of the Father, or ate the heavenly bread he gave us. He'd done it time and again. Can we possibly dismiss all these promises? I think not. You'll have to be so foolish as to think that are greater than he. The only sensible choice is to yield and believe in them.