***Most Violated Commandment

        The 8th of the Ten Commandments: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Very sadly, this is the commandment the mainstream media have been violating for many years, much more so since Trump got elected. As the MSM pretty much align themselves with the liberals on the left, they shamelessly make up stories, spread lies, show false pictures, ignore all the news that would make Trump look good and report anything that could make him look bad, aiming to spin their viewers and audiences. Unfortunately, there are always those who watch and listen exclusively to the fake news, and they get "brainwashed" and become intolerant of anyone who might disagree with them. The leftists even hope that the country will have a recession to make Trump look bad! This is wishing ill of all others for the sake of regaining control and power! Such continuing bearing false witness has succeeded in polarizing our entire country. I truly pity the people of MSM for spewing falsehoods and hate, not realizing that they are playing with fire, for by knowingly violating any of God's commandments you can lose your soul.

**Our First Order of Business

        Communion thoughts. If our relationship with the Lord is perfect, we shouldn't let how all other things turn out bother us anymore. This is not being cold or selfish; this is what the Lord desires from us. He always wants us to have faith in him and not be anxious about or afraid of anything. Our first order of business is to obey him.

**Doing the Opposite to Succeed

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 8, Jesus said to the crowd, "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it." Jesus had also said, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." It seems that we need to do the exact opposite to achieve what we want. It's the same with making spiritual progress. Instead of struggling hard, we simply abandon ourselves to God. It all comes down to letting God be God.

***Liberation in Two Parts***

        Communion experience. The Lord liberated me! This is how it came about. (1) It's all up to me—I let the Lord do whatever he wanted with me. (2) It's all up to God—he liberated me. That is, I gave him the OK and he finished the job. Simple and cool! 

••Lessons from Gospel Reading

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 8, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" Peter got it right, for he replied, "You are the Christ." Our duty and goal is precisely to make this truth known to all!

        Right after Peter said the right thing, he blundered. Jesus told the disciples that he must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this Jesus turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." We are very much like Peter, following our emotion and not discerning the will of God. So, be aware that Satan is always there, prompting us to go against the Lord. And to know God's thoughts, seek to attain union with him.

**You Are Free When . . .

Jesus is more important to you than yourself.        

**Abandonment Time

        When we come to say "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" in praying the Our Prayer, it is time to abandon ourselves totally to God!      

Worldly Pleasure vs. Heavenly Joy

        When we pursue pleasure in the world, we are being self-centered. Whereas, when we receive joy from God, both he and we are pleased.

*Learning to Love Others

        Learn how to love others from the God of Christ first, then you'll know how to love everyone properly. So get to know the Lord well and you'll love all others as he loves them.

**Overcoming Our Weaknesses

        How do we overcome temptations, our ego, our fixations or obsessions, our hang-ups, and other human weaknesses? Should we resolve to face them and fight hard by whatever means available? On the contrary, we should not even worry about them. Instead, we should go before the Lord with all the above and rest ourselves in him with great confidence. Again, we go limp in God to let him restore and transform us completely.

*****Be a Saint Please

        From today's Communion antiphon from Psalm 78: They ate and had their fill, and what they craved the Lord gave them. Do you know that if you crave for spiritual food, the Lord will always give it to you without fail? Should you wish to become a saint, it is inconceivable that he would not comply! In fact, he would be so pleased that he'll readily fulfill your wish. After all, nothing is impossible with God, right? By the way, to want to be a saint has nothing to do with pride, for you realize that a saint must remain most humble. So, do not shortchange yourself. Do not miss glorifying God. Crave for the very best spiritually and God shall give it to you without fail!

**To Console God

        We worship God, adore God, praise God, and ask for his mercy, but we forget to console him, as the world continues to offend him! Let us amend this by being extra good, obedient, and holy to the Lord. 

*Why Attend Mass?

        Why do I attend Mass daily? To hear a good homily? To hear some good music or singing? To be amidst my brothers and sisters in Christ? The answer to all three questions is no. My only reason for attending Mass is to receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist so that I may remain as one with him. 

**God Most Wonderful

        In Nazareth, Jesus' native place, he did not perform many mighty deeds because the local people lacked faith in him. Similarly, we do not experience God's wonders if we do not expect much from him. I can tell you that if we put all our faith in the Lord, that is, he becomes totally real to us, we shall never cease to experience his wonders! 

***Responding to God Alone

        In Matthew 7.21, Jesus said to his disciples that only those who do the will of his Father in heaven would enter the kingdom of heaven. To do the will of the Father always is to respond to him alone, making his voice the foremost one in our life. We neither look up to nor down on whatever good counsel we hear from others; we only want to be sure that we do the will of the Lord. This is a fundamental rule to which we must adhere. Last, I must mention that the way to knowing the will of the Father is to know Jesus well, for they are one. 

*Knowing How to Get to Heaven

         Here's an insight I received after taking Holy Communion. It's something pretty obvious. I call it an insight only because it came to me clearly and rather acutely this time. 

           The Lord God knows everything about me, everything. So if I live the best possible life, remaining pure, obeying him always, and doing everything for his glory, I shall surely be rewarded with seeing him in heaven and more. It is all logical, and true. (To be lost is easy; to be saved is not hard if you know God.)

**More Precious than My Soul

        Communion experience. I receive the Holy Eucharist. I realize that it is more precious than anything else, for it's the Lord. In fact, it is even more precious than my own soul, for without the Lord, I would not be able to save my soul.

Our freedom, Peace, and Joy

        We follow Christ and experience freedom, peace, and great joy. These are the gifts which can only come from him. So not only he is the way and the truth and the light (John 14.6), it is equally valid to say that he is our freedom and our peace and our joy.