***Doing Everything with Love (The Little Way)

      When Jesus saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and a poor widow putting in two small coins, he said to this disciples, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for others have all made their offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood." (Luke 21.1-4) 

       God does not count the number of souls we have saved for him, but rather how lovingly we perform each task, large or small, for his glory. That's why St, Thérèse' "little way" appeals to so many of us. As long as we treat everyone and do everything with love, we become holy. We are now free because we no longer do everything for our own sake, but for God alone.

***God Wants to Free Us!

        Do you recall that when Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was before going to him? He knew that Lazarus would've already been in the tomb for four days when he arrived there. But he's going to raise him for the glory of God. As I was walking outside praying the Rosary this morning, the Lord made me see that when he sometimes delays answering our prayers, it's because he wants us to trust him to the point of not being concerned about whether he's going to answer them or not anymore. He wants us to abandon ourselves to him to become completely detached from anything except him, also for the glory of God. 

***"Never Look Back"

        This is not a new message, but I think it's worth repeating, for my own sake too. The message: "Never look back." No matter how the past has affected you, whether it has made you happy or unhappy, let it go. The past is gone! For the Christian, the very best is yet to come. We need to seize every present moment, for every moment gives us a chance to begin anew, letting Christ cleanse and refresh us. This is a great Christian privilege! Dwelling upon the past keeps one chained to himself, wasting precious time. Remember what Jesus said to a would-be follower in Luke 9.62: "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God." Keep marching ahead, one step at a time, and soon heaven will be in sight.

*No Christ, No Peace

        Jesus is the fountainhead of our peace. If we are connected to him, we experience his peace that surpasses all understanding. But the world does not even want to think about him! Mentioned many times in the scriptures: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Today's generation still has not learned this. Man still go after its own interests relentlessly without peace. What we end up is a world in constant turmoil and unrest.

***Are You a Do-Noting Catholic?

        Fr. Mark Goring's timely message all Catholics need to hear today.

***Voice of Reason and Logic for Life

        You must hear this clear-thinking young man speaking with poise and logic for life. He puts all the pro-choice politicians to shame. 

*Unready for Christ Yet

      When you tell others about Christ, they often feel uneasy, thinking that you are imposing your beliefs on them. The truth is that you are concerned about their soul and want to share the gospel with them. On the other hand, you can pretty much tell them or advise them on anything else and they don't feel threatened. I think this is because we somehow sense that Christ as God knows everything about us and we as sinners are not ready to face him yet.

**My Wise Advice

        God often gives us the grace to repent and return to him just before we die. But since we can die unexpectedly or lose our mind early, we can't count on receiving that grace always. So, be ready now when your mind is still clear. If you make God wait too long, you could lose him forever.

***God, the Coolest Person

        He is, because he always speaks the truth and loves all of us whether we follow him or not. He gives us the freedom of choice, never browbeating us into submission in any way. He has infinite power, but remains humble and meek. He is always magnanimous and trustworthy. He was even willing to lay down his own life for us! He is worthy to be our Lord. 

***Sensible Talk from a Sensible Person

        I came across this video on Yahoo News. The speaker, radio host Jesse Lee Peterson makes a lot of sense. Christ made him see things right.

**Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring*

        Bach's chorale "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" from one of his cantatas has been arranged and transcribed for various instruments. The best-known transcription for piano was by British pianist Dame Myra Hess. It sounds easy, but is not easy to play. Here we have Simone Dinnerstein playing it beautifully. To me, the title is already beautiful.

**What You Never Want to Hear Jesus Say

        Just read the Gospel from Matthew 7 for today's Mass. What the Lord said supports my last post. He said to his disciples, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.'" These are the words you never ever want to hear the Lord say to you! Instead, you want to hear him say "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come, share your master's joy" (Matthew 25.23).

***A Serious Reminder!

         The God of Christ is our absolute moral reference point. We'll be measured by how well we follow his example. There is no escape from this, for he is our sole judge. It is the simple reality. Each of us is responsible for our own destiny. We can surrender to Christ wholeheartedly or reject him outright. The choice is ours. But remember, you reap what you sow.

**To Be Today's John the Baptist

        Today is the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. In Luke 1, John's father Zechariah prophesied: "You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way." Then I see clearly that all Christians are called today to go before the Lord to prepare his Second Coming! 

***Must Realization to Appreciate Life***

          From today's Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 139, a psalm of David: Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. 

       When you realize that God has wonderfully created you, you begin to appreciate both him and yourself and will want to save all souls. You are now pro-life and happy with yourself too. 

***Heaven or Hell

        Watch Fr. Mark Goring's video today. You are not likely to hear messages like this preached from any pulpit. Wake up and hear what we need to hear! May God increase his blessings on Fr. Mark a hundredfold!

***Feeling Deep Sorrow

        This morning around 2 a.m., I suddenly dreamt of my mother who passed away decades ago. I felt deep sorrow for her and started to sob and moan aloud. I won't go into details. Let me just say that she was a beautiful person, but was not treated kindly by other unloving family members. She suffered greatly both emotionally and physically her whole life. Before she died, she had surgery four times in a row. I was away and wasn't able to help her much except for telling her to believe in Christ. One consolation was that she started attending a Christian church before she left the world. Still asleep, I heard Lord's Sermon on the Mount, blessing all the good people, and I knew that he would have mercy on her soul. Experiencing such deep sorrow made me see why we have a merciful God. After I woke up, I felt sorrow again. But this time it's for all those in the world, many of whom are either rich, powerful, and famous or plain ignorant, now unknowingly serving Satan. After they leave this world, they are going to encounter the greatest shock of their existence. Then it'll be too late to realize that God is real and loved them.

**Today's Evil-Infiltrated World

        The fact that Satan has taken so much control of the world now is due much to the Church letting down its guard, especially over this last century or so. The only hope to start anew is to have the high hierarchy of the Church repent of all their sins. But that's not likely to happen, for many in the hierarchy are already enemies of the Church. I see only more confusion, chaos, and upheaval coming our way until the Lord intervenes. Pray that he will intervene.