****Have Faith and Succeed***

         In today's Gospels reading from Matthew 14, the disciples of Jesus got into the boat and went on ahead to the other side of the lake. When evening came, the boat now far out on the lake was battling with a heavy sea. In the fourth watch of the night, the disciples saw Jesus walking towards them on the lake. They were terrified at first, for they thought it was a ghost. But Jesus at once called out to assure them that it was he. Then Peter answered, "Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water." "Come," said Jesus. Peter got out of the boat and started walking across the water towards Jesus, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. "Lord! Save me!" he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him, "Man of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 

        What I've learned is that when the Lord asks you clearly to do something specific, no matter how difficult or impossible it might seem, you can be sure that you shall succeed if you do not doubt. Obviously, nothing is impossible for God—whatever he wills, it's done. Now, go follow all his commandments and counsels with complete confidence!

**No Happiness in This Life

        In 1858, When the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette in Lourdes, France, her third statement to her was "I do not promise to make you happy in this world but in the other." This came to my mind because in this sinful world, ungodly things all around the globe happen nonstop, placing a heavy burden on your heart. Surely, we hope in the Lord and enjoy him in private, but amidst all the tragedies and human follies. It helps us greatly to know that this is reality of this world and that we can be perfectly happy in our next life.

**Creation in Action

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 14,  Jesus  took five loaves of bread and two fish and multiplied them to feed a crowd composed of five thousand men, not counting women and children. This was an amazing feat. But more than that, it was creation in action, proving that he is our creator!

***Best Possible News for Us

        In reading 2 from Romans 8, Paul writes: "I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." In other words, nothing can possibly stop God from loving us. This has got to be the best possible news we can ever have! Just thinking about it should make us jump for joy. We will have instant peace in the world if everyone realizes this truth.

***God Our Perfect Listener

        Most of us like to share our thoughts and feelings with others. Even when we have private thoughts difficult to share, we still hope that someone will understand and hear us. Then I see the Lord as our listener. You can share your thoughts and feelings with him at anytime and he hears you and understands you perfectly. Since he already knows everything about you, he's the ideal one to talk to. Besides, he is forever patient and loving. And (this is a big "and") he can heal your heart and soul! He is truly the only one you need to share everything with from your very heart. (By the way, sharing all your thoughts and feelings with God puts you well on the way to union with him!)

*Jesus' Consolation for Us Today

        Matthew 5.10, today's alleluia verse, one of Jesus' beatitudes: "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven."  This is Jesus' consolation for us—how good and sweet it is to hear it. You can be sure that all his promises are true. 

**Lamenting Today's Generation

        We are supposed to love God with all our heart, with all my soul, and with all our mind, yet how much do we, even as Christians, think of him daily? Putting ourselves ahead of our Creator and Savior also puts us in danger of losing our souls. Man is so enthralled with it own scientific achievements and material successes that God is all but forgotten. The message of salvation has fallen on many deaf ears for two thousand years. Other heavenly messages, signs, and warnings since then have also been ignored. If Christ appears today, I would not be shocked that the godless mobs and secular crowds would want to kill him again. But the good (or sad, depending on your view) news is that when he comes next, it'll be judgment time.    

***Cutting Off Mainstream Media

        I am letting Fr. Mark Goring say what I have wanted to say because he says it well.

 

**Defeating Satan

        Satan wants to ruins our souls because he knows that God loves us. Since we have inherited the original sin, we are capable of sinning even without Satan's instigation. But if we sin, we become easy targets for Satan to snatch. The right way to defeat Satan is to seek refuge in God and become holy. Even if God allows Satan to attack us then, it'll be for the purpose of strengthening us. If Satan cannot ruin any souls, he loses the battle and God will put him away for good.

***Ignorance Is Not Bliss!

        We live in a mostly secular world, unaware that there is a spiritual war going on between God and Satan battling for our souls. So we simply try to succeed on our own in the eyes of the world as if God does not exist. Some of us do become wealthy, famous, or powerful, but to what end? We'd better ask ourselves what Jesus asked his disciples (Matthew 16.26): "What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" It'd be infinitely better to live according the God's plan, trusting in him always and not be self-centered. Then you'll enjoy freedom and peace, knowing that you'll live on forever happy beyond this life too. It comes down to getting all your reward here and now or getting it later for all eternity!

*To See God Doing Mighty Deeds

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus did not work many mighty deeds in his native place because of the lack of faith of the local people. That's why nonbelievers do not see wonders of God, while those who believe see God working mightily in their lives and elsewhere and continue to grow in faith. You either get it all or get nothing. It seems unfair, but it is totally expected. Faith opens the door to God's wonderland.

***Living the Ultimate Christian Life***

        When you let God do everything for you, everything becomes easy for you to accomplish. This is the result of abandoning yourself to God, the secret of living the ultimate Christian life. Nothing can be stronger than you and God being united as one! For he is now free to back you in all things. You have conquered enemy No. 1, yourself, and become God's friend. Whatever you want to do is what he wants to do. Who can possibly stop you now? Without the Lord, you simply fight yourself to the day you die. 

**Greatest Short Prayer

        When the Risen Lord first appeared to the disciples, Thomas was not there. When they told him that they had seen the Lord, Thomas said, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand unto his side, I will not believe." Then a week later Jesus came again and Thomas was there. He said to him, "Put you finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" To me this is the greatest short prayer of all. Thomas finally realized the truth. To say these words to Jesus from the heart is to surrender yourself to him completely. Calling Jesus Lord is not to be done lightly. In Matthew 7.21, Jesus said : "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." God is the only Lord we should have. Calling him Lord but not doing his will is being a hypocrite. 

**Another Urgent Message

        Signs are plenty. The problem is our hardened hearts.

 

***Plead to Treasure Eternity***

        God has always existed. For him there is no beginning nor end. That is, God is eternal. After we are created, we become eternal too, for our soul lives on forever. We must now take eternity seriously, for it can give us the greatest joy or the greatest sorrow. Personally, I am most grateful and rejoice that I can get to live with God the Father in heaven for all eternity. Considering that I am sinner, this is incredible! But I pity greatly those who do not take their eternal existence seriously and might end up one day wishing that they were never born. So I plead urgently with everyone to take advantage of this once-in-an-eternity opportunity God has offered us through the shedding of his own blood to become happy forever!

**Faith and Hope We Need Now

        In today's Gospel reading from John 11, Jesus went to see Martha and Mary whose brother Lazarus had already died. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother wold not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Of course, the Lord did go ahead and raise Lazarus from the dead. This is the kind of faith we need to have: even now we know that whatever we ask of God, God will give us. Believe and hope in God always and he will get us through anything.

***Urgent, Urgent Reminder

        John 8.12, today's alleluia verse: I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. What do you see life as?  Do you just think that you were just born into this world to just try to stay alive for the short period of time you have on earth? Well, you are not really living until you see that you are a sinner who needs salvation, that both God and evil are real, fighting for your soul, and that you are being tested to see if you are good enough to enter heaven. At this critical time, it's more urgent than ever that we realize this reality, for our soul is at risk! As Jesus is the light of the world, only he can light you way to the whole truth. Ignore or reject him and you remain in darkness.   

***Saving Ourselves Now Up to Us

        We have turned our back on God. It's happening within the Church and outside the Church in this country, and worldwide. It is sad that many are not even aware that they are now serving Satan. We are going though possibly the darkest period of human history. Hear Fr. Goring's urgent message to all.