***Must Life Be a Tragedy?

         I know that Jesus is the Son of God and is God. He is also our one and only Savior. We'll have to pass through him after we die, for he is our final judge too. I am as certain about all this as the eleven Apostles who saw him, touched him, witnessed all the miracles he performed and his ascending into heaven after he rose from the dead. You see, when you get to know the Lord intimately so that you become one with him, he personally affirms such truths in you.  
        Then so many people still don't believe in him. Even though they can, they choose not to because they are full of pride and wish to remain as their own lord. At times like these, the Lord is urgently calling us to convert and pray, but people still go about their business as usual. Unknowingly, each of them is playing the role of the protagonist is a tragedy about their own life.

***Teaching Christ to Others*

         The Church has failed to teach our children. Parents should take on the responsibility of providing religious educating to their own children if they are able to. In talking to both of my sons, I realize that I had made the mistake of believing that they would learn all they needed to know by attending CCD classes at church. Today my older son told me that he was always told to do this or that, but was never given the reason, and that turned him off. As for my second son who's quite a bit younger, I recently found the book that was used when he was being prepared for receiving First Communion. I was appalled that not one word was said about the Real Presence of the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. No wonder a large percentage of the young today do not believe that the consecrated bread and wine are the body and blood of the Lord anymore. This has to be an epic failure. About one confirmation class I was involved in at one church, the kids were taught how to behave and act before the bishop when he showed up, not a word about expecting the Holy Spirit to touch you when you're being confirmed. Once at yet another church I hinted that I could share with the kids that we can experience God with a CCD teacher, she showed total disinterest. So you have people who do not know God well teaching about God. As a result, you don't get drawn any closer to him. God is not to be taught like any other secular subject and church committee meetings are not to be run like business meetings at some company. Getting to know Christ first must be our No. 1 priority.  

**All Passes except . . .

        The weather was perfect as I was walking outside this morning. It was cool and clear, but I knew that in a few months, it would be scorching. So everything in this world passes. Where are some of the mighty kingdoms and dynasties of the past?  Where are the world-conquering rulers and heroes who were here? What about some of the big-name, much admired entertainers of our generation? Many are already gone. I am now really looking ahead... As he world is preparing for the arrival of the Anti-Christ, there will be more warnings and chastisements. At the end, we'll have the Second Coming of Christ. Again, all these things will pass except those who have been saved by Christ and are destined to live with the Lord forever. Dwell on him now and not the passing world. 

*Blessing of Knowing Christ

        The thought came to me that Christians are so blessed to have Christ as their shepherd and guide. The people who came before Christ had prophets to follow. Today there are so many people who still do not know the Lord yet. Of course, we'll all be judged by him differently but always fairly. Knowing Christ definitely makes the path to holiness and salvation precise and clear for us. 

**Responsible for Our Own Sins!

        We are completely responsible for our own sins—we cannot blame anyone for causing us to sin, as we are not supposed to sin. Each one of us will have to face God alone for we've done. The account is to be settled between you and God, not between you and someone else. So mind your own business.

Consider Your Eternal Future Now

         People just don't think about death, especially when everything seems to be going alright for them. But I want you to think ahead early. No matter how things are going with you, ask yourself if you are ready to leave this world? Asking more realistically, are you ready to meet the Lord to be judged by him? If you are not thinking about it at all, you are ignoring your entire eternal future. Face and resolve the issue now so that you may have peace of mind. 

*To Be Freed from Sin

             We easily fall into the clutches of sin and and become helpless. It is such a common problem. God is the only one who can free you from such enslavement if you'd ask for his help. That is, you submit yourself to him to allow his power to flow into you. It all comes down to whether you let the Lord be your Lord or not. There is absolutely no need to worry about what the Evil One might do. Turn away from him and to God, and he becomes powerless. Let God take care of the rest and you are freed from the clutches of sin for good.

**"The Lord Is with Us"

        The last thing Jesus told the eleven disciples according to Matthew 18:20 was "Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." Since the Lord knows everything about each one of us, of course he is with us. Even if we do not see him, we can be sure that he is more present than all others whom we know and see. In fact, after you receive Holy Communion, he even dwells in us. This is faith at its best.

***Christ, Trustworthy and Ever Present

        Today's Gospel reading, the first 14 verses of John, tells Jesus' third appearance to his disciples after being raised from the dead. The description was so beautiful that I broke down and cried as I read the verses. I learned the following. The disciples had been fishing in the Sea of Tiberias and by night still caught nothing. When it was already dawn, they saw Jesus standing on the shore, but did not recognize him. Then Jesus said to them to cast the net over the right side of the boat and they would find something. They cast it and weren't able to pull it in because of the number of fish. Then they realized that "It is the Lord!" So we should always trust in the Lord, never wonder what might or might not happen, and listen to him, for he is with us, watches over us, and will guide us. Every moment is an it's-the-Lord moment, for he is ever present. Again, I strongly recommend that you seek to attain union with him so that you may live a life carefree in this turbulent world.

***Rejoicing in the Lord!

        I am struck by verse 24 of Psalm 118, today's Gospel acclamation: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. I look at today and see that the Lord loves me so much that he even died for me; that I am a  sinner, but he can easily make me pure and clean; that I can trust him with my soul; and that he is waiting or me to be with him for eternity. How can you possibly not rejoice when you are aware that you are being loved so much by such a great Lord? 

**Mary's Loving Messages

          Gisella Cardia of Italy began receiving messages from the Blessed Mother in 2016. In September of 2019, Mary foretold her about the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic from China. She is now known as the prophet of the end times. The main thing God desires from us has always been conversion and prayer, and Gisella hasn't added anything new. It only shows that how urgent it is for us to turn to God, repent, and obey him. I've found a couple of Gisella's messages dated April 18 and April 28, 2020, respecyively. I'll post them below, for they are encouraging and worth reading. 

            Beloved children, thank you for being in prayer and for having listened to my call in your hearts. Dear children, fight for your freedom: you are about to be enslaved by evil dictators. Beware of vaccines and all obligations, because they will not come from God, but from Satan who wants to govern your lives and minds. My beloved, earthquakes will be heard all over the world: I have touched the earth to warn my children, so that they can be ready for the terrible times that will arrive. Children, use discernment, for this is the time when there will be many false prophets. Pray much and continually, have faith in God alone and continue to read the Holy Scriptures. Beloved children, only faith can save you, never forget this. My Angels and Archangels will always be by your side: do not be lukewarm. Now I bless you in the name of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

          Dear children, thank you for being united in prayer and for having accepted my call in your hearts. Beloved children, the powerful have planned everything, not taking God into account. It is useless for them to plan their escape before what will happen, because my safe havens will be prayer, sacrifice, penance and what God has already prepared for you. Rejoice, children, because you will see Jesus descending just as He went away [cf. Acts 1:11]. Beloved children, my Lord is suffering so much because He died for you and your sins, but the world is still acting in savagery. Shepherds are not taking care of the faithful: the churches are closing and soon the Eucharist will be taken away from you once again. What is to come will cause death. But you still do not understand! I have been sent to warn you, but many do not even appreciate my presence. Pray, children! Pray beneath the Cross of my Son, because the earth is full of demons. Man will lash out against man and from there war will begin. My beloveds, entrust everything to my Lord. Now I bless you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

**Opposite Visions of Life

        Here's what the Lord made me see this morning. Most people do not believe in Christ because they want to remain free on their own, falsely thinking that being able to do whatever they wish will make them free. Of course, only God who's greater than us can set us free. Following yourself is exactly what lost souls do. On the contrary, believers in the Lord see that life in this sinful world is full of trials, setbacks, sufferings, and hardships. But God watches over them, so they willingly endure all and wait for the day they'll be with him forever. In sum, nonbelievers live myopically for the present and believers wisely set their eyes on the everlasting future.

*Soul-Shakng Moments

         To be excited about Christ, you need a wake-up experience. Many cradle Catholics may be devout, but they don't show show much enthusiasm outwardly. I think it's because they were brought up as Catholics and never had a "wake-up" moment. I am a covert to Catholicism. One wake-up moment I remember was the time I realized that I was truly a sinner and needed Christ to make me new—the realization shook me to the core and I broke down! Afterwards, I was a different person. It was an encounter with the Lord, you might say. We all need such moments and can desire and be open to them. God is to be experienced!          

*Simple Step to Clinch Eternal life

        To have eternal life, you only need to acknowledge that Jesus is your Savior and believe in him. It's a simple step to take. You are not even required to become a holy saint. Of course, once you get to know the Lord intimately, you may very well want to be as holy as possible to pease him.

***Key to Recognizing the Lord

         In today's Gospel reading from Luke 24, we read about how the risen Lord appeared to two of his disciples on their way to Emmaus. They did not recognize him until they saw him took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them at the table that evening. If you receive Holy Communion, fully aware that the Lord is present in the Eucharist, you will recognize his presence at all times.

**Eternal Life Is OK

        To want to have eternal life is not being self-centered. It is nice, but I want to have it because God wants me to have it! Our first priority is to obey God. Should he want to punish me for my wrongdoings, that'd be fine too. 

***Two Ways of Growing Old

        People become enlightened and wise or bitter and more stubborn than ever as they grow old. Let's look at the latter case first. The worst example would be someone who complains about everything and blames others always and never himself. He's set in his ways because he believes that's how God has made him. Of course, I am describing an extreme case, but I've known people more or less like that. On the other hand, he one who grows wiser realizes that he must depend upon God more as he grows older and weaker. This is a true blessing as he finally sees the reality. Now, abandoning yourself to God doesn't mean that you no longer ask God for favors. In fact, you are now free to ask for all the blessings you need. Only how the Lord is going to respond does not concern you anymore. You've been enlightened!

**Effect of a Change of Heart

        John 3.16: For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. The statement is so clear and simple. Yet we just have a hard time believing the Apostle John. This is because as sinners, we are still rebelling against God—the same perpetual old story. Only the wise recognize this reality that a change of our heart can send us to heaven instead of hell.