*Being Truly Childlike

        When we were kids and didn't like what our parents told us to do, we asked why we had to do it. Many parent did not bother to reason with us; our father or mother simply answered "Because I said so." But God is nor ordinary parent, for he always knows what's best for us. So we can unquestionably obey him in all things. This is being truly childlike.

***Know, Treasure, and Rejoice In . . .

the fact that Jesus' ultimate death has gained for us ultimate freedom from sin. 

Our Relationship with God

        Since there are many Christians, we must examine our relationship with the Lord. Those who are weakly attached to him risk losing him altogether when the Devil attacks. Only those strongly linked to the Lord will survive all attacks and come through unscathed at the end. Be in union with God for maximum security. Just common sense. 

Inspired by Christ

        Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Today as I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries, I was inspired by the Lord carrying his own cross all the way to Calvary. 

***Going Against God

        Jesus advised us to store up treasures in heaven so that we may want to go there. Many of us are doing the exact opposite on earth, which is accumulating material possessions. But I have something in mind even better (or worse), that is, "piling up sins on earth." 

***Dying for the Lord?

        Jesus has loved us so much that he willingly died for us. If we love him, should we die for him? Know that he died for us so that we may live. So we should focus upon living for him. If death is called for in the process, then so be it. The Lord desires love from us the most, not death.

***Learning from God Directly*

        I have stressed the advantage of going to the Lord directly. All the prophets, great saints, visionaries . . . learn from the Lord directly, and I don't ever recall Jesus asking us to go through someone else first. He is open directly to anyone! This is why I advocate seeking union with the Lord, for there is no more direct approach than that. Imagine hearing the Lord speaking to you in your heart! You needn't listen to another voice anymore. 

****Close to Death

         We may have two more years to live or 50 more to live. Is "50 years" that much longer that two years? Next to eternity, even 100 millions years is nothing. So no matter how much longer we live, we are close to death. This means that we are close to heaven or to hell too. Most of all, we are close to God, for he is all yours if you desire him. I would definitely take advantage of that. But God can be so far away should you choose to reject him, even when he wants to be as close to you as possible. Think about that.

*****God Is Pure Delight!*****

        The Lord is pure delight! Knowing him is a delight, hearing him speak to my heart is a delight, learning from him is a delight. having him guide me is a delight, and his constant companionship is absolutely delightful! Of course, I want to go to him. But if I must remain longer in this world, that'd be fine too, for I get to enjoy him longer in this world.  

***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.