**Why People Don't Believe

        The Gospel reading comes from John 3: God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Perhaps the world just doesn't get it, for its people only want to focus upon living their life and keep their "freedom" on earth. Surely they should know that life on earth will end, that God wants to give them life after death, and that once saved, you are truly set free. John gave the verdict later in the same reading: people preferred darkness to light because their works were evil. I think he nailed it on the head.

*****God's Transforming Power (Great News)

        Today's first reading came from Acts 5. Let me quote the first two verses, 17 and 18: "The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail." As I read, I stopped at the word "jealousy" because it seemed to be somewhat a strange word. Then I realized that it was because I hadn't felt jealousy for quite some time now. A chain of realizations ensued. The Lord has changed me. He has taken away all the sinful feelings offensive to him. That's why I feel so much peace in my heart. He has fundamentally transformed me! God is truly amazing! Yes, he can make any one of us anew if you would cooperate with him. I want the whole world to know him so that everyone may experience freedom, peace, and joy. This is no fantasy, it's the almighty, loving God woking!

***God's Will Be Done

        Hearing the Lord speaking to me in my heart gives me great joy. Yesterday I was very happy because the Lord gave me quite a number of thoughts to blog. As I was walking outside this morning again, I thought it'd be nice to hear more thoughts from him again. Then instantly I realized that I was expressing my wish and it may not be his. What I read in yesterday's Gospel reading from John 3 came to my mind. Explaining how one is born of the Spirit to Nicodemus, Jesus said to him, "The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes, so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." So it happens as the Spirit wills. The Lord may wish to give me a hundred thoughts or zero thought according to his will. The joy coming from the Holy Spirit I can never anticipate either. God is free to do whatever whenever he wishes. We may ask humbly for favors, but not wish foolishly for any.

Losing Fear of Death

        No one can be sure that there is no God. In that case, I would be afraid to die, for I don't know what'll happen to me after I die. Since I know without a doubt that God exists and that he even loves me, I lose all fear of death. All very logical.

*Prioritizing. Our Needs

        We have our material needs. They may be necessary, but they are always temporary and may even be sinful.  Anyhow, we should always put our spiritual needs ahead of all other needs, for fulfilling these needs will get us into heaven. 

**We Let God Down

         Often we share Christ with others and no one shows any interest and we feel the letdown and a loneliness in this world. I realize how the Lord must feel when great multitudes of people have already deserted him. All the more we need to appreciate and love him to counter this imbalance.

*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.