**Another Christian Joy

        The great joy for those who follow Christ is, of course, knowing that they will be in heaven with him forever. Another joy we mustn't forget is that when that happens, we'll be like him ourselves!  

**Saving the Family

         Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. In these evil times, Satan has succeeded in breaking up so many families. It's common to meet Catholic parents whose sons and daughters were raised in the Catholic faith but have left the Church altogether. When prayers don't seem to work, the parents are left with no choice but to give their children completely to God. This is a good move, but remember that if you truly trust in the Lord, your burden is now carried by your heavenly Father and you mustn't let it burden you anymore.

**Learning How to Love

          If you love anyone, you must be concerned about that person's soul and eternal life. If you don't live a good spiritual life, you basically don't love yourself. Love Christ first and foremost and you'll know how to love everyone else and yourself right.

**Completing God's Joy

        Communion experience. God has completed my joy. I must now focus upon completing his joy. 

***Day of Mercy

        Each day we are alive is a day of mercy bestowed upon us by God! We'd better take full advantage of it.

***God's Ultimate Intention***

       Do you know that the Lord wants to save us so that we can finally become perfect like him?

**Mutual Exalting

        When we remain humble, the Lord exalts us. Do you see that as we humble ourselves, we exalt the Lord too?

***That Christmas Joy

          It's Christmas, a day Christians greatly rejoice in. This is a unique joy that non-Christians do not experience, the joy of knowing that God truly loves you and has saved you from sin to live for all eternity with him in heaven. So, on this joyful day, I do feel the sorrow that many still do not know or have even rejected Christ—you can't get more lost that that. It is imperative that all true believers in Christ pray for the conversion of the entire world so that all peoples may experience that joy God has intended for all of us.

***Most Comfortable for Me

         As Christmas is only two days away, you see houses decorated with lights, people busily shopping for gifts, stores putting up ostentatious displays, etc. Christmas is now even celebrated in non-Christian countries. For many, it provides a holiday break and an opportunity to spend or make a lot of money. Just how many people see Christ as our Savior and are drawn to him at Christmas time? I am afraid that all the glitter and glow only show how ungenuine we can be. Anyway, I am happy because Christ is the one with whom I feel most comfortable. He has completely fulfilled me in every way. How is this possible when him I don't even see? Well, that's because he created and knows me thoroughly and nothing is impossible for him.

*****Conversion of the Jews

        I posted Part 1 of Roy Schoeman's talk on Nov. 8, 2018, in which he told his own amazing conversion story. Today I watched Part 4 of his talk and feel compelled to share it with all. He tells how some of the prominent Jews converted to Catholicism. Perhaps more importantly, we Catholics can learn how lucky we are to have the truth and all the sacraments. This presentation should make us appreciate and treasure Jesus Christ our Savior and the teachings of our Church even more! The main talk ends around 1:06:14, followed by a Q and A. 

 

**Christ Our Ohly Hope

        Many hope that the coming Christmas and New Year will bring them peace and joy. As a matter of fact, they do this every year. But those who are in union with Christ are already enjoying peace and experiencing great joy in him. Elsewhere you'll find no true peace nor joy, so stop hoping in vain but go directly to Christ to surrender yourself to him to receive what you lack. 

****Extraordinary Living

        Prophets, visionaries, mystics, and many saints experience the Lord supernaturally. It might be hearing the Lord speaking to you, seeing visions, entering ecstasy, receiving the stigmata, or other. Nevertheless, for us who do not normally experience the Lord in any extraordinary way, we can still enter into a most special relationship with him. We receive the Holy Eucharist and attain union with him. Now we enjoy the Lord, living secretly for him in him. We are in the world, but not of the world anymore, feeling completely secure. Dwelling in the Lord is absolutely special, most satisfying and exhilarating. 

***"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"

        Alma Deutscher was a British music prodigy. At age 16 now, she has already composed a number of orchestral works, an opera, many piano pieces and songs. She plays both the violin and the piano beautifully. Enjoy her latest Christmas song here, sung by her friend Anna Voshege with Alma and her sister Helen providing the chorus.

****Why Imitate Christ

        If you are a parent and your children want to be just like you, you would feel very happy, for they believe in you. Now, our heavenly Father loves us with an infinite love—imagine how much more he would be pleased if we want to be just like him! Start seeking union with Christ so that you may become like him.

**Taking Afterlife Seriously

        I feel sad when I see someone doing something not quite right and hear him say casually that he doesn't mind spending some time in purgatory. How foolish can one be! Assuming such an attitude can only worsen one's suffering in purgatory. We must be absolutely serious about where we go after this life. The suffering one experiences in purgatory can be most painful too. If we truly love Lord, we should aim for going straight to heaven.

*Accidents and Coincidences

         Unbelievers explain away all hard-to-believe events as accidents or coincidences, but believers in the Lord know very well that no event can occur without his permission and he imparts knowledge to them via everything that occurs to them.

***Healing Our Division

        The world, including the Church, is so badly fractured now that in some way we have all become enemies to each other. As long as we do not submit ourselves to Christ completely, we shall remain divided. Unity and harmony can only come through obedience to the Lord. When we all attain union with him, we become truly one.  

**God Is for Us

        Romans 8:31—If God is for us, who can be against us? I can't think of God going against me without a good reason. Truly, he loves me and is always for me. Since I do have a heart, I feel that I must love and listen to him as much as possible.