***Christ Our Determinator

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 2, we have the presentation of the child Jesus in the temple. Simeon blessed Joseph and Mary and said to Mary, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Indeed, it is through Jesus that all our hearts will be judged and our destiny determined by him. For he is our creator, our judge, and our Savior! 

***Why I Love the Holy Spirit

        I love God the Holy Spirit for the following reasons. (1) He makes me new and keeps me refreshed. (2) He teaches me in all things and revealed the truth to me always. (3) He sets my heart on fire to glorify God to the max in this life. (4) Last but not least, he is the greatest joy to me.

****Proclaiming God's Glory

        From Psalm 96, today's responsorial Psalm, I read the following: "Announce the LORD's salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds." We Christians must never stop spreading the good news and telling people what the Lord has done for us! Never let anyone who reacts negatively to us silence you. Even if there is no one around, we need to proclaim the glory of God to the mountains and the sea. The joy of God is not to be suppressed!

***Learned from Saint John the Apostle

        Today's first reading comes from 1 John 2. Two things the Apostle wrote impress me. (1) "Whoever keeps Jesus' word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him." So obedience to the word of Christ leads to union with him. (2) "Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness." So whoever remains in the light of Christ does not hate anyone anymore. This is how we remains in peace. If you are still angry at a brother or sister, you are not yet walking in the light of Christ.

**Never Worry for the Lord

        We often pray to God for some favor and wonder if he is going to grant it to us or not. Well, the Lord knows exactly whether what you ask for is best for you or not and how he should respond to you. If we don't have peace after praying to him, then you are in a way worrying for him. Our role is to trust in God completely and wait for things to work out in peace. Know that faith can only get stronger after being tested 

**Being Secure in God's Light

        Today is the Feast of Holy Innocents. In the first reading from 1 John 1, the Apostle writes that God is light and exhorts us to walk in that light. I love the Lord shining his light on us always while we fellowship with him, being cleansed by him from all sin and prevented from sinning anymore. No darkness can now invade our space again.  

**That Which Completes Our Joy

        Today is the Feast of Saint John, Apostle. In the first reading from 1 John 1, as an eye witness and Apostle of the Lord Jesus, he writes, "What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete." When we are in union with the Lord, we attain the ultimate fellowship with him, and our joy is complete. This joy, being the ultimate joy that surpasses all other joys, becomes the only joy we need to possess. It is the joy what will sustain and vitalize us for all eternity. 

**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.