***Same Old Dilemma

        In today's first reading from 1 John 2, the Apostle writes, "Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever." It seems as if the Apostle had just seen our world today. To love the Father and not what's in the world is indeed most difficult. The only remedy is to do the will of God. So we must know God first. To attain union with God is of course the way to go. It again comes down to how we respond to God's call. We can keep on loving the world, which is easy, or turn to loving God, which is possible if we were humble enough.

***Our Best Prayer

         Abandoning ourselves totally to God without reservation. 

**Nobody Becomes Somebody

        Be a nobody in the eyes of the world and you become somebody before the Lord. (You can achieve the same result by living for Christ only in secret.) 

**False Humility & True Lack of Pride

        If God asks you to become a saint and you say "Oh no, I am not good enough"—do you know that this is false humility? On the other hand, if you say "Yes, I'll do it"—this shows that you are humble enough to know that nothing is impossible for God and you do not let the your pride get in the way.    

**Are You a Burden or Joy to God?*

        Do Christians carry a heavier burden than non-Christians? I believe so. That's because a Christian feels the tremendous pain the Lord suffers as the entire world sins against him. What is amazing is that Lord helps carrying the burdens of all his servants with joy! 

***Purify the Vaccines!

        Fr. Mark Goring follows up his video Tainted Vaccines of yesterday with a new one today. You can learn more and do something about it by visiting the website https://cogforlife.org/. (Note: Today is 1/26/2022. It looks like YouTube has removed this video. Anyway, you can still visit the website given here.)

**Tainted Vaccines

        Fr. Mark Goring's new message. In case you don't know, not all vaccines are "clean." 

***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.