*****Our Greatest Joy*****

        In yesterday's Gospel reading at Mass, the Lord said to his disciples, "It is I. Do not be afraid." (See my post Christ Makes Us Fearless.) In today's Gospel reading from John 21, when the risen Jesus revealed himself to his disciples for the third time, this time at the Sea of Tiberias, John first recognized Jesus and said to Peter, "It is the Lord." It is exiting to hear the Lord say "It is I" to us and equally exciting for us to recognize him and say "It is the Lord." Knowing Christ is pure joy! It is a joy you can't let go and can't get enough of it. The love of Christ is our greatest love, and so is his joy our greatest joy.

***Handling Unpleasantries

        When people tell me things that are boring, trivial, or inconsequential, especially when I am trying to focus my mind upon the Lord, it can be rather annoying. The Lord showed me this morning that I should treat it as a form of suffering, accept it, and offer it up to him. I am grateful that he made me see it this way so that I may always have my peace. This is how I should handle anything that's unpleasant from now on. 

**Prayer Our Survival Tool

        Prayer is a great weapon. Use it wisely and we can shield ourselves from all evil. Thru prayer we can receive God's mercy, gain entrance into heaven, and save the world. It's our direct personal link to God, and nothing can stop us from receiving God's power thru it.

***World's Huge Tragedy

        In looking at the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, we see soldiers taking aim at their enemies and wiping them all out with the push of a button, fast and mercilessly. We who are so precious and meant so much to the Father see no value in human life anymore. If I feel sad, how infinitely more must our heavenly Father feels. I guess I shouldn't be shocked when our society thinks nothing of killing a baby in the mother's womb. God died for us so that we may live, but we kill others so that we may live or simply for our convenience. I still pray for God's mercy on all of us, but I don't think we'll be able to avoid any chastisement coming unless we all convert.

****Christ Makes Us Fearless

        In today's Gospel reading from John 6, in the dark evening when the disciples were in their boat on the sea that had been stirred up by a strong wind, they saw Jesus walking on the sea toward them. They began to be afraid, but he said to them, "It is I. Do not be afraid." How good to hear these words from the Lord! He would say exactly the same to us who follow him whenever we are afraid of something. Let him make us fearless! 

*First Step Required for Salvation (A Warning)

        If you ever wish to be saved, awakening to your sinful state is a must and the starting point. Otherwise, you would die in sin, something to avoid at all costs, for the consequence is most dire. An old Chinese proverb says, "One step in the wrong direction will cause you a thousand years of regret." Except in our case, it would last a lot longer than a thousand years.

**Real Tragedy of the World

        The tragedy of this world in troubled times like ours is that so many people still live just for themselves. They busily do all kinds of things to enrich themselves and try to have fun too. But one thing they lack is true joy in the heart. So basically, it's much ado about nothing. It's sad that with closed hearts, they don't get to experience the deep joy of knowing Christ. The are to be pitied.

***Ingenious Sacrament

        Communion experience. The Holy Eucharist is a most ingenious sacrament. I can't think of a better way for us to achieve intimate union with the Lord in this physical world. Thanks and Praise be to God! 

***What We Need to Live By

        In Matthew 4, Jesus responded to his tempter, the devil, by quoting Deuteronomy: One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. It's true that if we eat only ordinary bread, we still die one day. But if we "eat up" every word that comes forth from the Lord, we shall have life forever!

*****Best Place to Dwell in*

        Today's Psalm response from Psalm 27: One Thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord. If the Lord dwells in you, you dwell in his house as well, and what a joy it is to dwell in his house! You are with the Lord, being shield from all evil and refreshed continuously by the Holy Spirit. You now remain clean in his presence and enjoy complete freedom in him. There is not another place I'd rather be in. 

**Communion of Saints

        Today is the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena. I rejoice that we have so many great saints in heaven on our side. We can ask them to bless us, guide us, watch over us, and intercede for us. Favorite saints are too many to mention. Our Blessed Mother is at the top of my list, followed St. John, the Apostle, and St. Thérèse, the Little Flower. How can we ever be lonely?

****One-Two of the Spiritual Warrior

        Two most important things we urgently need to do in these days of end times. (1) Pray unceasingly. (2) Be holy. The two are to go hand in hand to be effective. Abandon yourself in God and it's easily accomplished.

**Looking at Life Again*

         Here's another view. We are on earth now. Time is ticking away, while we continue sinning. Soon life will be over and we face the Lord. The first thing he's going to look into is how much we lived for ourselves and how much for him, while we're on earth. Then it's all over. All this may sound rather gloomy, but I am truly being realistic. I am being far-sighted and wise too.

*Understanding the Crucifix

        I went to Mass at the Mt. St. Joseph Chapel this morning and again saw the large crucifix hanging on the wall behind the altar. If you don't know the Lord, you would see one hanging helplessly on a cross. But if you know him and know why he willingly gave himself up, you'd see him full of glory and strength, and most of all, his love for us. Finally, he rose from the dead and triumphed over sin and evil! 

***Ego Our Spiritual Enemy

        Ego can be a huge burden on our soul, as pride is the worst enemy of spiritual growth. Starve it every chance you get. You can not soar to God if you are weighed down by your ego.

****Best Gift for the Lord

        Communion experience. I receive the greatest gift from God, the Lord himself. So what can I give to him in return? Since everything I have came from him, including myself, all I can give him is my obedience. And he is pleased with this. The Lord doesn't ask for much and is easy to please.

****Christians Don't Die!

        For the Christian, death is not becoming nothing or falling asleep forever or entering into some unknown. Instead, it's awakening to a new life in God, becoming more alive than ever to live the blissful life in paradise with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Christians now live on forever with their Lord, Jesus Christ! Get ready while you still have time.

**Heeding God's Calling

        If you hate your sins, then God is calling you. It's time to totally turn to him. The following video message can help.