*Suffering Prepares Us for Heaven

         We are sinners living in a sinful world, so sufferings are unavoidable. Christ came into this world and suffered greatly. So we need to accept all our sufferings too. Otherwise, we can become lifelong complainers. Be willing to suffer for Christ, and we'll be fit for heaven.

**Pride, Cause of All Trouble

        Russia invaded Ukraine just 11 weeks ago and has so far already caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people. It looks like Vladimir Putin is not going to win this war. He's in a really tough spot. He can keep on fighting, hoping to somehow win, so he won't look so bad to his own people, or swallow his pride, admit defeat, and withdraw from the invasion. Either way, I think his career is over. It all comes down to following your own pride or following God. To avoid ever getting into a bad spot like that, remain humble always, for pride leads to self-destruction. 

**The World Lost

        As I was praying the Our Father at Mass this morning, I came to the phrase "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." I felt great sorrow because the world today is so far from doing God's will! A chastisement for the world seems inevitable. Nevertheless, continued prayers from the faithful are always needed, for God's mercy is unfathomable.

**No Christ, No Peace

        At Mass this morning, I received great peace from the Lord. I remember that way back in the early days when I didn't know Christ yet, many nights I went to bed trying to forget what's troubling my heart. What a change it's been! Now, I won't be able to sleep in peace if I do not have Christ in my life.

*Various Levels of Living*

        (1) You live for Christ completely, you die and go straight to heaven. (2) You live for yourself, but one day you wake up and start living for God. You die and enter purgatory to get purified first before entering heaven. The length of purification would depend upon factors known to the Lord only. (3) You live selfishly for yourself only, not believing in God at all. You die and enter hell. Of course, there are many grey areas in-between. The first and last extreme examples simply define the range of all possible cases.

**Our Two Spiritual Directors

       "Love" and "forgive" go together. You can't have one without the other. They are to govern everything we do. Think of God and others, and lastly ourselves.

***Greatest Achievement, Great Reward

           Submitting ourselves completely to God has to be our greatest personal achievement. No other achievement can surpass that. This act reconciles us fully to God. Now we are shielded from sin and dissolve any disorder we've created. And we receive freedom, peace, joy, and power. In sum, when we yield to God, we easily receive all the things that are good for us.

*Ready to Be Transformed

        Communion experience. Now that the Lord has entered me, the Holy Spirit is ready to transform me fully with his power.

**Beautiful Life

        Every moment you spend with Christ is a beautiful moment. Spend your whole life with him to live a most beautiful life.

***What Makes Life Worth Living*

        In this life on earth, you can concentrate wholly upon gaining riches and fame for yourself and succeed. But if you end up not being any closer to God—what good would that be? Life is worth living only if you can get to heaven after you die. Otherwise, it would've been better if you were not born.

**Reaching the Lord

         God always loves us and is most understanding. As long as we love him, even if we fall short at times, he loves us the same. Because of this great mercy, we can all be saved. So march on and do not let anything stop you from reaching him. Ideally, do not offer any resistance to let him draw you all the way to him. 

***Most Satisfying Experience

        Communion experience. Receiving the Holy Eucharist has to be the most satisfying experience on earth. For the Lord touches your soul and spirit while you are still on earth.

****Enjoying God's Holiness

        In union with God, you are filled with the Holy Spirit. Where the Lord dwells, no sin exists. And you enjoy God's holiness.

***Rejoicing in Christ's Promise***

        Today's Gospel reading comes from John 10, in which Jesus said to the Jews, "My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand." How good it is to hear these assuring words from the Lord! How he loves us! Know him to hear his voice and follow him, and we are set for eternity. Rejoice in this promise now and forever!

****Unique, Special Joy

        The joy of Christ our Savior is special and unique. There is no other joy like it. Once you know the Lord, you are filled with this most sweet, selfless joy that bursts forth from your heart, making you want to share it with everyone. You have been liberated and wish to liberate everyone else too!  

**Bonding with God the Father

        We all have the natural urge to share our feelings with someone we know or trust, hoping to gain understanding and/or sympathy to relieve any burden on our hearts. Unfortunately, people who really care enough to listen to us and are also able to understand us well are hard to come by. I suggest that we always share our feelings with God the Father first. He is really the only one who understand us perfectly and can grant us true peace. Besides, every time you share your burdens with him from your heart, you bond with him intimately—something most beneficial to us.

**Best Investment for Us

         We invest for the future of this life, But there are always risks involved, as we cannot always predict the future. For example, those who invest in the stock market can make millions one day and lose their shirt the next. I know of actual cases. Trusting in Christ is also a form of investment for the future, but it's entirely on a different level. it is 100% secure, the return is absolutely satisfying, and the future extends to eternity. It is the best investment you can ever have. 

*****Consoling Mary Our Mother

        On this first Saturday, i spent some time meditating on the role of Mary in reparation to the her Immaculate Heart. Now, we feel sorry for anyone who suffers. It Would be hard to imagine how grievous and painful Mary must have felt when she saw her own son go thru such horrific torture and suffering. Simeon's prophecy for her "You yourself a sword will pierce" came true. Now she's grieving for all of us who are "crucifying" her son again. I wish to console her as much as I can. Then I realize that she'd be most happy if we love her Divine Son even more! So that's what I'll do. It's clear that if we make Christ the Lord happy, we gladden all the saints and good angels in heaven too.