*Principle of Living*

        In whatever we do, we do it for the Lord's sake and not care about what anyone else thinks.

***Get God Right

         We may know Christ but still misconceive him. I at one time thought that he might forbid me to ever consider buying a new car or that he would want me to go to Africa to serve him as a missionary or that he's going to punish me for having committed a very minor sin. There are many other such instances. Now that I've known the Lord well enough, I can say unequivocally that such fears I'd had were all self-generated. God is ever so gentle that he'd never force anything on us, for he respects our free will. Besides, he knows us thoroughly and will only lead us to things that suit us at the right time. The notion that God somehow is going to control us is totally false and unfounded. Get to know the Lord first and you'll see that he only wants to free us from sin and us to be happy.

**Be Prepared or to Be Shocked

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus asked his disciples to remain vigilant and faithful always, for no one knows the day and the hour of his next coming. My thoughts are that if you are fully prepared and always act in accord with God's will, you need not be concerned about his coming at all. But if you are not ready, believing that he is not coming soon, and start to slack off, then you'll be in for a big unexpected shock!

***Life on Earth Only Temporary

        Gasoline prices have gone way up. I believe California here has the highest gas prices in the whole nation. Everything else has become more expansive. Life has become harder for all. At the same time, evil seems to have spiraled out of control. There's the great concern that another world war may break out. People in general are worried and feeling depressed. It came to me today that all these things will pass, and before long I'll be returning to God the Father. So I am just going to trust totally in God and let nothing bother me. 

***Your Way or God's Way (Formula for Peace)

        If you do not know or follow the Lord God, you do not have inner peace. That is because you always want things turn out the way you want and that just does not happen. Once you know the Lord and follow him, you would always want things turn out his way. With yourself out of the way, you now enjoy peace.

**Empowering Your Prayer

        You can always say your prayer quickly without thinking much about it. But to make sure that the Lord hears you and will act, you must not rush, but say every word from your very heart and mean it. If you take God seriously, he will surely take you seriously.        

**From Death to Life*

        Today is Memorial of St. Ignatius. The first reading came from Ephesians 2. I totally agree with what Paul wrote that we used to be dead in our transgressions and sins, following the age of the world and living in the desires of our flesh. I still remember those day before I knew Christ. Then Christ changed everything. God brought me to life and saved me. Knowing his love and great mercy has made all the difference.

***Direct Way to God (Secret to Happiness)***

        Again, I encourage that you go directly to the Lord to know him. Surely, others also seeking him can help, but why slow down your own quest? If you want to know someone in the world and have all the contact information, wouldn't you contact that person directly? In the case of God our Father, he is waiting to hear from you, ever ready to fulfill all your needs and good desires. Look, if you are wide open to him, receive him in the Holy Eucharist with great reverence, you can even attain union with him! If you feel uncomfortable going to him directly, all the more you need to approach him that way. Any attention we give to the Lord, no matter how small, pleases him greatly. Imagine how much joy we can give him when we always turn to him for all things! Tell you, nothing can be happier and more satisfying than pleasing God our Father. Here's the great secret to happiness. 

**Solving the Puzzle of Life

        If life were a jigsaw puzzle, when you surrender yourself to God completely, it'll be like all thousands of its pieces now fall into place, forming the beautiful complete picture he wants you to see.

***Outstanding True Joy

        This is a world filled with false joy. Look at all the commercials and ads, and people trying to find joy by holding parties and various celebrations, taking vacations, attending concerts and shows, visiting bars and casinos, etc. If you have to seek joy outside of yourself, you won't find it, for you'll only experience fleeting happiness. If you have true joy in your heart, you don't need to seek happiness elsewhere anymore. That interior joy is the joy of knowing Christ, a heavenly gift only he can give. Seek him first and not any transitory happiness from the world.

***Today's Tragedy

         I am bringing it up again, only because it's so clear to me now. The world is following itself, whereas it should follow the true God of Christ exclusively. Even Christians are treating Christ more or less as an afterthought. Again, God's mercy is infinite, and we do not surprise him. Many will still be saved even if that means going thru purification in purgatory first. Pray that all will be saved. If we all pray that way for others and ourselves, it becomes totally attainable.

*Not Inconvenienced by Inconveniences

        My pair of reading glasses doesn't seem to work that well. Perhaps the focus of the lenses was off or my vision has changed. It's an inconvenience. Then life is plagued with inconveniences, and they'll be around as long as we are. Since my days on earth will soon be over, I don't let them bother me anymore. I think this is a good way to look at sufferings too. Heaven is going to change everything.

*****Our Only Choice*

        If we truly love God, the God of Christ, we must choose him over everything else. No matter how enjoyable everything else might be, they will always end up being a burden. By contrast, God frees us from sin, our biggest burden, and uplifts us. He should not only be our first choice, but also our only choice!

**Christian Joy

        I overheard a conversation. An older person was saying that her great joy nowadays is waiting for a relative of hers to come by on a regular basis to take her to eat at her favorite restaurant. That sounds rather sad coming from her who's a Christian, since any Christian who knows the Lord well should feel the greatest joy merely at the thought of him. 

***Last Supper Experience

        Communion experience. I was brought back to the Last Supper. The Lord entered me and was consumed totally by me—he's all mine now. How could I possibly not be humble anymore? 

**To Forgive or Not to Forgive

        In praying the Our Father, we ask God to forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. We often find it most difficult to forgive some people who have hurt us or others badly. If we can't forgive others, we really shouldn't ask God to forgive us either. To not forgive someone is playing God, judging that person. Learning not to judge can help a lot. If you can really let go of it for God's sake and even pray for your enemy, you'll experience a new freedom and great joy that can change your life forever! Remember, God is always right. 

**Blessed and Chosen by God

         All Catholics, who have already been revealed the whole truth, should know that God has blessed them in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose them in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him (Ephesians 1:3-4 from today's first reading). Since we've been blessed and chosen, we can be confident that we'll be able to live up to what God has expected of us.

***The World Revealed

        The more you know Christ, you more you see the hypocrisy, falsity, and emptiness of the world. For the truth reveals all that's hidden.