***For the Simple Reason

        We should submit ourselves to God because he has already given his only Son to us so that we may have eternal life.

**Following Christ = Eternal Life

       In today's reading from Acts 6, accusation against Stephen began. As you know, he soon became the first martyr. Christians don't mind being martyred for Christ's sake because they know that they have eternal life.

***How to Possess the Lord***

        If you wish to capture the Lord, start out with a great yearning for him and at the same time remain completely open to him, no drastic action needed.

***Awesome Union

        Communion experience. When I am united with God, I am united with the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and all the saints in heaven! 

***That Jesus Must Rise Is a Given

        Let's say there is someone who has all the maps of every single place of the world in his head, and if you are lost anywhere on earth, he'll know exactly how you can find your way out. Of course, that person can never be lost himself. I use this example to support an insight I received at Mass this morning. From the Gospels, we know that Jesus raised at least three people from the dead. Then, of course, he could not possibly remain dead himself. That the one who can create life must have life always has to be the foregone conclusion.

***Being a Christian Is All About . . .***

how obedient you are to the God of Christ. It all has to do with your salvation and eternal life. 

***Power of God's Blessing***

        Before Fr. Steve dismissed the Mass this morning, as usual he asked the almighty God to bless us, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I felt personally that if you humbly accept God's blessing with a totally open heart, it alone is enough to change your whole life and being for his glory!

***God Our Perfector

        Communion experience. The Lord prepares us internally to face anything that comes to us externally. He is the one who can perfect us in every way, you must believe.

**Start with Yourself First

         If you want everyone else to believe in God, to love him, to trust in him, to honor him, to be holy, to be humble, to be forgiving and not judge others, to abandon themselves to God, to become detached to worldly things, to defend marriage, family, freedom of speech, etc., ad infinitum, then start doing all these things yourself and pray for others.

**Our Great Heart Specialist*

        Sad things can break our hearts, but God alone can heal them and fill them with joy! 

***Worthy to Suffer Dishonor

        In today's first reading from Acts 5, the Sanhedrin had the Apostles flogged and ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. But they rejoiced that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the the name. This seems to go against the grain of human nature, yet for God's sake, anything is possible. The Lord can indeed win our hearts and transform us. If you realize that loving and obeying God is more important than caring about yourself and anything else, congratulations! For you are now a new creature whom the Lord has set free. Alleluia!

***Union Benefits***

        Communion experience. Besides assuring us of eternal life, the Lord refreshes, uplifts, and heals those in union with him continuously.

**Decision Time Again

     Yesterday I blogged about the serious sayings of Jesus: John 3;16 and 3:18. In today's Gospel reading, the Lord said in John 3: 36 pretty much the same thing, but worded differently: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remans upon him." Again, it compels us to pay attention and come to a decision. Dismissing it would be most unwise.

***Exactly the One We Need***

        Do you feel lonely, abandoned, lost, or that life is empty?  Once you belong to Christ, you'll never be alone or lost again! 

*****How to Increase Your Faith*

        You cannot force yourself to increase your faith. The right way is to open up to God to let him give you everything you need spiritually.  

***Communion Joy

        It was great. I enjoyed the greatest intimacy with the Lord—he is now mine! 

**Greatest Invitations to Us*

        At Mass, the priest consecrates the bread and wine and say the words of Jesus at the Last Supper. First, Take this, all of you, and eat of it: for this is my body which will be given up for you. Then, Take this. all of you, and drink from it: for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me. I consider these two invitations to be the greatest invitations I can possibly get in this life.

***Serious Sayings We Must Consider***

        The Gospel reading came from John 3. Verse 16: "God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." Then verse 18: "Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God." These are critical sayings, especially the second verse. To not take them seriously amounts to believing that Jesus is not speaking the truth here!