**Persecutions Leading to Eternal Life

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 10, Jesus said to Peter, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come." Give up everything for Jesus' sake and we'll receive a lot more with persecutions, and finally eternal life. Suffering for Christ for a little while longer now is definitely worth it, for we shall soon be rewarded with living happily forever!

**What's Truly Meaningful and Satisfying

        I probably could show my talent in some way and earn some oohs and aahs from some people. But that would only puff up my ego—no real joy here. Making a lot of money or becoming famous can never make us truly happy either. Doing God's will in secret is the only thing that's both meaning and satisfying to the soul. Of course, God's will is to save all of us from sin so that we may get into heaven. So this is what we should aim for: spreading the good news to catch others for the Lord.

***Confidence in the LORD***

        The Apostles and all the great saints in heaven seem to be so close to God. What about us? Well, the Lord God is separated from us neither by time nor by distance. When we remain in the Lord, we are as close to him as all those in heaven with him. Union with God is union with God, and we are accessible to all his wisdom and power. Besides, the Holy Spirit has been given to us. We can be absolutely confident in the Lord and his love. Nothing can possibly stop us from doing his will! 

**Good Heart w/o Humility Is Not Good

        If you have a good heart, you are a good candidate for the Lord God to make you perfect. But pity those who don't allow that to happen because of pride.    

***Believing Before Seeing

        John 20.29: Jesus said to Thomas, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." If you wait too long unbelieving, you may miss the boat altogether. Times now are more urgent than ever. For me, to be unprepared when the unexpected can happen at any time is being foolish to the extreme, whereas believing without seeing is being most wise. This is having faith in God that means much to him.  

*****Possessing the Lord Instantly*****

        We try to get close to God to know him via various avenues. Again, I'd like to remind all that the best way is the most direct way. Without any fanfare, you simply turn to the Lord with a wipe open heart. and you are connected with him who's been waiting for this moment all along! Better yet, attain union with him thru the Holy Eucharist and he dwells within you at all times—you don't even have to reach out. Now you and he remain in each other, no more looking for each other ever! 

**Reasons for Wanting to Go to Heaven*

        The main reason: It is God's will that we go there. He even died for us to make sure we can get there. The second reason: We ourselves want to be happy forever after we leave the earth. I have a third reason. You see, as a finite being on earth, it's impossible for us to become as perfect as we'd like to. True the Lord God can transform us, but sometimes involuntary disruptive thoughts still arise from the human psyche so long as we still have our physical body and a subconscious mind. I believe that in heaven the Lord will be able to completely purify and renew us so that we may enjoy him in perfect peace.

**No Christ, No Me

        Communion experience. I cannot possibly survive without Christ. He not only created me, but also is the only one who truly loves me. 

***Most Loving & Generous Father***

        Today, I ask the Lord to bless me to the max. And I also ask all the saints and good angels to pray for and watch over me. Thru the same Lord, they are all most endearing to me. I know that the LORD will not refuse me. How can the most loving Father refuse any of us for asking for things that are best for us?

***Only One Thing We Need to Do

        In today's Gospel reading from John 21, when Peter saw John and asked Jesus about him, Jesus said to him, "What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me." It's clear that the Lord wants us to follow him and not be nosy or comparing ourselves with others. Focus on serving the LORD alone and we'll have peace. 

***God's Judgment

        God's judgment on us will be strict, but also most lenient. We can be sure that it'll always be fair and justified, for he knows us through and through. 

*****THE Way to Exist*****

        Communion experience. Falling in love with someone is a most happy feeling. When that someone happens to be God who loves you the most, that feeling becomes pure joy! On top of all, you now get to go to heaven for all eternity! There is not another way you can exist with such satisfaction and fulfillment.

**Cause of Great Joy

        Again on this Friday I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. I felt the greatest possible joy when I realized that God offered himself up for me.

***Love 'Calls for Response

        In today's Gospel reading from John 21, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples and ate breakfast with them. He asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then asked Simon Peter the same question a second time. Simon Peter gave him the same answer as before. He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He now asked him the same question a third time and Peter again affirmed his love for him. Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep." What I see here is that the more we love God, the more we are called to serve him. This is the process that leads to total trust and abandonment in God.

**Most Special Calling

        Communion experience. We who follow Christ were first chosen by God the Father and given to his Son and our Lord, to keep. And none of us should be lost (John 17). Imagine how special we are and the benefits we're going to reap!

**How to Sense God

        Even if you visually see and audibly hear God, it doesn't mean that you now know him. You can know him only through the innermost of your heart. So solitude is needed. It's in the stillness of the heart that you sense God's presence. (In union with God, you do sense his dwelling within you at all times.)

****Our Greatest Influencer

        Being good or bad does affect others. If you are a good example, people will be impressed and inspired by you. So I advocate that we all go straight to Jesus Christ, for he is the perfect example of love. Let him impress and inspire us and we can become like him. In this case, he also has the power to make it happen effortlessly for us! He is the greatest influencer we can possibly have.    

**God Always Speaking to Us

        Volcanos are erupting all around the world. The current ones in Italy, Indonesia, and Mexico are particularly alarming, for they can potentially affect hundreds of thousands of people. Of course, you can say volcanos have always been around, but I see all such happenings as God warning us and calling us to return to him. God is always speaking to us through various means. For the faithful who already believe in him, no sign is necessary. But if you still don't believe and can shrug off volcano eruptions, hurricanes, tsunamis and the like, then most likely you are not going to succumb to the LORD easily.