*A Great Consolation

        In John 21:17, when Jesus asked Peter the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had asked him yet one more time and he responded, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." When we say to Jesus, "Lord, you know everything," we show our trust in him, knowing that he understands and will take care of everything for us. This is of great consolation to us, filling us with joy.

***On Giving to God

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 12, Jesus was teaching in the temple area. He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." So how willing we are to give counts more than how much we give. Once we decide to give, we must do it and never look back. This is the extra message I received from the Lord.

**Joy Tinged with Sorrow**

        Communion experience. The Lord fills me with great joy; but it's tinged with great sorrow, for many have not yet accepted him!

**The Most Pitiful

        There are those who not only ignore God who loves them and wants to save them from eternal death, but keep doing the evil works of Satan, heading toward total self-destruction. They are to be pitied the most. It's good vs. evil the whole time.

**God Made Me See*

        Before morning Mass started, my first thought was that I used to be blind to the truth, but now God finally made me see everything, the true and the false. Fr. John started the Mass with Amazing Grace, the hymn containing the line "I once was blind and now I can see." Later the first reading from Tobit 11 told how Tobit's sight was restored by God through Tobit's son Tobiah. All confirming my initial thought.

*An Evil We Must Fight*****

         Another video to make your aware of the reality of child trafficking. This sin is as evil as abortion, and we Christians must fight this and pray to the Lord for his intervention! It is most urgent, so make it your top petition. Here's this 17-minute video on Rumble. By the way, O.U.R., Operation Underground Railroad, is an organization that's been fighting child trafficking effectively on the frontline and deserves our strongest support.

***Our Greatest Burden (Why We Are Unhappy)

        Sin is our greatest burden. That's why those who remain in sin do not have inner peace. That's why I feel so free and happy every time Christ takes away my sins. In union with the Lord, you get to enjoy him and remain holy. This is living in heaven on earth.

***Our Greatest Folly***

        Communion time thoughts. All the Lord knows is to love us with the greatest possible pure love. He only wishes us to be happy for all eternity. Yet we still do not submit ourselves to him. In so doing, we do ourselves the greatest possible disfavor, forgoing having the most beautiful, intimate relationship with God that can fulfill and satisfy us to the fullest!  

***Jesus Our Brother***

        Jesus taught us to address his Father as Our Father and from the cross he gave his own mother to be our mother. So he is not only our LORD, but also our brother. Let us rejoice and thank him for such generosity!

**Sensing Eternity

         Communion experience. The Lord is eternal. United with him, I become eternal with him. Mind-blowing realization!

*No-Worry Living

        Today I am aware that Almighty God, my creator and Father, loves me and has already promised me eternal life. He is totally for me, so there is nothing for me to worry about anymore. To live in God is to live for God.

***Dearest One

        Communion experience. I receive the Lord and possess all of him. He is now the dearest one to me!

**Fear of Suffering Must Go

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 12, Jesus in telling the parable of the tenants to the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders quoted this Scripture passage: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Of course, the Lord is referring the stone to himself. When he was rejected, he suffered so much as to die on the cross for us. If we love him and wish to follow him, we must not be afraid of any sufferings that come our way. To suffer for his sake is the key to freedom and salvation. Not wanting to suffer in a way amounts to not wanting to make heaven.

**Getting Ready for Going Home

        Communion experience. Receiving the Lord to be in complete sync with him—this is preparing for going home to the Most Blessed Holy Trinity. 

***Our Biggest Blunder***

        Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. The first reading comes from Exodus 34. Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him. Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses there and proclaimed his name, "LORD." Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own." Why do people then or now remain so stiff-necked, not willing to submit themselves to worshiping the LORD?  Don't they see that by surrendering to Him, they will enjoy freedom, rest, and peace? To not see it has to be the biggest oversight, misunderstanding, or ignorance of all time, if not downright rebellion against God. 

**My Cup Overflows*

        Communion experience. It is a tremendous deal to receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. He fills my cup to overflowing and I must not remain the same person anymore. 

***Only Trustworthy One

        If you are looking for someone to trust in, look no further than Jesus. He's so trustworthy that you can give him your soul for safekeeping. Besides, he deserves our trust and belief, for he has already paved the way for us to go to heaven!

***Cool Jesus

        This is today's reading from Mark 11. Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?" Jesus said to them, "I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me." They discussed this among themselves and said, "If we say, 'Of heavenly origin,' he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' But shall we say, 'Of human origin'?"—they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know." Then Jesus said to them, "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things." Read through all the Gospels and the Lord comes across as one who is always humble, merciful, poised, speaking the truth without fear, and never pandering to anyone. In today's lingo, you'd say that he's an absolutely cool guy.