***Another Wake-Up Talk for Catholics***

        A talk about the sad state of the Church and the honest truth about some of our clergy. 

*****Recognize This Blasphemy (A Grave Warning)*****

        If you believe that you are a pretty good person and will most likely go to heaven, the Devil has likely got you, for this is exactly how he wants you to think. If you believe that all religions are the the same as long as you believe in one and you'll get to heaven, the Devil has definitely got you. For this amounts to saying that Christ really didn't need to have come and that he had come and died for nothing—a direct blasphemy! With such a belief, you'd better repent without delay for your soul's sake!   

*****Obedience Our Top Priority

        Today's psalm response from Psalm 40: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. Verse 7-8a: Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.” Obedience covers everything. If the Lord desires sacrifice and offerings, fine. If not, fine. Obedience is what pleases and glorifies him the most!

***LUKEWARM CATHOLICISM***

        On Jan. 4, I posted A SERMON FOR ALL CATHOLICS which probably would shake up some people, but it's what we need to hear. I had already posted some afterthoughts. I did learn something important from it and will try to share it with you soon. Today I came across this sermon given by a Fr. Bill Casey in 2002, but it's just as valid now. It's almost 40-minute long, but it's worth listening to by every Catholic. We really need to hear preaching like this if the Church is going to become hot.

****Christ the Perfect One!

        I now just know that Christ is exactly the one to complete my existence. He's the perfect solution to all my problems. He is perfect peace and pure joy. How do I know all this? You can find it out directly from him yourself.

***Different Existence Outcomes*

         Let's look at the typical life of someone who does not know Christ. He would try to make as much money as possible to get ahead in life. He would also try to enjoy the many pleasures of the world. At the same time, he probably has to deal with problems in his family, at work, and with various other people. As he ages, he looks forward to a comfortable retirement. Then his health starts to deteriorate and eventually reaches the point of having to depend upon others for everything. As death looms, he's not sure what he'll face. I can't say that he had a happy life. A much better afterlife would surely be a nice high point for his existence.
        Now let's look at the typical life one who does place all his trust in God. He probably would go through the same kind of things and face similar problems. But he'd make sure that whatever he does is always in accord with God's will. And he knows where he'll be going after he dies. He's totally satisfied with his life and knows that he's soon to hit the best part of his existence.

***Letting the Truth Set Us Free

       In this secular world, we are used to do what we want to do, so to do God's will just doesn't sound too good to us. We think that it's going to take away all our own freedom. Yet the exact opposite is true. That the world is such a sad state is precisely because we don't do God's will. To turn things around, we need to get to know Christ first. Once you realize how much he loves you, you repent of your sins and start to experience peace. Eventually, you progress to the point you want to do his will only with joy. For by giving up your own freedom for him, you are set free from your sins and the world! This is how the truth sets us free.

***One Continuous Life***

        The Lord made me see today that no barrier exists between this life and the next. When our time is up, we are immediately on the other side in spirit without our physical body to face eternity. So we must be ready for that. Our sins are real and God is real. His love and mercy are also real. If you're wise, you would live in anticipation, not oblivion, of that day, and in the meantime do everything in accordance with God's will right now. 

****Beautiful Encounter with Mary and Baby Jesus****

        I just came across this video. We truly have the most wonderful Lord and a most beautiful Mother in heaven. I hope that this video will motivate and inspire you to put all your trust in Jesus, letting the Holy Mother be your guide and companion in doing his will. 

**Hatred Is Murder*

        Reading 1 continues from 1 John 3. Verse 15 reads: "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him." Strong words indeed, so we who follow Christ must not hate anyone. Since the Lord loves and died for all of us, we cannot hate anyone and still love him. To love the Lord is to love as he loves. To hate someone is judging that person, and our only judge is our Lord. 

****Reflection After My Last Post*

        Here are some thoughts that came to me after my last post yesterday. That sermon certainly contains many strong sayings you don't hear nowadays from most pulpits. This may precisely be why the Church is in such a sad state today. We more or less believe that we're good enough for entering heaven and avoid looking at the reality of hell squarely. Being cautious is always better than being lax. My advice is not to think about your chances of being saved, but focus instead upon loving the Lord with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your might. Salvation is to be worked out and you can never love God enough! If you commit a mortal sin, get that absolved by a priest ASAP. And pray unceasingly from your heart for the world and yourself. God will take care of everything if we do our parts diligently. Believe me, it you remain in him and do all things thru him, you will live a fruitful life filled with joy. How earnestly you want to go straight to God after you die is also a factor here.

***A SERMON FOR ALL CATHOLICS***

        Here's a sermon every Catholic needs to hear, but it's not for the faint-hearted. Still, it's better to hear it than not. Good point: A person does not go to hell because he is so wicked; he just can't get into heaven because he is not good enough.

 

***God Can Always Save Us (But It's Up to Us)***

        Here's a great story as told by a priest you'll enjoy listening to. 

***Signs from Heaven***

         This video is significant, for God speaks to us through signs.

****Setting Faith on Fire!

        In today's Gospel reading from John 1, John the Baptist testified to Jesus, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God." Jesus can baptize us with the Holy Spirit! I am no theologian, but I know from personal experience that by asking the Lord to baptize you in the Holy Spirit, he can set your faith on fire! Here's choosing to live a most exciting Christian life vs. living an ordinary lukewarm one.

***Solving Our Biggest Problem*

        From today's first reading from 1 John 2 & 3, I like the last verse most: No one who remains in God sins; no one who sins has seen him or known him. Knowing God is the solution to this biggest problem of ours: sinning. Here are the three steps to take to succeed. (1) Realize that sin is our biggest problem. (2) Resolve that we want to stop sinning. (3) Then we open ourselves up to God to let him take complete control of our lives. This is all there is to it. 

***Beautiful Way to Start Off the New Year

        (Even though I've gotten over my COVID, I still have a lingering cough and that's been keeping me from attending Mass. I truly miss receiving the Lord.) In today's reading from 1 John 2, the Apostle wrote "Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well." Since God the Father has revealed his Son to us, we must now accept them both. For they are one. And we might as well include the Holy Spirit, since our God is the Most Holy Trinity. When we remain in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we are promised eternal life, becoming inseparable from our God. 

***Review of 2023

         As 2023 ends, I look back to see if it's been a year better than the one before, and the answer is a resounding yes because I am now in the Lord more than ever. You might say that my satisfaction with the Lord has so far reached its highest level and is still rising. No void in my life whatsoever! Psalm 23 is now perfect for me. I wish all of you the best possible New Year in which you'll find your greatest fulfillment and receive the most blessings and joy from our God! Know that there is no limit to how much you can let the Father love you.