**Great Disobedience to God*

       When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, one of the Beatitudes was "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Many global government leaders are warmongers. Let's use the current war between Russia and Ukraine as an example. Many leaders already assumed that one side was bad and the other side good. So they jumped right into helping what to them were the good guys. you can be sure that they had ulterior motives too. What followed were horrible destruction of many cities and villages and tragic loss of numerous human lives. No one attempted to defuse the situation early or at the very beginning. How can you have peace if you don't even find out from your enemy what's really on his mind? Say Putin is concerned that Ukraine joining Nato would pose a threat to Russia, then assure him that Nato would never attack his country first. This could have avoided the war.  By the way, after Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, he also advised that we settle with our opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Peacemaking should always be our first goal. 

*****Life After Death

         Heres is a good sobering message for all, Christians and non-Christians. Jesus' question of Mark 8:34 comes to my mind: What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

***Greatest Exaltation by God***

        Communion experience. John 6:51: says Jesus to the people, I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. Not only have I just got a foot in the door to heaven, I am now deeply implanted in the Lord, all set for eternity! 

***Food for the Soul

         Communion experience. The Holy Eucharist is the only food that nourishes the soul. When you let the Lord feed you, you are totally satisfied for all eternity!

**How We Become Defiled

         In today's Gospel reading from Mark 7, Jesus said the crowd, "Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile." I see that when you face temptation, it's how you respond to it that will determine whether you remain clean or become defiled.

***Being Smart

         Things will never always go the way you want, so let God's will be your will and you'll be happy always.

**Clear, Powerful Message*

         This video by Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel is worth listening to.

***Our Greatest Consolation

        Things usually get worse before they get better. But if you follow Christ, no matter what happens, you'll be safe, for he is with you always. Today's Communion antiphon from Luke 22 is what Jesus said to his disciples: It is you who have stood by me in trials; and I confer a kingdom on you that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. 

***One Goal of Knowing God

         It should be to have him transform our conscience to think and see things as he does. Attain union with God through the Holy Eucharist is the way to attain that goal.

**Most Satisfying Experience

       Communion Experience. There's nothing more satisfying than being in union with Christ!

***Cherishing Our Lord***

         My Lord sure knows how to keep me happy. He uplifts my spirit, fills me with hope, and is always with me, calming me when I start losing peace and delighting me from time to time with insuppressible joy. He is our most beloved Lord!

***Transformative Love

        I am happy that God loved me so much that he gave his only Son so that I might have eternal life. And I am even happier that he loved all others just as much. It just shows that God's love is truly transformative, making us so selfless as to want to love everyone else. 

***Great Talk for Men

        The is a talk given by Fr. Jonathan Meyer at the Catholic Men for Jesus Rally at the Cathedral of St Ignatius in the Diocese of Palm Beach last month. It gets better as it progresses. 

***Keeping Pride Out***

        I am happy anytime I receive thoughts from the Lord to blog. Then I realized that if I started thinking that they were all mine, that would be wrong. So we must guard against our pride and keep our motivation pure always. This is part of our staying-alert-and-vigilant porocess. 

***Exalted by God***

        Communion experience. The LORD exalts you highly. Whether you are superior or inferior to others is totally irrelevant. He has now made you perfect to inherit his kingdom!

**Christians in Name Only?*

        Christ is supposed to be loved by all Christians over everyone and everything else, yet this obviously doesn't seem to be the case. It seems that most Christians don't think or talk about Christ at all outside a Bible study class or some Christian event. Instead, they seem to be killing time doing all kinds of things they want to do on their own. It makes you wonder if they really know the Lord or not.

***Astounded by What Christ Can Do*

        Christ can take away my sins and I already knew that. But when I think about it, I see that no matter how filthy I am spiritually, he can make me clean and fit for entering heaven! And this is truly astounding beyond belief.

**A Miracle in Jerusalem*

         Every miracle is extraordinary, whether it is spectacular or modest, visible or hidden. For it's a sign from God. Here's an amazing one that occurred in 2017.