***Mark of Greatest Love***

         In today's first reading from 1 Corinthians 8, we learn from Paul that to sin against our brothers is to sin against Christ. By the same token, to love our brothers or sisters is to love Christ. We are as important to the Lord as himself.

***Absolute Security in Christ***

        Make Christ your center, your base, your Lord, and your guide, and remain in him at all times, then you'll never ever be lost! This is easily accomplished when you attain union with him.

**Dwelling in God, Not Ourselves

        Since God does not enslave us and we only enslave ourselves, dwell in him always and never in ourselves to remain free. But if you are already in union with the Lord, dwelling in yourself will be dwelling in him too—another union advantage.

**A Simple Truth*

          The Lord God of Christ can be totally trusted, so do all things for his sake, no matter what the consequences, and your reward will be great in heaven . . . a simple truth easy to remember.

****Most Enjoyable Feeling****

         When you are in union with the Lord, you sense his presence at all times. That is why when you see others having fun or a good time participating in some activity divorced from him, you just can't get excited about it. Anytime anything diverts your attention away from the Lord, you feel you are being pulled away from him and it's not a happy feeling. Being with him is truly more enjoyable than anything else!

**Prayer Beoming More Intimate*

        Surrender to the Holy Spirit so that he may dwell within you. Now you pray to him feeling most intimate to him.

**New Freedom**

         When we believe in Christ and no longer judge anyone and only wish all well, we experience a new freedom!

*****Proof It's God's Plan***

         In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, Jesus chose twelve of his disciples to be his Apostles. The fact that he included Judas Iscariot, knowing fully well that he's going to betray him, proved that he was faithfully fulfilling the Father's plan for our salvation. Yes, God loves us and wishes to save us from sin so that we may have eternal life! Please for God's sake and your own sake, believe.

**Only One Holy Judge*

        In today's reading 1 from 1 Corinthians 6, Paul is not happy about brother going to court against brother before judges who are unholy unbelievers. They should be wise enough to be able to settle the case between themselves. Today we are judged not only in court, but also by various government departments and even the secular news media, all of them unholy. Just know that we have only one judge who is absolutely just, the holy God of Christ. Only his judgement matters!

**Cause for Elation

        Today my first feeling at Mass was pure elation when I realized that Christ my most beloved Lord had chosen me to belong to him!

*** Loving Christ to the Max***

        Christ has willingly died out of love for us, and we should love him back. Even if we don't get the chance to literally die for him, we should be willing to do so if given that chance.

***Ugly Consequences of Not Knowing God***

        This is today's Gospel reading from Luke 6. On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up and stand before us." And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus. The scribes and the Pharisees are so intent on finding a reason to accuse Jesus that they became totally blind to the wonderful miracle he performed on the man with the withered hand. Today we have radical politicians filled with so much hatred for their political opponents that they have become completely blind to their own sins and anything good about others. This is deadly to the soul! Only knowing Christ can save them!    

**Proper Way of Approaching God*

        We should always thank God first, for he has loved us and given his own Son for our sake. Then it's fitting that we praise him next. Finally, we can ask for what's good for us and for his glory. So it's with gratitude we praise God, then we petition him for we need and want.

**Clear-Cut Truth**

        The Lord God is all holy, but we sin and become defiled. So all that's good for us comes from the Lord and all that's bad for us are caused by ourselves. Then Christ can transforms us to make all things that happen to us good.  

Pope Gets Called Out

***Our Choice Again**

        The God of Christ, our creator, can fundamentally change us. We can let him make us holy or remain the same sinners.

**God's Power & Our Openness*

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 7, Jesus healed a deaf man. Of course, Christ being God, nothing is impossible for him. From the Gospels we know that raised the dead, calmed storms, multiplied bread and fish . . . his power is on an entirely different level, and we can receive or benefit from this power if we believe in and are open to him! That he can get us into heaven is without question absolutely certain.

***Supreme Rule to Follow***

         Have faith in the God of Christ and let nothing ever disturb you, but let only the Lord inspire and support you all the way on your return to him.