***Christ Most Compelling*

         Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This is the entrance antiphon: We should glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection, through whom we are saved and delivered. Accepting Christ is not easy for many, but they should realize that proving that he never existed, he didn't rise from the dead, he is not divine, or he was a false teacher is even harder; in fact, nigh impossible. Now you are compelled to make a choice. This is another mark of the true God.

**Christ over Past**

         History can be interesting, but to me, the past is a dead end as it doesn't lead us anywhere. A Christian should focus instead upon Christ exclusively, for he leads us directly to eternal freedom of the spirit.

***Taking Care of Sin Now & Forever***

        Communion experience. The Lord can take away all my sins and heal my soul. Equally important if not more, I asked him to take away also my tendency to sin.

***Good Rule for Remaining Holy***

         Let only Christ the Lord, not anyone else, affect or influence you.

***The Urgency We Face (and Our Obligation)***

        We who follow Christ faithfully experience great inner peace; but being close to him, we also feel the urgency to help him save souls—for he is still being terribly persecuted or betrayed by the world! We can't just believe that everything will be fine and do not actively help the Lord in converting the world. Our time on earth is extremely limited. While he is fighting for us, we should at the least be fervent prayer warriors fighting alongside him.

*****What God Wishes for Us (Absolutely Fantastic)*****

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, Jesus also said to his disciples, '"Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful." And in Matthew 5, he said to them, "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Clearly, he wants us to be like him. And it's also clear that since he asks for that, it will surely happen if we go along with him. Letting God transform us as he wishes truly makes life exciting and worth living, for it completely restores our relationship with him, gladdening both him and us to the max, while heaven rejoices! 

**Love Has No Favorites**

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, Jesus said to his disciples, "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners," Clearly, to the Lord, sinners are those who discriminate against others of their choice and he wants us to be generous to all others equally as he is to us.

***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.