***Necessary Realization

         In today's Gospel reading from Luke 7, a centurion sent elders of the Jews to ask Jesus to come and save the life of his slave who was ill and about to die. But when Jesus was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed." Jesus was amazed by his faith and healed the slave. It's true that we are not worthy to have the Lord come to us. Humbly realizing this is necessary for him to hear us. Sadly, there are many prideful individuals who think highly of themselves and are sure that they'll make heaven. Apparently, they don't really know the Lord yet.

***Only God Can Cure Lonliness***

         When you are in union with the Lord, you never feel lonely anymore even if you are not doing anything. On the other hand, worldlings are always involved in various activities with others, yet deep down they still feel lonely.

*****Breakthrough to Knowing Christ*****

        If Christ is indeed our Lord and our God and we are to love him with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind, then why do we not even talk about him when we are not at Mass, not in a Bible study class, not on a retreat, etc.?  The answer is that we are just not totally with him yet. To remedy this failing, seek to attain union with him through the Holy Eucharist. This requires that you trust in him and open up completely, abandoning yourself to him with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all our mind. Then you'll become aware of his holy presence within you at all times! 

*****All Religions Lead to God?*****

        Pope Francis has just announced that all religions lead to God. This really bothers me. If it were true, then why did Jesus even bother to come and die for us? We could just seek God in any way we like and get to him! I might as well ignore Jesus' last command to his disciples that they go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature! Another problem to square with is that all religions understand God differently with teachings contradicting each other. Note that I am not saying that if you're not a Christian, you won't get to know God. Take those who were brought up as non-Christians who do not know Christ at all. If they are basically good people, God could very well save them since he is fair and just. But in that case, they are still saved thru Christ! Here's a video by John-Henry Weston of LifeSite providing a clear response.

***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!