***How to Become Free***

         Let Christ overwhelm you completely, then you are set free! This should be an epiphany moment for all of us.

**Letting God Overwhelm Me*

         Communion experience. The Lord completely overwhelmed me, setting me free. Submission to God leads to freedom.

***Authentic Truth***

         Today's Communion antiphon from Matthew 10: Jesus said, "Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father." To me, this is the Lord God speaking, contradicting what Pope Francis has declared recently that all religions lead to God. No other religious leaders have ever said anything like this. There is only one true God and only one sure way of going to him. 

***The Crisis We Face*

         If you do not know Christ, even though you still have your God-given conscience, you can still think that right is wrong, and vice versa. For example, way back I thought abortion was OK, for it sounded right. Only after knowing Christ's love for us did I realize that it was dead wrong. Today so many young people with Christian upbringing have fallen prey to the influence of our godless world and no longer possess a clear conscience. This is a crisis that could result in the loss of innumerable souls! The spiritual war will continue until Christ's Second Coming. In the meantime, we must relentlessly fight evil to maximize the Lord's final victory over evil.

*****Holy Communion Most Precious

         Communion experience. Treasure the Lord, for his food makes you holy!

***Hearing from the Lord***

         Hearing the Lord speaking to your heart is such a rewarding experience! It's a great comfort to know that he is with you. And his sweet words are tonic for the soul, soothing and uplifting the spirit. Let him speak to you to draw you totally into union with him, which is paradise!

***True Freedom!***

         In today's Gospel reading from Luke 7, Jesus said that the one to whom many sins are forgiven shows great love for others, but the one to whom little is forgiven loves little. Being forgiven by the Lord is a big deal! When your sins are forgiven by him, you are able to love freely—you now enjoy true freedom.

**What Makes One a Fool*

         Many car owners, especially those who'd suffered a bad traffic accident make sure that they always drive the safest cars, even if they might cost a lot more and are less maintenance free. They are being sensible; but if they are not at all concerned about the safety of their souls, then they are being most foolish. The fact is that anyone who ignores his soul is already a big fool.

***Communion with the Lord

         Communion experience. I am so joyful that I could freely pour my heart to my Lord and my God, and he totally understands me. . 

***Our Foremost Calling

         It is to be holy so that we may love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. If everyone is holy, there'll be heaven on earth. So let seeking union with God thru the Holy Eucharist to become holy be your foremost priority. 

**Communion Experience

         It felt as if I was participating at the Lord's Last Supper, not just there as a spectator.

**Reacting to God's Power*

         In today's Gospel reading from Luke 7, as Jesus drew near to the gate of Naim, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, a widow. When Jesus saw her, he was moved with pity and said to her, "Do not weep." He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, "Young man, I tell you, arise" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God. If you didn't know Christ, you would surely be stunned and seized with fear when you witness such a powerful miracle performed; but to those who already knew him well, they would simply praise God with a big knowing smile on their faces.    

**No Longer of the World*

         In today's first reading from 1 Corinthians 12, Paul writes "Now you are Christ's Body, and individually parts of it." Yes, we Christians are parts of Christ, intimately belonging to him! He is our world now. Let us feel that difference, live that difference, and rejoice in it. 

**Today's Big Realization*

        The Lord God cares about me and watches over me every moment. 

***Submission to God Leads to . . .***

freedom, peace, and joy.      

***Only God Can Do This*

         Communion experience. Best way to describe my feeling of complete fulfillment and total satisfaction: My cup overflows.

***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.