"Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

Sunday, September 22, 2024

**Pathway to Inner Peace*

        If you do not experience inner peace, it's because you and the Lord are not quite together yet. Attaining union with him through the Holy Eucharist is the best way to acquire that peace.

**Prerequisite for Loving God**

        We cannot love God if we are unaware of and not doing anything about our own sins and imperfections. Always start with becoming holy for the Lord's sake first.

**Formula for Greatness

         In today's Gospel reading from Mark 9, Jesus said to the Twelve, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Now we know how to be great before the Lord. Serve all others on earth to build up our treasures in heaven. 

***Why We Need to Follow Christ

         (1) We are sinners. (2) On our own, we don't always know what's truly good or bad (evil) for us. (3) Christ's teachings show clearly what we should do and should not do in order to gain eternal life.

Saturday, September 21, 2024

***Today's Epiphany

         The Lord God is infinite, so I, a finite creature, can only comprehend as much as he "allows" me to. Therefore, being totally dependent upon him, I should surrender myself to him.

***Great Consolation***

         I know many people in this life, but one day I'll be leaving all of them, not sure if I'll ever see them again. So I'm going to love them now, not getting myself attached to them in any way though. As far as Christ is concerned, he's already with me and will always be forever—what a great consolation!

**Key to Salvation**

         Having the humility to listen to the Lord God

**Heavenly Relationship

         For us who follow the Lord wholeheartedly, he remains in union with us as we glorify and serve him with joy, securing our salvation.

**Ever-Present Willingness*

         Today is the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and evangelist, who was martyred in Ethiopia. We may not get martyred, but we must be willing to accept martyrdom, should it happen to us. Again, we may not be called to give all we have away to the poor, but we must be willing to do so, should we are so called. The point is that we must be willing to do whatever the Lord wants for us. 

***How to Become Free***

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

Friday, September 20, 2024

**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.

Thursday, September 19, 2024

*****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.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

***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. .