**Heading the Wrong Way!*

         In the overall schemes of things, our time on earth compared to eternity is practically zero, yet we spend much of our time and energy to make sure that we look good, fit, and healthy, and at the same time are hardly concerned about the state of our soul. Have we already lost both our mind and senses?

*****Incredible Elevation*****

         Communion experience. Receiving the Holy Eucharist is to enter into union with Christ, who is our Lord, our creator, our Savior ... the Almighty God! This is an incredible elevation that's astounding beyond words! Realizing this alone is enough to make us want to give all of ourselves wholeheartedly to him forever.

***Critical Sayings WE MUST KNOW***

       In today's Gospel reading from Luke 10, Jesus commissioned seventy-two of his disciples to visit ahead of him every town and place he intended to visit to proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand. He said to them, "Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 'The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town." This shows that rejecting whatever Christ tells us is no trivial matter—it will bear severe consequences! In Matthew 10:33, Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father." We must remember these sayings, for ignoring them amounts to dismissing the Lord!

***Transforming Joy of Christ***

         Surrendering myself to Christ has to be the happiest experience of my whole life—it made me realize that this is how God has made us! When we do his will, we are set free! The joy of Christ that comes to us now bursts forth spontaneously from our hearts, enrapturing the soul—now we are made anew in the Lord, the old sinner no more! 

***Always Take God Seriously*

         At the end of each Mass, the priest blesses the congregation in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We are so used to hearing it that it's easy not to take it seriously; but this is truly having God bless us! So if we remain open and receptive, blessings will definitely be bestowed upon us. The Lord will take us seriously only if we take him seriously.

***Basic Reminder***

         Before God, we are all sinners; so we are in no position to judge others. If we ask the Lord to save us, we need to ask him to save everyone else too, for he loves all of us. Know that our greatest enemy is our pride, and humility is a must-have for getting into heaven.

***Serious Wake-Up Call***

         Christ is always with us, even when we are unaware of that or when we ignore it, for he is our Lord and our God. Each of us is basically alone with him, as only he matters to our existence. If you lose him, who is our only Savior, by choice or thru negligence, you become alone and lost forever!

*****Great Way to Know God Dearly*****

         Anytime you lose peace over anything, go straight to Christ the Lord to tell him about it, and he'll comfort and guide you. This is such a great way to endear yourself to him to deepen your relationship with him. Treat the Lord as your soulmate and he'll treat you as his. Now, watch how your life takes a wonderful turn!

***Onward with the Lord***

         Communion experience. That the Lord would feed me with his own body and blood through the Holy Eucharist is true giving! After receiving him, I know that I belong to him and my soul is in his most holy hands. Now I am rich beyond bounds and victorious over all obstacles. When the Lord is with you, you are unstoppable!

***Greatest Unjust Misunderstanding***

         Today's psalm response from Psalm 106: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Indeed, God is more than good: His not only sustains us phsically, he also loves us to death and wants to set us free from sin so that we may return to him to enjoy eternal life in heaven! But so many of us have chosen to live for themselves in their brief time on earth—how foolish and blind they are! Have they no concern about their souls? To believe that Christ has come and died for nothing is not only a serious sin, it also has to be the greatest unjust misunderstanding of all times! That's saying that you can survive without God, that he doesn't exist, or that he doesn't care about you at all. If you still have some heart and a mind left, it's time to wake up and give yourself a thorough internal examination. 

***Most Secure Bonding***

        Communion experience. Receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, you then form a bond with him impossible for anyone else to break!

***To Be Blessed to the Max***

         Today is the Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle. He's the one who came to believe that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead after seeing the mark of the nails in his hands, putting his finger into the nailmarks, and putting his hand into his side. Jesus said to Thomas, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." This is true and valid only because he is true God. If you can believe in Jesus to be your God and your Lord without seeing him, without knowing him, or even without questioning about him, then you'll surely be blessed by him to the max! It works because he is true God.

***Critical Awareness***

         Be aware that basically, each of us exists alone with God, for only he knows all about us and shall determine our eternal destiny. All the billions of other fellow human beings are in the very same boast with no direct power to change anything for us. Only we alone can shape the way we want the Lord to shape our eternal future. So start living for Christ right now! 

***Most Soul-Satisfying

         Communion time thought: Doing God's will is the most soul-satisfying thing we can possibly do on earth.

***Key to Salvation***

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 8, two demoniacs met Jesus and immediately cried out to him, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" The demons recognize who Jesus is and we should too. When we truly believe and know that he is the Lord and our Savior, we are saved!

***Sins That Can Sink Us***

         Here's a video that's a little long, but is important for all Catholics to watch. Come to think of it, it's also important for all others to watch so that they may come to understand sins more. It will definitely make some people feel uncomfortable, but you can always choose not to watch it. Mind you, the fact that it makes you feel uneasy only shows that you need to face sin and deal with it. Of course, if you're closed to Christ, to become sinless would be impossible. On the other hand, if you are open to him, sin can become totally manageable and you can even become effortlessly a saint! "To sin or not to sin?" is what we struggle with all our lives.

***Spiritual Elevation***

        Communion experience. As a lowly, finite being, you are overawed in becoming one with the glorious, infinite holy God, knowing that he's going to exalt you to the full. "To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich" (Matthews 13:12) really applies here.

*****Our Only Business*****

        Before the Most Holy Almighty God, our only business is to love and obey him ... no more, no less. Then we become totally free.