**Better Early than Late

        As Catholics, many have not turned completely to the Lord yet. Recently, someone I know finally decided to believe in God more after a bad accident happened and caused him much suffering. If he had taken God more seriously, the accident might not have happened. Then there are those who do not turn to God until they are in their dying momenta. The wise would turn to the Lord fully the moment they hear him first call.  

**Right On!**

        Today's Communion antiphon, Psalm 16.11: You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord. I know I am on the path of life, full of joy in God's presence. Amen!

**An Important Question*

         In today's Gospel reading from Luke 16, Jesus said to nhis disciples, "The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones." The natural question that comes up is "Are we trustworthy to God?"

**Self-awareness Called For**

        We let what we see and hear from others easily affect us so that we react instantly without thinking. Often our response is negative and unkind, thus falling short of being Christlike. Basically, we still lack humility. The remedy for us here is to be totally open to Christ and closed to all other secular influences so that we may remain in the Truth at all times. 

**Spiritual Wellbeing over Physical Wellbeing

         When it comes to our physical wellbeing, we can only manage to live a little longer as we age. Improving our spiritual wellbeing is on an entirely different level. Depending on what we do, we end up either in heaven or in hell.

**One Thing You always Do**

        Be happy or sad about many of the things you encounter, but rejoice always in Christ the Lord.

**How to Be Perfect**

         Today's Gospel acclamation, 1 John 2.5a: Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him. Keep the word of Christ and you are perfect!

***Best Gift for LORD***

        Communion experience. The Lord gave all of himself to me. What could I possibly give to him in return? I asked him what he wanted from me. I heard him say, "Just follow me." I understood that surrendering to him was what he wanted.

***Genuine Joy Insuppressible***

        When a person is genuinely happy, he would want the whole world to share that joy. So if you're happy about something but wishes to keep it a secret, you can't be truly happy. For the Christian, if you don't share Christ with others much, you can't be too exited about the Lord.

**The Joy of Repentance**

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 15, Jesus said to the Pharisees and scribes, "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance." When you repent, knowing that you make the whole heaven rejoice should at least double or triple your own joy! So repent unceasingly if you do sin or you'll be known as a party pooper! 

**Unfathomable Peace!**

        In today's reading 1 from Romans 14, Paul wrote, "Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." Once you belong to Christ, you are his forever! The peace this feeling brings is unfathomable. Just for that, you need to know the Lord.

***Dangerous World*

         This secular world is dangerous to those who do not know Christ or have rejected him, for they have no truth to guide them. If they do not control or limit their pride, they easily fall into sin, and over time no longer feel the need to repent any sin anymore. Now they are on the way to becoming lost souls.

****How to Become Free****

         In today's Gospel reading from Luke 14, Jesus addressed the crowds on discipleship. He said, "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." In other words, we must follow only Jesus willingly. Since we can never get ahead of God, it'd be most wise to follow him close behind to remain with him always. This is exactly how we can become free, free of ourselves! Be last to God, and you'll be first.

*****Only True Belief*****

        The God of Christ is the only true God. The following highlights the uniqueness of Christianity no other religion of the world can come close! (1) God the Son personally came into the world as one of us so that we might know him. (2) His message is that he is pure selfless love. (3) He proved his love for us by sacrificing himself on the cross in our place to redeem us from sin so that we might have eternal life. (4) On the third day, he rosd from the dead and ascended into heaven. (5) This God is most humble and merciful that we may achieve spiritual union with him through the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

***Do You Excuse Yourself Too?***

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 14, Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. There he told the Parable of the Great Feast. It began this way. A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, "Come, everything is now ready."But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. Today the Lord is inviting us to dine with him and be his friends so that we may learn the good news that can make us live happily forever. Yet the great majority of us not only don't give any excuses, but simply ignore the Lord's call. This is being extremely ignorant or dishonest, not realizing that being invited by the Lord to be his guest is one greatest honor and blessing! 

***Heart-to-Heart Union***

        Offer up your heart to Jesus. Once your heart is united with his Most Sacred Heart, you attain union with God!

***Most Fulfilling and Satisfying Experience***

        Communion experience. Receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist has freed me from the world; I now belong fully to Christ the Lord. It has to be the most fulfilling and satisfying experience of my whole existence so far. (The best is yet to come!) 

**Prophesy Fulfilled*

        Today's Communion antiphon, Psalm 16:11—You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord. Yes, the Lord has shown me the path of life, filling me with joy to the fullest in his presence.