**We Hurt Only God**

        Verse 6a from today's Psalm 51 reads: "Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight." We see that when we sin, we hurt only the Lord. The line from Mother Teresa's Do It Anyway poem comes to mind again: "In the final analysis, it is between you and God."

***The Superior Way to Live**

        Having a deep knowledge of classical music and the visual arts, I notice that many musicians and artists live solely for their craft. If you take that away, they have nothing left. The most they can achieve is a reasonably happy but brief life on earth. The same can be said for anyone living without Christ. Without him, their situation is tragic. On the other hand, when you live for Christ, you need no earthly crutches; you are set for all eternity.

**Getting the Priority Right?**

        A lot of people say, "I am going to do this, and I trust in God." Fewer say, "I trust in God, and I am waiting to see if he wants me to do this." I think you can already see which group gets the priority right.

**Mary's Main Message for Us**

        Mother Mary has appeared so many times to us in the last century or so, and we might wonder why in most cases the message has been urging us to return to God. I believe it's because time is running short, as more shocking events, warnings, and potential chastisements are approaching. Now is the time for decision.

**Jesus' Sufferings and Anguish**

        On June 9, I blogged about how Jesus suffered. Usually, we tend to think of the physical sufferings he underwent. However, we must not forget the tremendous mental anguish he experienced when those he wished to save not only rejected him, but also hated him enough to put him to death! Furthermore, how deeply sorrowful he must have felt for those of his persecutors who who ultimately failed to make it into the kingdom of heaven! Let us truly know the Lord's sufferings and anguish so that we may love him even more.

**Absolute Necessity**

        Mathematically, compared to infinity, any finite number is basically zero. Even if you live to a zillion, you will still die in the end. That is why we must latch onto Christ, the infinite Lord, who can make us live happily forever! 

**Living Without Fear**

        I love the Psalm 27:1, which shows that God is completely on my side: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?" To be in Christ is to live without fear.

**To Be Honest and Genuine**

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus tells his disciples, "Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the Evil One." Therefore, we must ensure that everything we say does come from the Lord, meaning our egos cannot play a part. Even when a situation requires us to be diplomatic or make excuses, we are not being dishonest as long as our motives remain pure. Being genuine does not mean we have to reveal everything to everyone. Ultimately, if we let love reign in our hearts, we will be fine.

***How to Know Your God Is Real**

       Some people believe that there is a God, but they don't know anything about him. Others believe they know God, but they do not have a personal relationship with him. I am especially happy because I realize that Christ is my God without a doubt, and I am deeply in love and in union with him! When your God is more real to you than you are to yourself, he is the authentic, genuine God. But if your God is impersonal and nebulous in the slightest degree, he is a fake.

**Learning from God**

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus exclaimed to the Father, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to little ones." Here is revealed the simple secret to learning from God: Be a little one.

*****Mighty Power of LOVE*****

        Today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the Second Reading from 1 John 4, John writes, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. [...] God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him." By loving one another as God loves us, we become perfect and achieve union with the Lord!

***God Alone Matters**

        Here is the famous Do It Anyway poem that was tacked to the wall of Mother Teresa's children's home in Calcutta, India. It was originally written by  Dr. Kent M. Keith. I have blogged about it before, but here it is again in case you have not read it.       

• People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
• If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
• If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
• If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
• What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
• If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
• The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
• Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
• In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never. between you and them anyway.

        I would like to elaborate on the meaning of the last line. It is true that only what God thinks of us matters, not the opinions of anybody else. We can have many helpful friends in this world, but they are just as limited as we are. God is the only one who can lift us to the next level of existence to set us free for all eternity.

**Requisite for Pleasing God**

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus said to his disciples, "If you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Wow, if we have not yet reconciled with our brother, trying to please the Lord without doing so just seems hypocritical. This should make us think about our relationships with everyone! If we are filled with love for all, then the Lord will be pleased to receive us.

**Avoiding Reality?**

        We Christians are kind to each other. We serve the Lord together, helping and praying for each other and the world. Yet, when we are with each other in our leisure time, Christ is rarely mentioned—that seems a little odd, to say the least. To talk about all kinds of things but him is to forget that, as our Lord and Creator, he is the truth and the most important person to our existence and eternal happiness! 

**To Be Great in the Eyes of the Lord**

        In today's Gospel Reading from Matthew 5, Jesus says to his disciples, "Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." Today, we can say that if we follow Christ faithfully and teach others to do so as well, we will be the greatest in the eyes of the Lord.

**Best Thing for Our Heart**

        Today’s Psalm 4:7 reads: "You put gladness into my heart, more than when grain and wine abound." This verse truly resonates with me, as the joy of the Lord exceeds anything the world can offer.

***How Jesus Suffered***

        Today is the day to pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. The Shroud of Turin shows that there are up to 372 distinct bodily wounds caused by scourging, and about fifty puncture wounds clustered around the head and scalp caused by the crown of thorns. The Lord carried the heavy cross on his shoulder and fell at least three times—that must have hurt his knees badly. Long, thick iron spikes were driven into his wrists and feet. Finally, the cross with Jesus on it had to be moved to and dropped into the hole, and be set upright—all that shaking and rocking must have caused him a lot more pain. It dawned on me that he suffered mentally too. He came to his own people out of love to save them, but they not only rejected him, but also crucified him! The mental anguish had to exceed even his physical agony!

***Let God Initiate the Action***

        While you can love the Lord, it is far better to let him love you; this is true abandonment. Similarly, to know him, simply open your heart so he can reveal himself to you. Let the Lord initiate the action to make things effortless. He desires to do so much with you and for you, completely for your good.