**"Spoiled" by Christ**

        Once you have tasted the Lord, all the pleasures of the world tastes insipid.

**Way of Receiving Power**

        When we willingly take up our cross and follow Christ, we receive great power.

**Why I Remain a Catholic**

        I started out as an agnostic, then I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior after college and became a Presbyterian. I got curious about Catholicism and started studying it on my own for over a year, and became convinced that the Catholic Church was the original church which Jesus built upon Peter. You can read the whole conversion story which started this blog in 2009. Because he Church is the original one, it has always been the prime target of Satan. Today, evil has infiltrated the Church at various levels. But Jesus promised Peter that the gates of hell would not prevail against his Church, so the Lord's triumph over Satan in the end is certain. 

         I will never cease being a Catholic. I don't consider Catholicism to be one of the many religions, since it alone holds the whole truth. If you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you can learn all about it.

         Here's what think of all the other major religions, although I am not an expert on them. If you ask a Buddhist monk who God is, he won't be able to answer you. Besides, Buddhist monks don't know how to deliver anyone from a demon. Muslims do not accept Jesus as God, and some extremist groups have no qualms about killing Christians. It's the lack of love that makes Islam unacceptable to me. As for Hinduism, they believe in a plethora of gods and deities, which is totally confusing to me. I an going to stick to Christ, who is all love and has clearly shown us how we can return to God in heaven.

****When We Die****

        Here is what we shall see when we die, according to Saint Teresa of Avila.

**Good Rule to Follow**

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6, Jesus teaches his disciples to do all good and righteous deeds in secret so that only the Father sees them. When you let go of your ego, I assure you that you will find great peace. And the Lord promises that the Father will reward you.

**That Most Secure Feeling**

         When the Lord is absolutely real to you, it can only mean that he is with you. You will also have that most secure feeling, knowing that he is present with you at all times! By contrast, anyone who lives among the billions of people in this world without Christ is basically all alone.

**Test of How Much We Love God**

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father." I see how our success in loving our enemies truly tests how much we love and obey the Lord. Do you fail, still work on that, or pass?

**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!