**Power of God's Word**

        This morning at Mass, I sensed the power of God's word. If you would listen to it with all your heart and with all your soul, it will wholly transform you anew!

*****A Most Serious Message***

         Revelation 3:16: Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. If we do not take the LORD seriously, we are being lukewarm. For example, thinking that we are good enough to get into heaven as we are, choosing to disobey some of the Church teachings we don't agree with, believing that God won't be too harsh on us, confessing your sins without genuine repentance (this is a most serious sin), lack of humility; trusting in God but slack in doing any work, not wishing to go all out for the LORD; not always meaning what you say, etc. Is all this being rather strict? No, because if you do take God seriously (are hot), your reward will be no less than eternal bliss in heaven!

**Jesus Can Save Us Because . . .

he can make us holy.

*Spiritual Rejuvenation

        Communion experience. I completely opened up to the LORD to let him eradicate all that shouldn't be in me and fill me with what should be in me to the full.

**Reason Christ Is Unwelcome*

        People turn away from Christ not because he is false or wrong, but because, on the contrary, he is the truth and the light that makes all those who dwell in darkness feel uncomfortable.

***Simple Rule to Follow*

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 4, Jesus said to his disciples, "The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you." This is all we need to know to have God set the standards we want him to apply to us. The "power" is in our hands. So always treat others the way you would want God to treat you.

***Spiritual Joy Par Excellence***

        There is so much beautiful music I can listen to, yet I find sensing Christ's holy presence in silence a lot more satisfying and rewarding.         

**Praying to Restore Relationships*

        Many people have trouble getting along with others, be they friends or family members. To remedy this, you need to get the Lord involved. That is, you need to pray for those you don't get along with on their behalf, not viewing them as enemies. When you pray with love, you'll find yourself changing for the better too.

***Being Aware of God's Presence

         As you follow Christ, how often does your mind dwell on him? Is 60% the usual academic passing grade good enough? I do advocate seeking union with God through the Holy Eucharist for all Catholics. For once you attain union, you'll be aware of God's holy presence at all times.

***Best Tidings for Us*****

        We can never be good enough on our own to enter heaven, but Christ can make that a certainty if we believe in him. This is truly the best possible news for humankind!

***Timely Message

        I came across this video which is a 5-minute excerpt from a much longer speech given by President Donald Trump at the Arab Islamic American Summit held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May, 2017. It's a message still good and worth listening to today.

****Most Pitiful State

        I am thinking about those who do not know or have Christ. When they die, not truly knowing what awaits them, helplessly they enter the unknown. What a pitiful state!

***The Only One***

         Communion time thoughts. Christ is the only one we need to listen to, follow, obey, please, and imitate.

**Happy Ending*

        We first realize that God loves us unconditionally and wants to save us from sin so that we may have eternal life. Then we realize that we are poor sinners who are not even worthy to receive him. This makes us fall in love and desire to attain union with him. Joy and gratitude now fill our whole being.  

***Living a Most Blessed Life and Improving***

          Today is the Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas. First reading antiphon from Hebrews 10:7: Behold, I come to do your will, O God. The response from Psalm 40: Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. Gospel acclamation, Mark 3.35: Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother. It seems that the main message for today is to do God's will. Certainly this should be our No.1 goal in following Christ, for it will please him the most and get us into heaven. It is the way to live a most blessed life!
      To do God's will perfectly requires perfect union with him. If we haven't surrendered fully to God yet, our ego can still dictate what we do. For example, someone says something that makes us look bad in some way; we without hesitation start to justify ourselves and even think of retaliation. You see, we are so ingrained in reacting the way we normally do and don't even consider how Christ would have reacted in such a situation. Of course, he had always remained calm and turned his other cheek, showing his great humility and meekness. Granted, we'll never be able to be as pefect as he, but we can certainly become more submissive to him to become more like him.  

**Christ Completing My Life*

        Communion experience. Christ completes my joy in this life with my eternity all set.

***Pity the Sinful World*

        Christ is like the brightest light shining over us, yet much of the world, blinded by pride and enslaved in sin, remains in darkness. Is there any hope for all those people? Of course, but only if they'd let Christ into their hearts. For now, they behave like spoiled brats telling the heavenly Father to leave them alone. 

**Living in Joy*

        You love Christ the Lord and receive his joy unceasingly. Every moment of your life now is a joyful one.