***Source of Joy*

        Seeking to do God'll is most satisfying, most rewarding, and a great joy—this is how God has made us! It gives your life meaning and purpose. Try it and you'll be overjoyed! 

*****Make This Monumental Move*****

        We struggle on our own our whole life. But if we give up and surrender ourselves to God completely instead, peace and freedom would immediately inundate us! This move is as monumental as the prodigal son making his return to his father. Experience this breakthrough on earth so that you'll be ready for returning to your heavenly Father when your time comes..

***Rejecting the Greatest Truth***

        John 3:16-17 from today's Gospel reading: "God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." If you don't believe this declaration, you reject the greatest truth—you reject God!

****Big Contrast (Serious Reminder)***

        Those who believe in Christ know positively that being holy will make them heaven bound, while whose who reject Christ are not even aware that remaining sinful will land them in hell. When it comes to salvation of the soul, we need to be fully alert and astute!

**Only Man Who Came from Heaven*

        Today is the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church. In the Gospel reading from John 3, Jesus said to Nicodemus, "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man." It is true that we were all created by God the Father and born into this world, and Jesus the Son is the only one who came down to us from heaven to become one of us so that we might get to know him and return to the Father in heaven. This alone is good enough for us to believe that he is indeed our Savior.

*Who's Crazy?

        You can read all about Christ in the New Testament. Like no one else, he truly challenges us. If he is all false, he has to be the craziest person that ever lived. But if he is all true and you don't believe in him, then you are the craziest one. What I've found out is that you believe that he is your Lord and Savior and you know the whole truth.

***Liberated by Love***

        Communion experience. It's most exciting to be able to love Jesus who is pure love and love him without limit. This is liberation indeed!

**First Step to Salvation

        In today's Gospel reading from John 3, Jess said to Nicodemus, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God." This shows that believing in Jesus is only the very first step to salvation.

***Reality of Our Existence II***

        If you stay with the God of Christ, he blesses you constantly. If you are not with him, then the Evil One has you and he's only interested in destroying your soul.

***Happiest Thing in Life***

        It's knowing Jesus Christ.

***Reality of Our Existence***

        You can have someone really close to you in this life, but if one of you believes in Christ and the other doesn't, a great separation actually exists between you two. On the other hand, take someone you do not even know but is in union with Christ as you are, a union also exists between you two. So if you are already in union with Christ, you are in union with all the saints and holy angles in heaven. If you do not believe in Christ, then you are basically alone the whole time no matter how many friends you may have now.

****Most Satisfying Belief****

        In today's Gospel reading from John 20, the Apostle told how on the evening of that first day of the week, Jesus came and stood in the midst of the disciples. He showed them his hands and his side, and they rejoiced. Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with them. When they told him that they had seen the Lord, he would not believe. A week later Jesus came again in their midst when Thomas was with them. He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." Then John wrote that Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that were not written in his book. But these were written that we might come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief we might have life in his name. I have come to see that believing that Jesus is the Christ is the most beautiful satisfying belief we can possibly have, for it completely secures our eternity, fulfilling all we desire and bringing us that most profound peace!

**Danger in following God's Will**

        It dawned on me that to live the Christian life, we need to surrender to the Lord totally or attain union with him first. Then we'll know his will clearly and be able to follow him right. It seems that people can interpret what Christ has said and end up following their own interpretations. When their interpretations are off, their action can be confusing to others. To avoid such mistake happening, know Christ well first to know what he wills, not what you think he wills.

**Getting into Heaven*

        This can be hard or easy. Reject Christ and you are doomed. Be totally obedient to him and even though you don't reach perfection, you are definitely heaven bound. If you fall between these two extremes, you could go either way. There might be good people who do not know Christ and are saved thru his mercy, but to be assured that you have a good chance, believing in him is the way to get started.

***Prayer for the Holy Church

         We are supposed to love the sinner and hate only the sin. Jesus forgave the woman who committed adultery and asked her not to sin anymore. Unfortunately, in the name of love, the Church today no longer condemns many sins outright. This has caused great confusion among the faithful. Pray that the Lord will root out all evil influences within the Church so that she may truly become a shining beacon in this dark world.

**Opposite Effect

        Communion experience. The more we feel unworthy to receive the Lord, the more welcome we are to him. 

***Watered-Down Preaching*

        Jesus came to show how much God loves us and how we can all be saved from sin. He spoke the truth and never tried to please, amuse, appease, nor make sure not to offend his listeners. Now look at the messages we hear today from most preachers—they do just the opposite.

***Our Only Mission**

        In today's first reading from Acts 4, the leaders, elders, and scribes ordered Peter and John not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” Yes, it is impossible for us whom Jesus has called to follow him not to speak about him! God has commissioned us to spread the good news to the whole world so that all may be saved. This basically is our sole mission. It is in carrying out this mission that we are fulfilled!