**Review Time

        As Christians, this is the rule we often forget: We must always do God's will while we're on earth. This is the sole rule by which we'll be judged in the end.

***Prayer and Spirituality**

        Today is the First Sunday of Advent. This is the entrance antiphon based upon Psalm 25:1-3—To you, I lift up my soul, O my God. In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame. Nor let my enemies exult over me; and let none who hope in you be put to shame. This is a beautiful payer. It makes me realize that our prayer to the Lord actually reflects how we feel spiritually. In turn, our spirituality shapes our prayer. The two are closely interrelated.

**A Virtue to Rejoice In**

        If sin abhors you, it's a grace and virtue. 

**Spirit over Body**

         Communion experience. Physically, I am still on earth; but spiritually, I am already with Christ my Lord! The physical body is short-lived and perishes, while the soul lasts and lives on for all eternity. So focus upon taking care of your spiritual life foremost. 

**No Perfect Peace on Earth

        On 11/28, I saw clearly that the world has no peace because it hasn't submitted itself to God yet. Those who have done so know that they'll experience perfect peace in heaven.

***Lost Only Without Christ***

         On Thanksgiving Day, the third day without internet service, I did feel a little bit lost. Then this thought came to me. We are lost only when we don't have Christ. Many things that do not glorify God we can live without. In heaven, there'll be no more worldly distractions and we'll be even happier.

***Today's Communion Experience

         To die and then live in Christ is pure paradise!

**Thanking God First**

        It's November 27, Thanksgiving Day. Of course, No. 1 on the list for us is to thank God for having redeemed us from sin—this changes eternal death to eternal life for us!

**Happy in the Lord

        Now the Communion experience. I felt so good in the Lord that I felt sorrier than ever for those who do not know or do not want to know him.

**Going Gung-Ho for the Lord

        Lesson from the Gospel reading from Luke 21: Following the Lord without any hesitation is the only way to go. For him, we should go all out and all the way, for the prize we'll gain is absolutely worth it.

**Secure in the Lord*

        Also on 11/26, the Gospel acclamation from Luke 21 reads : You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. This is how secure we are in the Lord!

*Peace for God's People*

         Four days ago, my internet died. So I wasn't able to blog, watch TV, or phone people (I am still used to calling people on my land line phone). Life seemed a little "weird" and I felt somewhat lost at first. Anyway, a technician finally showed up and found a bad wire at their substation down the street and fixed it. I am back in business and will starting posting some of the thoughts I had since this past Tuesday.

      On November 26, the Entrance Antiphon from Psalm 85 reads: The Lord speaks of peace to the people and his holy ones and those who turn to him. If you belong to the Lord, are holy, and always turn to him, then you are indeed blessed and will have his peace all your life.

****To Know Before You Die****

        Father Gabriele Amorth was the famous exorcist for the Vatican until he died at 91 on September 16, 2016. I came across this video with a beautiful powerful message from him. Never mind the misspelled words and AI-sounding voice, fully comprehending this message can be most beneficial.  

***A Conversion Story**

        Today at morning Mass, I did not receive any thoughts to share. Then after I got home, I came upon two videos that are interesting. I'll share this one by Laura whose message to Pope leo XVI I posted two days ago first. It's her conversion story Buddhist to Catholic, which may resonate with some of you. Our paths that lead us to God are all different, but the one we find in the end is always most beautiful!

**To All Who Have Left Christ:*

       If you have no proof that the four Gospels are just a bunch of made-up stories, you don't know what you've done!

**Foe and Friend**

        When we deem ourselves most important, we imprison ourselves. Make God moat important and we are set free. This shows that we can be our own worst enemy, while God is always our liberator and best friend.  

**How Self-Giving Are We?*

        Today's Gospel reading from Luke 21: When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said [to his disciples], "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood." As God has already given his only Begotten Son for us, the question is "How much are we willing to give ourselves for him?"

**Message for Pope Leo XIV"

        Here's a message from Laura, a convert from Buddhism, to Pope Leo XIV. She delivers it honestly with courage and love. It's worth sharing.