A Spiritual Journey

Unseen Miracle

2012-02-12T13:57:00.000-08:00

In the Gospel reading from Mark 1, a leper came to Jesus and asked Jesus to make him clean. The Lord, moved with pity, touch him and said, "I'll do it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately. To us that was obviously a miracle. Then I saw that every time we repent and Jesus forgives us and removes our sins, that's a miracle too! In a way, it's even more wonderful than physical healing and we should take full advantage of this power of God at our beck or call.

We Are of Christ

2012-02-12T13:10:00.000-08:00

In Reading 2 at Mass from 1 Corinthians 11 was Paul's plea: "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." It struck me that if we are faithful Christians like Paul, each one of us should be able to declare "I am of Christ" openly with great joy, pride, and satisfaction.

We Cannot Beat God

2012-02-12T12:44:00.000-08:00

Today's Response to Psalm reads: "I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation." The Lord is always ready for us, so the question is whether we are ready to turn to him to receive his joy. Suppose we view this as a contest to see who can maintain his stance longer ~ you or God. Of course, God will always be looking at you. If you don't turn to him, you ultimately lose. But if you give up and turn to him, then both you and he win. In other words, in this game you must lose to win. The truth is that we can never beat God in any game we play ~ submission is our only sensible choice.

Christian Life a Crescendo

2012-02-11T15:48:00.000-08:00

At this morning's mini-retreat, I heard the word "crescendo" and I thought of the Christian life as being a crescendo. As you discover Jesus and move closer to him toward union, you experience more and more love, freedom, joy, and peace and see that the Lord will be all yours at the end.

Becoming Fearless

2012-02-11T15:32:00.000-08:00

A Christian lives for God alone and not for himself. Because he has no more concern for himself and there is no need to fear for God, he becomes fearless.

"Porta fidei"

2012-02-11T15:17:00.000-08:00

At a mini-retreat, I heard part of this letter by Pope Benedict XVI on the "Year of Faith" read. It is very beautiful and well worth reading if you have some time. The letter was made public on Oct. 17, 2011 and the "Year of Faith" is to begin on Oct. 11, 2012, so you will probably hear more about it as we approach October. On the following site, you can read extracts of this long letter in PDF form: http://www.smcim.org/files/portal/news/attach1_307.pdf

Are You Harvesting?

2012-02-11T14:23:00.000-08:00

Almost two thousand years ago, Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few." Today, the laborers are still few, so where are you?

Should You Be a Saint?

2012-02-11T14:13:00.000-08:00

Look at St. Peter and St. Francis ~ they both gave up everything to follow Jesus. Can we do it too?

Did God make them humanly superior to us?
Is God limited in his power to transform us into saints?
Should we love God less than Peter and Francis?

If your answer to each of the above questions is no, then aim to become a saint.

Jesus Is My...

2012-02-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

Lord, my God, my most beloved, and my life and my soul a well.

God Is Personal

2012-02-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

In today's Gospel read from Mark 8, Jesus multiplied seven loaves of bread and a few fish to feed a hungry crowd of about 4,000 because his heart was moved with great pity for them. This was a great miracle, but his mercy was even greater. I love Jesus because he became one of us and identified himself with us! He is not untouchable or high and mighty. On the contrary, he is both personal and humble, ready to become one with us! Through Jesus, we're able to see clearly what God is truly like. For this, I am eternally grateful.

From Submission to Peace

2012-02-11T12:56:00.000-08:00

Total submission to God leads to perfect harmony with God's will which leads to complete peace in the heart. Pure, simple logic.

The Apostle Advantage

2012-02-11T12:48:00.000-08:00

When you feel the Lord's presence at all times, you feel as if you are one of the Apostles, seeing and following Jesus at all times.

All About Love

2012-02-10T10:14:00.000-08:00

At morning Mass today, I realized that I was back again. Why did I want to receive the Lord again in the Holy Eucharist? I've received him countless times already and he has poured grace upon grace on me, and I am now completely open to him. The answer that came up in my heart was that I wished to receive him simply because I love him. After all, God is love and the best way to love God is to love him.

To Experience the Greatest Freedom

2012-02-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

I've been weeding outdoors for a few hours. The weather is perfect, and even if spring is not here yet, new weeds have come up. Rather than bending down each time to pull the weeds, I like to sit on the ground and move sideways. I enjoy the solitude alone with God.

Today he made me see that if we make him number one in our lives, that is, if we are willing to give up everything for his sake, then we shall experience the greatest freedom. Now, this could strike fear in us. I must hasten to add that it does not follow that once we have expressed our willingness, God is actually going to take everything away from us. No, not at all! The Lord only likes to test us, for he loves us so much that he wants us to be his completely. If we pass the test, for sure more blessings will come our way and great freedom is just that first blessing.

[Recall the story in Genesis 22 about Abraham following God's order to offer his son Isaac up as a burnt offering? When Abraham was ready to slaughter his son, an angel appeared and stopped him. Because Abraham passed the test, God promised to bless him and his descendants.]

Transfiguration & the Eucharist

2012-02-09T12:45:00.000-08:00

As I was meditating on the Transfiguration of Jesus, the fourth Luminous Mystery of the Rosary, I thought of the changing of the elements of the bread and wine, when they are consecrated in the Eucharist, into the body and blood of Christ. Looking at the consecrated bread and wine is much like looking at the untransfigured Jesus ~ you see an ordinary human being, yet he is divine.

Let's Do Great Works

2012-02-09T12:14:00.000-08:00

Jesus promised us that whoever believes in him will do great works (John 14:12). How good it is to let God accomplish great things through us! And this includes the transformation of us.

Do All with Your Heart

2012-02-09T12:02:00.000-08:00

This morning I got up before six and it's still quite dark outside. Figuratively speaking, I could say that this is what God sees when he looks down upon the earth and sees the hearts of the billions of sinners. Then I saw the bright beacon of light that is Christ, shining among us; but the people who see it do not understand because they do not see it with their heart. To see the truth, we must involve the heart. When we believe, we must believe with our heart. When we love, we must love with our heart. In sum, do all with our heart for God, then we shall shine in the darkness too.

Life of Wonderment

2012-02-09T11:01:00.000-08:00

As I said in my last post, I felt very content in Christ. But at night when I am supposed to fall asleep, I often stay awake, still amazed and overwhelmed by the love of Christ ~ who am I that he should care for so much? The Christian life is a life filled with great wonderment.

Being Content with God

2012-02-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

My only feeling this morning at Mass was contentment. The first part of Psalm 23, a psalm of David, describes it well ~ "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along the right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are will me; your rod and your staff comfort me."

Now I know exactly how David felt. He has the same God!

Happiness in Christ

2012-02-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

Left on our own to pursue my own happiness, we'll never be happy ~ you can count on that! That's why Jesus came along to show us the way, which is to seek his will and not our own. Believe me, he knows what he's talking about. Following him leads to freedom, fulfillment, and interior peace. Some may have found peace in this life by some other way, but it cannot be at such an exalted level because happiness in Christ is never ending, becoming even more intensified after this life!

Hypocrisy for Fools Only

2012-02-07T13:26:00.001-08:00

Today's Gospel reading from Mark 7 reveals the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the scribes. Today's government officials, politicians, businessmen, commercials... do no better. There is not much trust among our own people and among the nations anymore. But for Christians, hypocrisy has no place ~ a Christian must be 100% genuine, for God sees right through the heart. To be hypocritical is to try fooling God.

We Are the Chosen!

2012-02-07T13:00:00.001-08:00

After hearing the reading from 1 Kings 8 and the Resporsorial Psalm at Mass today, I was amazed that the Israelites had believed in one God from the very beginning ~ they had to be the chosen people by God. Then I saw that we Christians were a chosen people by God too. I felt this especially after receiving Holy Communion, for I became a chosen one among the chosen.

Why Love Jesus

2012-02-07T12:41:00.000-08:00

Last night on PBS radio, someone whose upper body got completely burned in an accident was being interviewed. He said that when it happened, he knew that there's nothing he could do about it and that later no medication could stop the pain he suffered. Now he's finally recovering. Right away, I thought of hellfire which you can do nothing about and causes pains that cannot be eased. What's worse ~ you will never recover from it! Even though you don't hear too many fire-and-brimstone sermons preached nowadays, it doesn't mean that there's no punishment after death anymore. What I want to tell all is that never, never end up in that place of inferno! If you are not a believer in Jesus yet, believe now and you won't have to worry about those fires anymore. Better yet, believe out of love for him, for he loves you!

What Life Is Like

2012-02-06T19:58:00.000-08:00

You may know the saying "Life is just a bowl of cherries," which really doesn't mean too much. To me, it all depends upon if you know Jesus or not. If you don't know him, I'd say that life is more like a bad dream or movie with an unknown ending. Once you know Jesus, life becomes absolutely real and you know exactly how it's going to play out. I know because I have lived both.

God Grants Peace

2012-02-06T13:30:00.000-08:00

I caught a little bit of an EWTN program Living the Discerning Life, based upon the teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola and presented by a Father Gallagher. The topic was Spiritual Consolation and Desolation. A line caught my attention ~ Fr. Gallagher said that when you are under tension, rest in God and it will go away. I totally concur here. For without God, the tension will go away only after the cause of your tension is removed. With God, you turn to and rest in him and he will give you peace, for he is greater than us.

God Dwelling in Us

2012-02-06T13:09:00.000-08:00

Today's first reading at Mass from 1 Kings 8 talked about the Lord dwelling in the cloud that filled King Solomon's temple after the ark of the covenant of the Lord had been brought into its sanctuary. This really made me think of us as temples of the Holy Spirit that the Lord dwells in us as well ~ something I knew but perhaps never quite fully realized. Every time I look up into the universe, I feel humbled. Now the creator of this universe actually dwells within me ~ I must take my time to digest this! The more I think about this, the more overwhelmed I am, and the more amazed and appreciative I become. Yes, the cup overflows!

Why I Like My God

2012-02-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

There is only one God and I like him as revealed to us by Jesus, that he is all love as demonstrated by Jesus, God Incarnate, himself. Some other religions also believe in God, but he is not so personal nor conceived as Love. Still other religions teach you to be kind and loving, but they do not have any clear conception of God. That's why I choose the God of Christ, most incredible, yet most approachable.

No Point of No Return for Us

2012-02-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

Look at what's happening in Syria. During this so-called Arab Spring, some leaders are wise enough to initiate reforms or step down early enough to prevent worse unrest. In Syria, it seems that President al-Assad has already gone beyond the point of no return in dealing with his own people rebelling against him.

Then I thought of our loving Lord. With him, as long as we are still alive, there is no point of no return for us. It's never too late to return to him. Anytime we are ready, he is ready ~ this is the beauty of his great mercy, guaranteed by his love for us. How blessed we are!

God Our Only Hope

2012-02-06T11:36:00.000-08:00

There is just so much bad news you hear from all over the globe. Again, I want to remind all that God is our only bright hope. Focus on the fact that God has turned many human beings into saints. So if we all let God transform us, then we'll have a peaceful world ~ it's as simple as that. In reality, of course, not everyone will listen to this truth, but this does not invalidate the truth that God, the God of Christ, is our only hope.

The Christian Life

2012-02-05T19:07:00.000-08:00

The Christian life can be said to consist of two parts. You find Christ, believe in him and ask him to come into your life ~ this is the first part. You want him to transform you until you become like him ~ this is the second part. It's in this second part that you become holy, experience freedom, and know that you are now a new creature. Without this part, you are only a Christian in name only.

Best Discovery of My Life

2012-02-05T16:16:00.000-08:00

I watched a documentary on a legendary photographer who photographed what people wore (clothes) in New York City. He's good and loved what he did. I totally understand it because I used to photograph a lot myself. And it's through this medium that I discovered myself. I reached a point that I felt exactly what emotionally moved me and knew how to capture that image, and that anyone who saw my work would recognize that it's mine. In other words, the images became me. This gave me great satisfaction because those serene, calm, and somewhat enigmatic images showed clearly what kind of person I was.

The discovery of Jesus changed everything. I see now that the discovery of myself still kept me self-centered. The light of Christ has totally revealed him to me and me to him. It's this mutual understanding that matters. Essentially, knowing that I am loved by him has freed me, making my old discovery totally forgettable.

How Important Is Jesus to You?

2012-02-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

Today is Super Bowl Sunday, a big special day for football fans. It's a fact that many Catholics do not attend Mass on Sunday except when it happens to be Easter or Christmas, just to ease their conscience. Now, for many football fans who normally do attend Mass, skipping it on Super Bowl Sunday for their convenience does not seem to bother them either. The question basically boils down to whether you love yourself or God more.

The following comes to my mind. (1) Is Jesus truly your shepherd? As you know, his sheep hear his voice and follow. (2) The first disciples dropped everything instantly to follow the Lord when he called them. Hesitation or looking back shows unfitness. (3) Matthew10.32-33: "Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father." Obviously, if Jesus is not number one in your life, you won't be treated as number one by him in your next life.

Taking Advantage of the Holy Eucharist

2012-02-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

As I received the Lord in Holy Communion this morning, I realized that I had done it innumerable times already. I started attending daily Mass in November, 2007; so counting just these last 4+ years alone, I have done it over 1,500 times! So, if I have not been a better Christian by now, I really should be ashamed of myself and might as well turn into a log. Fortunately, I am most grateful that Jesus has blessed me more than I deserve. If we will just become a tiny bit holier each day, we can go a long way after a thousand days! [This reminds me of a story about Irena Orlov, the pianist I mentioned in a post late last December. A student told her that a piece was too hard for him to learn. She asked him to count the number of measures in the piece and it turned out to be 54. Then she asked him if he could learn to play just one measure a day, and obviously, the answer was yes.] Of course, if you want to fly, Jesus will comply too ~ the Holy Eucharist then becomes the propellant you need.

Joy and Sorrow

2012-02-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

I was praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary today. The Sorrowful Mysteries, culminating in Crucifixion of the Lord, will follow later. Then the Glorious Mysteries come at the end. In our own life, joy and sorrow take their respective turns. It's easy for one to be in one state and not think about the other. But for us who believe in Jesus, no matter how much sorrow we experience, let's always remember that our final state will be everlasting joy!

Dark Days Are Here!

2012-02-03T16:44:00.000-08:00

Just read on BBC News that a Christian group in Bath has been banned from claiming that God can heal illnesses on its website and in leaflets. The Advertising Standard Authority there said that such advertisements could encourage false hope and were irresponsible. The dark days are indeed here. Christians are now being squeezed on all sides. The happy news is that this will only hasten the Lord's return. The sad news is what he will find when he comes.

God Is Humble

2012-02-03T16:20:00.000-08:00

Again, after seeing some stunning pictures of galaxies on a TV program, I was in a way "stunned" by the humbleness of God, the creator of our universe. With such great power, God has never tried to show off in any way ~ that's saying that he never looked down on us. Jesus came into our world ~ he healed the sick and raised the dead, multiplied fish and bread and calm the wind and sea; but he did all out of love, never for a moment intending to show that he was superior to us. Of course, since the Lord is already the greatest, what's the point of letting others know that he is great? More basically, I believe that God is humble because that's his nature, for without humility you cannot genuinely love others. As for us who are definitely not the greatest, all the more we should remain humble. We should never show off before others to make others feel inferior.

Loving All Equally

2012-02-02T13:47:00.000-08:00

We naturally feel that our family members among all the people in the world are the closest to us. What does Jesus see? He said that whoever does the will of God is his brother and sister and mother (Mark 3.35). And he wanted to love our neighbor as ourselves. And Jesus identified himself with the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the ill, and one in prison (Matthew 25). It's clear that to the Lord, every single soul is equally dear to him. To follow his example, we must see all as loved ones of God and love them with no differentiation.

Do All for Love

2012-02-02T12:16:00.000-08:00

Once you have been compelled to love Jesus, let this love, which really came from him, propel you in all that you do.

Love Compelling

2012-02-02T12:10:00.000-08:00

When you read the Gospels and finally realize how amazing God's love for us truly is, you will be compelled to love Jesus ~ only an irrational person will not so choose.

Battling Satan

2012-02-02T11:53:00.000-08:00

In fighting a battle, every little effort matters and every single moment counts. Remember that Jesus wants us to be perfect and this is how we should deal with Satan. In other words, we must be fully vigilant and do whatever we can to help without hesitation.

Time to Consecrate Ourselves

2012-02-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, a good day to consecrate or reconsecrate ourselves to God. I feel great sorrow that the Church is being persecuted by the current administration at the top and "under attack" by other non-Christian organizations. Religious freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution is losing its protection. When Satan seems to prevail, we need to seek refuge in the Lord more than ever.

Vision Affects Living

2012-02-01T07:12:00.000-08:00

A vision of a child is different from that of an adult who has many more life experiences. A farmer's vision is again different from what a high government official sees and understands. What we see affects how we live our lives. If we have the vision of truth, we will live right too. So, get to know Christ and ask him to let you have his vision of the world.

Power over Sin

2012-01-30T10:38:00.000-08:00

This morning at Mass, the Lord made me see the power we can have to overcome sin. Of course, only he has the power to take away our sins, but he has given us the choice to repent, get our sins forgiven, and reconcile with him again. I thought about it and saw that it was a tremendous power we can channel from God for our benefit. This is a unique power that comes only from God. Whatever God does, he accomplishes. Prepare yourself and give the Lord the go-ahead and it will be instantly done.

Sad State of the World

2012-01-29T19:15:00.000-08:00

I am greatly saddened by the fact that so many Catholics do not take they faith seriously. Attending Mass on Sunday is not on their priority list and the reception of the Holy Eucharist becomes perfunctory and produces no change in them. Being lukewarm is worse than being cold (Revelation 3:16).

Today I heard the absurd news that in France, quite a number of once baptized but now atheists want the Church to de-baptized them. One has begun a lawsuit already. Of course, this is something that cannot be undone. It's rather like deciding you don't want to live in this world anymore and asking your mother to put you back in her womb.

More saddening news ~ those candidates who are involved in fighting to become front runners in our political party primaries are spending vast amounts of money in media attacking each other, and these false accusations actually influence many ill-informed voters. Money definitely works here. With enough money, you can pretty much "buy" the office you want. By the way, the candidates are all known to be Christians!

I know, we all fall short or way short. Jesus came in the first century and was rejected by many and put to death. In this 21st century, we are acting no better. The next time he comes, he will be doing the judging and we shall not have the chance to say anything. My advice is: Wake up and reform before it's too late ~ that same age-old warning.

Listen, Obey, and Act

2012-01-29T09:53:00.000-08:00

From today's Gospel reading taken from Mark 1 at Mass, we hear that Jesus entered the synagogue to teach and the people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. Now that we know Jesus is God, this is no longer surprising in the least. Therefore, we should not only pay attention to his teaching, but also do what he tells us to do. Listening alone is not enough ~ to obey and act becomes mandatory if one truly believes in him. Again, this is the logical conclusion.

God Forever Cares

2012-01-28T12:04:00.000-08:00

Today is the Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas. The Gospel from Mark 4 is about how the disciples got scared when a violent squall came up and their boat was filling up with water. And they thought that they're going to perish. So they woke up Jesus asleep in the stern, and he calmed the wind and stilled the sea for them. Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?"

It's true for all of us that when things don't go our way, we think that God has abandoned us and we start to worry. It just shows our weak faith and lack of trust. Let us remember that God is always with us, in everything, large or small, that happens to us. He is present right now as I am peacefully typing and will not stay away when things go bad for me. Lack of trust is caused by forgetting that God is ever present and that he cares for us.

Preparation for Loving God

2012-01-28T10:41:00.000-08:00

After my last post, I see this logical sequence. First, get your heart cleaned up by the Lord, and then you'll feel so good that you can't help but fall in love with God.

Being Clean Before God

2012-01-28T10:31:00.000-08:00

During prayer before Mass began this morning, I felt so good to feel "clean" before the Lord. When your have repented, have gotten all your sins forgiven by God, and have had the Holy Eucharist cleanse and purify your heart, you are set free by God ~ this is absolutely the best feeling you can possibly have in this life! I felt so elated that I wanted to proclaim aloud my love for God. Later, I was further gratified to hear during the recitation of the psalm that the response was: "Create a clean heart in me, O God." How good it is to go before the Lord and hear him say, "My child, you are clean"!

Power of the Holy Eucharist

2012-01-27T10:26:00.000-08:00

God's word is like a mustard seed, once it's planted in us, takes root and starts to grow, we bear much fruit. This morning during Mass, I saw that once the Holy Eucharist, which is the body of our Lord, enters us, it has the power to transform us until we become perfect. That's why the Holy Eucharist is the greatest gift God has left with us. It is through this Bread of Life that we are able to attain union with God.

Jesus Is the One

2012-01-27T09:59:00.000-08:00

This morning before Mass began, I just knew that Jesus was the One, the only one, who could make me permanently happy. It's as if he's the perfect missing piece for the incomplete jigsaw puzzle that was my life. I also know that he is the One for everyone who will let him into their lives. The truth remains true forever, unaffected by anyone's rejection of it.

Christian Love

2012-01-26T16:29:00.000-08:00

I attended a memorial Mass this morning. One of the readings was taken from 1 Corinthians 13 on love. The familiar part as St. Paul describes it: "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." The Christian love is beautiful! Obviously, anyone who has this love will also have peace and joy in his or her heart.

Unanswerable Question

2012-01-26T16:10:00.000-08:00

In the last post, Jesus asked Paul, "Why are you persecuting me?" Know that every time we sin, the Lord asks us that same question if we could only hear it. For Christians, this is a question to which a good answer does not exist.

The Conversion Experience

2012-01-25T14:07:00.000-08:00

In the last post, the conversion of Paul was mentioned. Paul had been persecuting and punishing the Christians. Jesus came to him in a great light from the sky and Paul was blinded and fell to the ground. Jesus asked Paul, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Paul replied, "Who are you, sir?" And Jesus said, "I am the Nazorean whom you are persecuting." (How I wish that every one of us sinners will hear the Lord say this!) Paul then asked, "What shall I do, sir?" The conversion had already started.

This was a powerful, life-changing experience for Paul. God touched him. It's important that we experience a conversion in our lives. You may be a cradle Catholic, but when you were born you really didn't know what's it's all about yet and you should have some kind of awakening experience later to make your belief more meaningful. I know that everybody's spiritual journey is different, but to not have experienced the power or fire of the Holy Spirit at some point in the spiritual life is not leading a satisfying one, to me anyway.

To Be Chosen by God

2012-01-25T13:16:00.000-08:00

Today is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. In Reading 1 from Acts 22, we learn how Paul was chosen by the Lord to be his instrument and went through a complete conversion. To be chosen is usually good news, such as being chosen to fill a position, to attend a university, to receive an honor, etc.; but to be chosen by the Lord to belong to his fold is the best of all things! It means that we belong to him, we've been adopted by the Father, we are to bear lasting fruit in this life, we are heaven bound... To be chosen by God is something to be thankful for and rejoice about every day.

Doing Away with the Free Will

2012-01-25T12:29:00.000-08:00

Our free will is a gift from God. Use this gift to choose to do his will always and then give it back to God. We are not free as long as we need to choose between good and evil. Once we have decided to follow the Lord, we are liberated and free and the free will is no longer needed.

Taking God's Point of View

2012-01-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

Taking the other person's point of view often helps us understand a particular situation we're in. Putting yourself in the shoes of someone who offends you can make you less judgmental. When you find it difficult to believe in the good news of Christ, try to see it from God's point of view. Imagine that you are in his place. You love mankind, your own creation, and want to save it. So you send you own son down to earth to spread the good news, even allowing him to die in order to complete the necessary work. I think you would see that it is truly amazing, but also logical, that a God of love would do this. Now I hope that you would come to appreciate the good news to the point that you will want to accept Christ as the true Savior of all.

Praying with the Heart

2012-01-24T11:25:00.000-08:00

Since God looks only at our hearts, it's of paramount importance that we maintain a pure heart in the right place. In prayer, what words we use, how we say them, what posture we assume, how awake we are... all these things matter less than how sincere we are, how deep and urgent we feel, and how much we trust, as the Lord looks into the heart. He is the heart specialist.

Lucky Us

2012-01-24T11:05:00.000-08:00

After receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, I saw how fortunate I was to have the Lord come and enter me, whereas the three magi had to travel long distances following a star to find the newborn, child Jesus in a manger.

Joy Is the Holy Spirit

2012-01-24T10:52:00.000-08:00

During Mass I sensed that the Holy Spirit is pure joy. He illuminates us to receive the light of the Lord. Everything coming from the Holy Spirit is sweet and joyful. It's a joy to surrender to Joy. If you don't like the word "surrender," then think of embracing the Holy Spirit with your open heart ~ it's the same thing.

Beauty Is God

2012-01-24T10:41:00.000-08:00

Today is the Memorial of St. Francis de Sales. I still remember reading his classic work Introduction to the Devout Life many years ago. I was most impressed by the simple and sensible advices he gave for the people in the world. Anyway, on my way driving to Mass this morning, I again sensed the great beauty of God ~ everything about him and everything associated with him are beautiful. His creations reflect his magnificence and beauty. If all of us on earth are saints and do not sin, we would be living in paradise! Unfortunately, there are sinners aplenty in the world. But for those who love God, paradise still exists in the heart.

Heart for God's Safekeeping

2012-01-23T13:27:00.000-08:00

I posted about giving our heart to God. The heart is the most precious part of us ~ what better place is there for its safekeeping than God? During the Eucharistic Prayer at each Mass, we're asked to life up our hearts to the Lord. This is the perfect moment to offer our heart to God. While the Lord is keeping it, it gets a thorough healing and purification as well.

The True Good News

2012-01-23T12:11:00.000-08:00

The news we hear daily is 99% bad news, which only seems to get worse each day. But for us who believe in Christ, we have the Good News with us. Bad news comes and goes, but the Gospel remains forever. The joy and hope of this good news is powerful enough to displace all the sadness and despair caused by the bad news. Today's Gospel Acclamation at Mass, 2 Timothy 1.10: "Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and has brought life to light through the Gospel." Jesus wants to fill our hearts with joy!

Blessings in Disguise

2012-01-23T11:50:00.000-08:00

We all go through trials and tribulations in life. One thing of which I am absolutely sure: For those who love God, trials and tribulations are blessings in disguise because God put you through them to draw you closer to him. You emerge spiritually stronger and more fit. Recently, a friend passed away after much suffering, despite the many prayers said for his healing. I saw his suffering offered up to God as part (or all) of his purgatory. All trials and tribulations suffered in God's behalf give him glory and benefit souls. How can anything you do for God be wasteful?

Our Father Desires Intimacy

2012-01-21T13:13:00.000-08:00

During Mass, the Lord made me see that having the desire to pray to him alone pleases him. Imagine how much he looks forward to hearing what we have to say. So let's share everything in our hearts with him. Let him be the first one we turn to when we face a problem. Our Father loves to have our trust and our desire for intimacy.

Seek Only God's Acceptance

2012-01-21T12:47:00.000-08:00

Today is the Memorial of St. Agnes. In the Gospel reading from Mark 3, the relatives of Jesus thought that he was out of his mind when he let the disciples and the crowd come into his house. Jesus was also rejected in Nazareth, his hometown, prompting to him to say that "a prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house." This is still true in today's world. Then I realize that we only need to seek God's understanding and acceptance of us. Jesus cared only about pleasing the Father. If Christians had wanted to be accepted by their own folks or any other fellow humans, there would not have been saints and martyrs.

Be the Best Christian

2012-01-21T12:10:00.000-08:00

Jesus wants us to love God with all our heart, with all our being, with all our strength, and with all our mind. In this presidential election year, politicians are doing their utmost to stay in front with the hope of winning the presidency. Many musicians and athletes sacrifice just about everything to train for competitions. St. Paul likened living the Christian life to running a race ~ you are in it to win the prize. As Christians, let us also be the best by loving God as Jesus had asked?

Lack of Inner Peace

2012-01-19T14:14:00.000-08:00

Here's a simple observation. The lack of inner peace can be traced to self-centeredness because we believe that we are most important and how things turn out matters a great deal. By letting go in God, peace is restored and we are free again.

Being One with God

2012-01-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

Jesus the Son is in God the Father and the Father is in the Son, so they are one. In mathematics, if A is in B and B in A, then it's a certainty that A and B are one. Union makes us one with God. When we surrender to God, we are in him; but how can God, so much greater than us, be in us? I am assured by the fact that Jesus gladly and willingly descended to earth to become one of us in order to save us. To be just like us, he asked John the Baptist to baptize him. He even washed the feet of his disciples to show his humility. In John 14, after promising that he would send the Holy Spirit to us, he said, "On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you." And that's how we become temples of the Holy Spirit. By instituting the Holy Eucharist, the Lord made it absolutely clear that he can dwell within us. So, believe, surrender, and receive the Eucharist, and we are one with God!

God Can Help

2012-01-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

After Mass, I was thinking about why we need God. Left on my own, the best I could do would be to keep myself alive by working at a job, to try to stay healthy by exercising and eating right, and to get some fun out of this life if possible. Then after some years, I would just pass away, the body starting to rot and the soul floating somewhere. It's not a happy picture, but it's all true.

On the other hand, with faith in the Lord, he will lift our souls to heaven after death and raise our bodies one day, not to mention all the extra benefits we get to receive in this life. Let's face it ~ we are just helpless on our own. We need God if we want to get anywhere. And his mercy is ever ready for us.

God and the Devil

2012-01-17T15:24:00.000-08:00

Today is the Memorial of St. Anthony, Abbott. The first words I read from the Entrance Antiphon are "The just..." ~ right away I thought of "the unjust." Then I saw the existence of opposites in our world: the good, the bad; the pure, the impure; the beautiful, the ugly; the loving, the hateful; the kind, the cruel; the joyful, the angry... Yin and Yang are real! Intuitively, I also saw the existence of God and the Devil.

Freedom in God

2012-01-17T14:26:00.000-08:00

Some may ask how we can still be free if we totally submit ourselves to God. Wouldn't we become constrained by him? Let me say that it is God who gave us the free will in the first place so that we may choose to do whatever. If you believe that God is controlling you, you have the power to break loose any time. The fact is that God doesn't control you ~ he only knows how to love. He has made us in such a away that we are free only when our will and his are in harmony. Another reason why you feel free after submitting to him ~ it's simply that you don't need to worry about what to do on your own anymore because God now shows the way. In reality, to be on you own is to be a lost slave to yourself.

Be Renewed For the Lord

2012-01-16T13:47:00.000-08:00

This morning's Gospel reading at Mass was taken from Mark 2. Verses 22 & 23: "No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak... Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins... Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins."

For the Lord to dwell in us, we must be new too. And Jesus is the renewer. We must ask him to renew us and then invite him to remain in us. I know that all youngsters are excited about new experiences. Do you remember riding your first new bike, trying on a pair of your new favorite shoes, or visiting the zoo for the first time? When Jesus renews us, we experience the same joy, only deeper and more personal. Be new to be fit for the Lord.

Salvation Our Objective

2012-01-16T12:33:00.000-08:00

God's foremost will is to save all mankind. He can't help it because he is love. Therefore, we must make salvation our foremost goal too. Let us be compliant tools in God's hands, a pleasure for him to use, to save as many souls from perdition as possible. God's joy will be our joy too.

The Depth of Christ

2012-01-16T12:12:00.000-08:00

This morning before Mass began, I saw in my mind the infinite depth of Christ that I wanted to dive deep into it to search and explore, to listen, learn, and rest. Then I wanted to abandon myself, to let go and be totally open to his light, letting him heal and transform me. The beauty, profundity, and power of the depth of our Lord is what makes him so attractive.

Wonder of Wonders

2012-01-15T15:04:00.000-08:00

I was praying the Rosary while strolling through the house. I happened to look out one window and saw the towering oaks and pines, huge boulders, and the running creek among them. The scene was familiar, but the objects I saw struck me this time as wonders! Then I "saw" the greatest wonder of them all, the behind-the-scene creator of all these wonders, our God ~ he is especially wonderful because not only did he create us, he also loves us. How fortunate and blessed we are!

Are You Shortsighted?

2012-01-15T10:20:00.000-08:00

A friend just passed away after a long illness. I did not know him well, but I did sense that he was a good person, loved the Lord, and I have no doubt that he is with Jesus right now. I may not be the next person to go, but we are all in line waiting for our turn to meet the Lord. This brings to mind the reality that so many adult people are totally occupied with how to live comfortably and safely each day in this life as if they're never going to die. The right thing to do should be taking care of our eternal destiny first and then living our present life as an appendage in our overall journey." Not following this order is being extreme shortsighted.

To Live the Best Life

2012-01-14T19:26:00.000-08:00

Here's how: (1) Love God to the utmost and (2) trust in him to the utmost. Again, simple and logical. I just don't know of a better way.

Afraid of Jesus?

2012-01-13T14:56:00.000-08:00

This morning at Mass, I felt that Jesus was the most endearing person one could ever possibly meet. Then why are there so many who already knew something about him still do not approach him? Are they afraid of him? If so, why?

I believe that they are afraid, not because they haven't heard that God loves us, but because they are aware of their sins. We learn from the Gospels that all demons and evil spirits fled or begged for mercy when they were confronted with Jesus. In a similarly way, anyone in partial or total darkness do not feel comfortable in the presence of the Lord, who is the light. Ironically, these are precisely the people who need to know the Lord to become fearless.

Chance of a Lifetime

2012-01-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were banished from Paradise. Then God sent his only Son into the world to prepare the way for our return to the Father. All the necessary work for our salvation had been done. Now we're given another chance to obey God and be restored to the state of grace. It's all quite simple and logical. Do not miss this chance of a lifetime.

Give God Your Heart

2012-01-12T18:40:00.000-08:00

It's not always easy for us to exercise our God-given free will to choose to do God's will, but we can let him have our heart first. Once the Lord possesses our heart, he will cleanse it until it's all pure. With a pure heart, all our thoughts become pure, and our words and deeds become pure as well. So, give God a precious gift, your heart, and he will reward you amply.

Union with God

2012-01-11T12:35:00.000-08:00

It seems that relationship with God is what I've been led to talk about. We saw the Lord first as our center and then as our shepherd. The closest relationship with him is, of course, union. Here's a quick recap. In union, God and us dwell in each other and we become inseparably one. His love is the binding agent. It's through the Holy Eucharist that this is made possible. The Lord is free to transform us in any way he wishes. Let's again realize that we are not in union with just someone, but with GOD, who is Love, the one who died for our sins! When you are in union with God, you are already in heaven!

A Special Relationship

2012-01-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

Today's Gospel Acclamation, John 10:27: "My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord. I knew them, and they follow me." In Reading 1 from 1 Samuel 3, when God called Samuel, Samuel learned to say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." I see this relationship between God and us. The Lord knows us. When he calls, we hear him, and we listen and follow. There is an intimacy and a oneness here, which make the relationship so special and beautiful.

Jesus the Center

2012-01-11T11:19:00.000-08:00

The center is a most important point, the pivot around which things revolve or the focus of what surrounds it. It is a point of stability or a source of influence. This morning before Mass, I was thinking how blessed we were to have Jesus as our center. He draws us toward him with love, guides us along the way with his teachings, fills the void of our lives, and we become safe and secure in him. After receiving him in the Holy Eucharist, he becomes the center within us as well.

How Death Affects Us

2012-01-10T13:01:00.000-08:00

For those who know God, death presents no fear, for they see it as a turning point in the life of the everlasting soul and look forward to going on the better part of their journey beyond death. For those who do not know the Lord, death could be a problem for they are heading into the unknown, although they may still be saved through God's mercy if they were good people while living. But for those who choose not to believe or reject God outright, death will bring the greatest shock of their lives.

Created for Obedience

2012-01-10T12:40:00.000-08:00

The Gospel reading at Mass was taken from Mark 1. An unclean spirit in a man came out of him after Jesus commanded him to do so. When I heard that part read, it just became so clear to me that we were created to obey God; therefore, to disobey him is a sin, something horrible. In fact, rebellion against God is sure to doom oneself! Let's steer our free will in the right direction always.

The True Free Spirit

2012-01-10T11:50:00.000-08:00

A true free spirit is not someone who does whatever he feels like doing. In fact, such a person is a slave to himself, for he just follows himself who may altogether be lost. A true free spirit is one who follows the Holy Spirit, who is Truth. It's by following the truth that one is lead to freedom.

On Preserving Internal Peace

2012-01-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

Peace is what God wants us to have. Those who do not obey God do not have internal peace and as a result cause the world to lose its external peace. Those who obey the Lord have internal peace despite the lack of external peace around them. Internal peace is to be protected and cherished.

Here are some tips on keeping internal peace. Avoid participating in any sinful activities or indulging in sinful pleasures. There will be a big price to pay later for a few moments of such enjoyment ~ it's just not worth it! In fact, detach from all things of the world even if they're not harmful, for all things pass. Aim for eternity. Basically, if your thoughts are peaceful, you will have peace. So it all goes back to loving and living in the Lord. If God truly dwells in you, then you'll have peace.

Be like Martha or Mary?

2012-01-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

We are all familiar with the story of Martha and Mary. (If you are not, read Luke 10:38-42.) This morning I heard two men discussing the football game they watched on TV yesterday. I could tell that both were enthusiastic fans by the way they shared what they saw in the game. I realized that I had changed because I felt that I'd rather sit at the feet of the Lord and listen to him talk ~ in other words, I wanted to be like Mary. Of course, at times we need to be like Martha too. Then is it better for us to be more Marylike and less Marthalike? Finally, I realized that I can be like Mary even when I am busy like Martha. I'll simply offer the many things I need to do up as prayers to God for the love of him.

Spiritual Journey Dissected

2012-01-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

I posted before about the turning point of the spiritual journey ~ that is the point at which you surrender yourself totally to God. So you basically can view your entire journey as two segments that are joined at that point of surrender. The first part is very much an uphill journey that involves constant struggle. You have the good intention to grow spiritually, but you may also find that old sins are hard to shake loose and fundamental changes do not come easily. Then you surrender to God and things begin to happen because now the Lord is taking full charge of your life and the journey is becoming more like coasting downhill with him sitting next to you. Since we'll never be as perfect as the Lord, there will be some rough bumps along the way; but the momentum of the ride will carry you right over them.

Fighting Temptation

2012-01-08T19:37:00.000-08:00

We live in a world in which we face temptation every waking hour of our life. Just watch some entertainment on TV and you'll see what I mean. The smart way is to avoid doing anything that might lead you into temptation. The basic recipe for overcoming temptation is to remain humble. And the only way to remain humble is to surrender to God. Therefore, turn to God the moment you sense temptation coming on to submit yourself to him for protection. God is our safe refuge against all evil. Absolutely true.

Reasons for Being a Catholic

2012-01-08T12:41:00.000-08:00

I am truly happy about being a Catholic because the Catholic Church is the original church established by Christ, her teachings are true and complete, and through receiving the Holy Eucharist I am able to achieve the closest possible union with God in this life.

God Is Life!

2012-01-08T12:33:00.000-08:00

This past week I learned of a couple of suicides committed by people whom I only knew indirectly. And I had posted about the surging high suicide rate among the veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. It's just so sad, so sad. How I wish that all the victims had known Jesus the Lord! God is Life and the creator of life. He grants eternal life and gives us the zest for living the present life. He is our bright hope. Death is the opposite of life and despair. What's why knowing Jesus can turn one around completely. With him you'll never die, as he had promised! It sounds good and is true at the same time. This is what the Good News is all about!

Sharing Padre Pio's Thoughts

2012-01-07T16:17:00.000-08:00

It turned out that I have quite a few books on Padre Pio, now St. Pio. I am more interested in his meditations, counsels, and spiritual wisdom than his story. I've started reading his Meditation Prayer on Mary Immaculate, a little booklet, and would like to share a couple of things he said and add my two cents.

(1) He wished to acquire a love of God that is continually renewed ~ I thought of how I get my love of God renewed every time I receive the Holy Eucharist.

(2) Padre Pio considered the Immaculate Virgin Mary the greatest of all the masterpieces created by God's hands. Realize that all of us, who were not conceived without the original sin like Mary, are nevertheless, still amazing masterpieces created by God.

A Matter of Knowing

2012-01-07T10:47:00.000-08:00

We all have people we know ~ family members, relatives and friends, our pastor, fellow parishioners, business associates, classmates, et al. Some we know well and some not. Some we like and some not.

In today's Gospel from John 2, the disciples of Jesus saw how the Lord turned water into the best wine at the wedding at Cana and began to believe in him. Later, after following him longer and witnessing more miracles, they were convinced that Jesus is the Messiah. So I am thinking that if you'll just get to know Jesus, you shall also come to believe in him. I can testify to you that you'll find him to be the most beautiful, trustworthy, and understanding person you'll ever encounter and fall in love with him in time. There is just absolutely nothing worth knowing more than Jesus!

Formula for Spiritual Success

2012-01-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

This morning during meditation before Mass, I saw any of us as a small plant, possibly weak or even diseased, before God. As long as we remain open and passive and let the sunshine of the Father, the water of the Son, and the food of the Holy Spirit heal, nurture, and feed us, we will become healthy, strong, big, and bear much fruit. This is a sure formula for spiritual success.

Greatest Human Accomplishment

2012-01-06T16:11:00.000-08:00

Life gives one the chance to practice continuously being holy. Since practice makes perfect, in time one will be living a holy life, pure and pleasing to God. In God's eyes, there is no greater human accomplishment.

Touching Jesus

2012-01-06T15:45:00.000-08:00

When I was receiving Holy Communion today, I realized that, the Lord being present in the Holy Eucharist, I was actually touching him. More than that, the Most Holy One came to dwell within me ~ something for me to think about!

Two Joys

2012-01-06T11:38:00.000-08:00

At morning Mass, Reading 1 continued from 1 John. From chapter 5, we read, "God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son does not possess life." Therefore, it was Jesus whom I want to listen to and obey, and I felt great joy in that.

Next, I saw darkness hovering over the world and infiltrating most of God's children. Then I saw the light that's the bright, ever-present hope of God, and I felt great joy again.

Proving Our Love

2012-01-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

The Apostle John has some harsh words for us from 1 John 3. In yesterday's reading, he said, "Whoever sins belongs to the Devil." In today's, he said, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer." Although the messages could have been conveyed in a less harsh way, they are basically correct. Later, John finally advised, "Let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth." This reminds me of what James said that faith without works is dead. Jesus really demonstrated his love by choosing the cross, so let's also prove our love in deed and truth.

Be Holy at Every Moment

2012-01-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

Today is the Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. My single thought: Every moment we have is precious because it provides a chance for us to love God. I posted about the importance of living the present moment. Life is just a series of continuous moments. If we can be holy every single moment, then we can be holy all our lives. Jesus wants us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48) ~ obviously, with the help of God we can do it.