Dream Living?

        Those of the world who dream only about achieving success in the world are living in a dream world, and their dreams will evaporate in time into nothing.

Appreciate God

        To look for a husband or wife or a friend, there are virtually millions of candidates out there for you to choose from. But to choose a Savior, there is only one candidate, Christ.  

Unappreciative Hearts

        God's most profound message of salvation is to be understood by the simplest of all hearts, yet we make it so far-fetched as to be irrelevant, not realizing that we are all prodigal sons and daughters who need to wake up and return to the Father.

Fulfilled by Christ

        Today's Communion experience. How good it is to have Christ the Lord complete my joy so that I lack nothing!

Why Love God?

        Reason enough for us to love God with all our heart: he has created us out of love.

Perfect Departure Time

        Communion experience. It was the perfect time to go to Jesus right after receiving him in the Holy Eucharist.

Why Make God Wait?

        I heard from a priest who served in South Korea that only about 20% of Catholics there attended Sunday Mass regularly. Then one year when they thought North Korea was ready to launch an attack on the South any minute, he heard 500+ confessions (I wasn't sure if that happened in one day or not). I am thinking that if you got there late, you might not reach your turn to confess if the attack did materialize. 

On Hurting God

        We can easily hurt our family members or friends who are close to us if we do not treat them kindly. Imagine how we hurt God, the closest one to us of all, when we sin against him!

*God Indispensable

        We need God to make us holy, but this need is unaffected by how holy we become, for we need him for our existence and salvation. We absolutely need God, period!

Keep Communicating to God

        Sometimes because we are mentally occupied by various tasks or lack solitude, we do not hear God speak to us in our heart. Consider this to be a perfect time to pause and speak to him as often as you can. All the Lord needs is a quick word, glance, or thought from you. 

Coming Clean

       Today's thought. When so many of us just do what we want to do, ignoring God's will completely, it's time for us to come clean with the Lord about our duplicity.

         Again, for the next three weeks or so, I shall not be able to attend daily Mass nor blog daily. To read new postings, please check back After October 5. God bless you all abundantly.

Who's the Complicated One?

        Actually, God is simple and straight and we are the complicated ones. He has laid out the simple and straightforward plan for us to go to him in heaven, yet we make it labyrinthine because we do not listen nor obey. What a sad bunch we are! 

Ready for Leave

        Communion experience. Since Jesus and I were already in each other, I was ready to go to him body and soul, leaving everything behind.

Miracle on the Altar

        Today at Sunday morning Mass, I realized that every time I attend Mass, the most wonderful miracle takes place on the altar when the consecrated bread and wine transform into the body and blood of Christ. I do not witness the change, but Jesus blesses those who do not see and still believe (John 20.29).

Empty Love

        Love for God not translated into loving action is no true love, for we are judged by the fruit we produce.

*To Be a Fool

        In the parable of the rich fool, the rich man planned to store up all his grain and other goods and then rest, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him,"You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?" To live as if you are going to live forever in this world is to be the greatest of all fools. It doesn't matter if someone calls you a fool, but don't ever let God do it, for he is always right.

Perfect Loving Father

        Today's Gospel reading from Luke 15 included the Parable of the Lost (Prodigal) Son. For me and many others, this is the most beautiful and moving parable of Jesus, for it portrays the love of God for all of us so clearly as only someone who truly knows God intimately or is God himself can. Read and meditate upon the story to find out what a perfect loving Father we have and rejoice!

We Are VIPs

        You hear "God loves us" said so often that it helps to see that it's really saying that "We are loved by one no less than God" so that we are important, valuable, and precious to one no less than God.

Flood Control by Us

        The love of God flows like a flood and our heart is the floodgate. The trouble with most of us is that we do not open wide that gate to let God's love flood us. 

Fighting Satan

        Satan is an expert fisherman who tosses out bait to lure and snare human souls. If you take the bait, he will haul you in and you are in for a struggle. The loss of inner peace indicates that you have trespassed against the Lord. The proper action to take when you first sense the temptation is to nip it in the bud by running away to God immediately ~ never fight a temptation head-on. Once you are back in God, Satan no longer sees you. Remain in God always and Satan ceases to exist.

Making Jesus Our Foundation

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, Jesus talked about the two foundations. He said to the crowds, "Someone who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed." The lesson is clearly that we cannot have "all listen and no action"; we must do what the Lord commands to build a strong, firm foundation. 

How to Remain Cool

      Immerse yourself completely in the soothing, calming, healing love of Christ. 

*Reality Check on Life

        The people of the world either do not know God, or believe in him falsely, or know about the true God (the God of Abraham and the God who is Christ). Among those who know about him, many get to know him personally. It's fair to say that those who claim that they know him are at various stages of rebellion against God, for few become totally obedient. As long as one is not in complete union with God yet, he is, strictly speaking, still a rebel. Dare we say that life is all about whether we submit to God or not?   

*Why Do We Make It Hard?

        God has already loved us. So if we let him love us, we and God become one. It's all so very simple. 

We Are No Judge

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, Jesus taught his disciples to notice and remove the wooden beam in their own eye first before attempting to remove the splinter in their brother's eye. Of course, the lesson here is that we are not to judge others. We are not even to judge sinners, yet there are many who still question or blame God, who is all holy, for various things. Sinners must realize their own state and their need for salvation or they are doomed.

Most Rewarding Experience

        Our transformation by God into a new creature in union with him has to be the most refreshing, joyful, and rewarding experience we can ever have in this life, for it is all brought about by God.

The Jesus Effect

        Why are so many Christians happy and eager to tell others about Jesus? I may feel happy after finding a good job or winning a free vacation, but there is no urge for me to tell others about it. My conclusion is that Christ has actually changed many of his followers into more loving and selfless persons. 

*Demanding Love

        Jesus' greatest commandment for us is to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. Why? It's because he loves us so much that his joy will not be complete unless we love him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. Obviously, if God doesn't love us so much, he wouldn't mind how much we love him either.

Simple, Straight, and Clear

        Communion thoughts. Today is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Communion verse was based upon Isaiah 7.14 and Matthew 1.21: Behold, the Virgin will bear a son who will save his people from their sins. I have a simple mind and see clearly that I am a sinner in need of salvation, and Jesus is exactly whom I need. There's nothing more to elaborate.

Natural Consequence

        The more you let Jesus increase in you, the more you decrease and your love for God increases.

*Tell God Everything

        When I woke up in the middle of the night early this morning, I shared my most immediate intimate thoughts with Jesus ~ I just poured my heart out. And I was greatly comforted. We all feel good when we find someone who's willing to listen to us. The wealthy pay big money to unload themselves before psychiatrists. Here we have the greatest psychiatrist and healer in the whole universe, who knows everything about us and can even take away our sins, what more can we ask? Tell God everything as often as possible and you'll enjoy inner peace. It's a most wonderful feeling to know that you have nothing to hide from the Lord.  

Remain in the Light

        It's easier to sin in darkness than in broad daylight because darkness falsely leads you to believe that God does not see you. When you close your eyes to get ready to fall sleep, impure thoughts easily surface in darkness. And in sleep, you can get nightmares. In both cases, waking up to light restores your senses and assures you that everything is all right. Remain in the light of Christ always and you'll remain clear-headed and vanquish all fears.

*Gift From Heaven

        Communion experience. The Holy Eucharist is a gift from heaven, the Lord himself. When it entered me, I was directly linked to heaven. I must do my utmost to keep the Lord dwelling happily in me.

*Worst Happening

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, we heard four of Jesus' Beatitudes. They are (1) Blessed are you who are poor ..., (2) Blessed are you who are now hungry ..., (3) Blesses are you who are now weeping ..., (4) Blessed are you when people hate you ... on account of the Son of Man. Let's remember that being poor, hungry, mournful, or persecuted in this life is nothing compared to being separated from God for all eternity! In fact, they are blessings! What we must not ever let happen to us is losing our God forever. 

Rejoice and Be Glad!

        Today's Gospel Acclamation taken from Jesus' Sermon on the Plain: Rejoice and be glad: your reward will be great in heaven. If you know that you have been chosen by the Father, that you hear the voice of Jesus your shepherd and follow him, and that the Holy Spirit is guiding you on your journey back to God, why shouldn't you rejoice and be glad in advance of receiving your reward in heaven? You really should be the happiest person(s) in the whole world. Let this joy overcome any obstacles you encounter along the way. Keep loving God and nothing will be able to stop you from winning your glory! 

Joy in Christ Video

        I was going through the videos on the recommended list displayed in the right margin of my blog to see if they were still running on YouTube. The video Infectious Joy in Christ was posted almost 6 years ago. I watched it again and was moved to tears of joy. In case you haven't seen it yet, you may enjoy watching it now. It's just under 6 minutes.

Recognizing Obedience

        Communion experience. I had my own agenda, but I must let God have the final say. Again, obedience.

Obedience to God

        From today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, we heard that Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. I am certain he did not pray to have God change his will, for he is God. As a human being, he must have prayed for others and himself to carry out the Father's will. This is a great example for all of us to follow ~ it's obedience to God foremost and only.

Back to Trusting in God

        The many ungodly things happening around the world form a heavy burden on my heart. Then I realize that I myself am passing and definitely shall not see all these things turn around in my lifetime. I should care about what God wishes, not what I wish to see happen. It's back to trusting in God, something we must not forget.  

Following Christ in Peace

        Communion experience. I just let Christ lead me on, so that I would live without anxieties.

Avoid the Shock

        Early this morning after midnight, I had a scary dream. I no longer remember the details, but the horrific shock I experienced in that dream has stayed with me. This shock brings to mind what we could experience after we die when we face the Lord. If we are judged not fit to enter heaven, the shock would be so great and terrifying beyond words! My advice is to be sure that won't happen to you at all costs. The time to believe in Christ and love and serve the Lord is now.  

Union With God Means ...

(1) God dwells in you, (2) you dwell in him, (3) you are completely open to him in every way and at all times, (4) both you and God share the same joys and sorrows, (5) his will becomes your will, (6) you seek and follow only his ways and thoughts (joyfully). Now you belong to God and are free in the world with its snares and traps; ready to be united with God the Father for all eternity when the time comes.

Avoid Getting Shocked

        If you do not see a step in your path, you can get a shock if you trip over it or step off one you didn't think was there and fall. (This has happened to me enough times.) In the same way, if you do not see death coming, which is imminent, you can get a big shock, fall and be down forever when it happens. This is something to be avoided at all costs.

Jesus = Peace

        Jesus is love. Jesus is joy. He is also peace! True peace (inner or outer) can only come from him.

Nothing to Everything

        Communion thoughts. I am nothing without Christ. With him, I gain everything and become rich.

Stages of Finding Joy

        Find joy in God first, then you'll find joy in serving him, and end up finding joy in living.

*Activating God

        If you want to get close to God, do not struggle on your own, but remain passive and ask God to draw you. Likewise, if you want to become holy, do not struggle on you own, but remain passive and ask God to make you holy. Things happen only after you activate God. 

God = Joy

        The more you come to know Jesus, the more joy you experience. God is love and joy.

Why Christians Rejoice

        Today's Entrance: Blessed Gregory, raised upon the throne of Peter, sought always the beauty of the Lord and lived celebration of that love. I italicized the part I thought was beautiful. Indeed, God's beauty is to be sought and his love, celebrated. 

Only Refuge

        Today is the Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church. At Mass, I was going to rest completely in God. There was really no other place anywhere I can or would want to go. 

*Life Turning Sweet

        When you are in love with Christ, life turns sweet. 

Only One Focus

        Always do your best to serve the Lord, never counting how many good things you've done for him.

*Most Beautiful Feeling

        Jesus the Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son. You can get in on this too! Seek and attain union with Christ and you and God will be in each other. This is the most beautiful feeling you can possibly experience in life.

*Making Little Things Count

        Every little thing, whether it's just a gesture or a thought, you make or have for the glory of God puts a smile on his face. He will never forget you again.

Fulfilling Your Life

        You'll know that your life is fulfilled when you fulfill your role as a disciple of Christ. Only God can make life meaningful.

Rosary Benefit

        Praying the Holy Rosary may appear to be repetitive, but when you say it from your meditative heart, every repetition is a step closer to the Lord, as Mary our Mother always leads us to her Son.

Making Living Joyful

        When you are in love with God, living for his glory becomes completely joyful!

Making Life Meaningful

        The God of Christ gives meaning to life. The more you cling to him, the more life becomes meaningful.

To Change the World

          The day before yesterday, I received a couple of thoughts from the Lord after I went to bed. I thought of getting up to jot them down on paper lest I forget, but I was too tired and fell asleep. The next morning I couldn't quite recall what they were. Today, as if to compensate for their loss, the Lord gave me a burst of almost 20 thoughts in quick succession. I'll try to blog them all this morning. 

        First, if we want to change the world, we must start by changing ourselves first. This is basic.

Biggest Fools

        God is the Lord. He created us and everything else. He keeps us breathing and supplies what we need for living while we are still alive. We can do whatever we want, but that will not change the fact that we shall ultimately be judged by him since all are in his hands. Therefore, atheists are the biggest fools (dumbest gamblers too).   

Destiny Warning

        If you let God control your destiny, you'll always end up where he is. Should you decide to control your own destiny, you may end up where you do not want to go. That is, he who follows God will be with him, but he who follows himself risks losing his way. 

*Look Beyond

        Just realize that September has begun. How time flies! We are heading into fall toward the end of the year. It seems that time marches on relentlessly and we are speedily heading toward eternal union with God or eternal separation from him, nonstop. I am not trying to cause apprehension in anyone; I am only stating reality. In fact, some of us would be pleased to know that they are getting closer to be united with the Lord in person, their beloved Father. In anything, looking far beyond always pays off. In this case, our eternal destiny is at stake.

*Beautiful Realization

        Today's Gospel reading came from Luke 5. Jesus got into Simon (Peter) the fisherman's boat and started teaching the crowds on shore. After he stopped speaking, he asked Simon to put into deep water and lower the nets. Simon and his partners had worked hard all night and caught nothing, but nevertheless, he obeyed. And they caught such a great number of fish that their nets were tearing. The catch filled both his boat and his partners' to the point they were in danger of sinking. Astonishment seized them all. Simon fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." What a beautiful response! If only we would all come to this realization. Of course, we now know that through repentance of our sins, we are reconciled to God.

Foolish Self-Serving

        In today's first reading from 1 Corinthians 3, Paul writes that the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God. It came to me this morning that we do not always distinguish God's will from our will. We naturally choose to follow the world's way and do what we feel comfortable doing, not giving any thought to whether it's God's will or not. Self-serving comes first and we become foolish in the eyes of God. Only intimate union with God can make us more aware of God's will.