Difficulties in Loving

        Sometimes out of love, I have certain things to say to someone I want to help, but I neglect to review in advance to see how that person might feel upon hearing my words.  Is my intention totally pure?  Does my tone sound condescending in any way?  Am I truly sensitive to that person's feelings?  Do I choose the right words?  All these considerations and more are good to think through before saying anything.  I still have much to learn in the art of loving.            

A Clean Heart

        Today's Gospel reading from Matthew is about Peter the Rock and First Prophecy of Passion and Resurrection.  Jesus was preparing to build his church on Peter.  When the Lord prophesied that he's going to suffer and be put to death, Peter began to remonstrate with him and he responded, "Get out of my sight, you satan!  You are trying to make me trip and fall.  You are not judging by God's standards but by man's."  Strong words.  We could see that Jesus was cleaning Peter's heart.    

        This made me think how necessary it is to have a clean heart.  We all like to live in a clean house or neighborhood, sleep on clean sheets in bed, eat on clean plates, etc.  To have a clean heart is to feel even better because we know now that the Holy Spirit is happy to dwell in it, readying us for doing God's work.  A perfect time to ask for a clean heart is when we lift up our hearts to the Lord during Eucharistic Prayer. 

Two Momentous Moments

        When God first created us, it's a momentous moment.  When we receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist, we are united with our creator again ~ this is another momentous moment.  The circle is now complete.

Playing with Fire (Pelosi)

        I am a apolitical person, but after seeing the picture of Nancy Pelosi being honored by Planned Parenthood on http://romancatholicblog.typepad.com/roman_catholic_blog/2010/07/where-are-niederauer-wuerl.html, I feel compelled to make some comments.

        If she's misguided, then she's been misguided to the nth degree.  How can you be a proclaimed Catholic but openly go against the teaching of the Church on the sanctity of human life?  This kind of  conscience is beyond me.  Honestly, I would have more respect for a non-Catholic bashing the Church.

        I am not here to judge her because only the Lord can do that.  I am here to express my sorrow because Jesus is being crucified by his own.  I feel sorry for the bishops who do not have the courage to defend the Lord.  Last, I feel sorry for Pelosi and all other Catholic politicians like her ~ they are playing with fire and need our urgent prayers.

        One thing I am grateful to her ~ she has made me want to love the Lord even more and pray harder, for Jesus is our only hope.        

A Poignant Question

        In John 6, we learned that after Jesus gave his long discourse, many of his disciples broke away and left.  Jesus then asked the twelve, "Do you want to leave me too?"  Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life..."  To me, this rhetorical question from Peter is poignant.  If the Lord asks you the same question, what would be your response?  If there's absolutely no one else to whom you'd go, then he has truly called you.  Rejoice that your name is written in the book of heaven.  Follow him all the way and you'll be amply rewarded. 

Our True Refuge

        During prayer before this morning's Mass, I felt that I could really trust Jesus.  I could go to him with anything, complaint or thanksgiving.  I could hug him, or just lean or rest on him.  

        Today's Gospel reading from Matthew is about the multiplication of the fish and loaves.  At the beginning, Jesus saw the vast crowd and was moved with pity for them.  Elsewhere in the Gospels, we learned that Jesus felt the sorrows of the people and was  moved with deep emotions.  This means that if you or I am in a miserable state, he knows and will take pity on us, we can be sure.  We can confidently put all our trust in him.

        Recently, a couple of my relatives were in deep misery because of what happened to their own children.  One is a Catholic who attends Mass regularly and the other is a Protestant fairly active in her church.  You talked to them to help, but the moment you suggested that they pray and trust in God for their burdens, they listened, then  continued right on with their sad stories ~ it's as if they wanted to remain in their state.  I guess they were so mired in their misery that they couldn't think of anything else, not even letting the Lord in to help.  What a pity! 

        We must learn to turn to the Lord at the first moment we feel distressed for whatever reason.  In fact, we should turn to him as often as possible, even when we are happy, so that the Lord indeed becomes our refuge.              

Immense Universe; Immense Love

        This link www.slideshare.net/Nubiagroup/english-astronomie-by-azartha takes you to a site that shows quite a number of space photos taken through the Hubble telescope in space.  There are nebulae and galaxies millions of light years away spotted.  Since light travels at a speed exceeding 186,000 miles a second, you can (cannot) imagine how far away these heavenly objects are.  Visualizing the immensity of the universe, we realize how "puny" we are; yet the Lord loves us to death.  Indeed, his love is even more amazing than his creations!  (Be sure to watch the images on full screen.)

Growing in Two Directions

        I went to the vigil Mass yesterday (because I like the music played at that Mass more).  During prayer before Mass started, the Lord showed me that I must grow in two directions, outward and inward.  The former refers to loving others and the latter, to becoming more humble.

        It's easy to feel a lot of love for the Lord, but to translate that into the action of loving others, which involves the will and requires effort, is another thing.  It's somewhat like an engineer who knows all the theory but doesn't know how to fix anything.  So I must grow outward in that direction.

        As for growing in the other direction, I must concentrate inward to gain more humility.  I had already ask the Lord to ground out my ego like a stump grinder working on a stump, but there are still remnants left.  So the work must continue.

        Love and humility must go hand in hand because either one lacking the other cannot truly be genuine. 

The Awareness Advantage

        Once I accepted Christ, the eternal life question was settled and the void of life, filled.  Now that I've known the Lord better, I see another advantage.  That is, I am starting to see the world through his eyes.  I see clearly what's truly important and what's not, what really matters and what's just wasting time.  I discern what's from God and what's not.  I understand more how God's ways are different from ours.  This awareness alone is worth the price of admission.    

Two Lives; Two Deaths

        Today is the memorial of St. Martha.  In the Gospel reading of John, Jesus told Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life: whoever believes in me, though he should die, will come to life; and whoever is alive and believes in me will never die."

        It's clear that there are two lives: the earthly life and the eternal life.  If one can never die after this life, then a second death is implied ~ that is the loss of eternal life.  Let's make sure that after we die, we'll have eternal life with the Lord and not eternal separation from him.  The first life and death are relatively unimportant, while the second life and death are of infinite importance. 

        The best way to take care of this matter is to love the Lord with all your heart, strength, and soul in this life.