During prayer before morning Mass, I felt my own limitations. I even had trouble expressing some of my thoughts; the words were just not there. This feeling of inadequacy to me was a grace. God made me realize that I was truly nothing and should remain forever humble before him.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Go with God First
If we get it spiritually right first, then we'll have a easier time in the world because we have God to keep us from being corrupted by the world. On the other hand, it we start out in the world without God, we get corrupted first and it'd be a lot harder to get up to get it right with God.
Cast All Cares upon God
Let God take over your life and you will be free. This is an exception to "If it sounds too good to be true, then it can't be true."
First, God is love and he will never lord it over you. Secondly, he is totally trustworthy, reliable, and only wants to help you. Thirdly, you with a finite mind and a crooked nature, will never be able to free yourself. Last, when you surrender to him, all your problems become his to solve.
Therefore, cast all your cares upon him.
We Are Prodigal Too
I venture to say that we all know the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32). We may not be as bad as he was, but we are all prodigal to some degree and the Father's great love applies to us as well. God always loves us. Now, rejoice.
My Pleasure!
I once checked into a hotel and one desk clerk was extra helpful. Every time I asked her to do something, she always responded enthusiastically, "My pleasure!" That really made me feel good. I got to thinking that we should respond to the Lord the same way. "My pleasure," "At your service," "At your disposal" ~ they all sound pretty good. In other words, be glad to do his will always.
Mutual Giving
During the Liturgy of the Eucharist at morning Mass today, the priest consecrated the bread and wine and the Lord was ready to offer himself to us again as our bread of life and spiritual drink. I was wondering what I could give to him for exchange. His answer was that I should give him my heart.
Are You Ready to Die?
At this morning's Mass, the pastor asked us if we're ready to die right now. Simeon was ready after seeing the child Jesus with his own eyes, but we have in a way already seen so much more than Simeon. We have the Gospels, the testimonies from the saints, the teachings of the Church, and much more.
If your answer is "no," then is it because the faith is not there yet? there is still too much attachment to the world? What is holding you back? This question needs to be urgently addressed while we still have life (time).
Let God's Plan Unfold
Today's Gospel reading was from Luke 2 on the Presentation of the child Jesus in the temple. You are probably familiar with the story of how the man Simeon was ready to die after seeing Jesus because the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. What struck me was that this wasn't anything earthshaking. It just seemed to be something that came along at the proper time in God's plan. The entire life of Jesus on earth also seemed to proceed naturally, one event at a time. He remained humble and meek, going about doing the Father's will quietly with dignity. Our own life should be lived like that too with no intention to make our own waves or call attention to ourselves, but to seek and do God's will quietly in his time.
Are You in the Light?
Today's first reading at Mass was from 1 John 2. Verses 9 & 10 read: "Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall." It's clear that if there is still someone you cannot forgive, then you are not in the light yet. When you truly see Christ in everyone, then you are securely in the light. A good test for us to take.
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