God's One-Way Giving

        The thought came to me after Communion at Vigil Mass (Epiphany of the Lord). 

        God really does not expect us to give him anything.  First of all, we really have nothing to give as all (including ourselves) came from him in the first place.  We are poor and he has all the riches.  All he wants is that we open our hearts to him and he is going to pour his love into them and pile graces on us ~ it's pretty much one-way giving after we give him permission.  Such good fortune for us!   

Achieving Union with God

        Surrendering to God is difficult, but once you get started, it becomes easier and easier.  That's because when you open up to God, the Holy Spirit is able to start working on you.  (It's back to "Say OK to God and he'll take care of the rest.")  As time goes on, you sense more of God's beauty, taste more of his sweetness, and you open up even more.  Eventually, you will want all of God, desiring full union with him.  (The Holy Eucharist, God's greatest gift of himself and the treasure of the Church, is absolutely necessary to achieve full union.) 

        Basically, don't struggle on your own; just be open and passive. Remember that God is love and he is mighty. 

Ultimate Surprises

        Did you ever wonder why God wanted to take the human form?  The human life is miserable relative to what it's like in heaven, yet Jesus became one of us.  This is the ultimate surprise!  Why?  Here's the second ultimate surprise: He did it because he loves us. 

Everything We Do Matters

        When Mary said yes to God, Jesus came to us through her.  When the president of our previous regime decided to enter Iraq, lives of millions of people were affected, for better or worse.  We may not think that each of us ordinary souls can produce any big effect, but remember that every single thought, word, or deed of ours affects God and that's all it matters.  This is the compelling reason for us to become holy.            

     

One Chance Before Facing God

        2010 came and is gone.  It'll be the same with us on earth, then we meet the Lord in person.  How we love him in this life determines our eternal destiny.  The encounter with him after this life will be strictly one-on-one with no other souls around being able to help or defend you in any way.  Therefore, don't blow your chance.

        (This may be a message on the grim side for a new year, but I think that it's a lot more meaningful than saying Happy New Year.)   

Blessed Is Mary Our Mother

        Today fittingly on this first day of the year of our Lord 2011, it's the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, that's celebrated.  I joyfully went to Mass. If anyone has trouble approaching God directly, just ask Mary our Mother to pray for you first and you'll find your trouble going away.  She always leads everyone to her divine Son ~ you can count on that.  She's our greatest ally in heaven.  I love her because Jesus loves her and she helps me love Jesus.      

Year-End Summary

        Believing in, following, and loving Jesus will lift your existence to a new level that's not of this world, for you belong to him now.  At that level you'll be in commune with God, enjoying the union, and no longer weighed down by things of the world.  Love reigns supreme and freedom captures the heart.  You know that Truth has chosen you, found you, and called you.  You are home and his forever.  There is no greater peace you can possibly possess on this earth. 

End-of-Year Reflection

        2010 is coming to its end.  With the exception of God alone, everything passes.  We are all journeying on toward God or the unknown, depending upon your personal convictions.  Right now, a friend of mine is waiting to die at any moment, but he's well prepared to meet the Lord.  Often I hear older folks say that they want to travel or do other things they enjoy while they still have good health and can move about.  That seems to be sensible thinking.  Then there are others who realize that life is so brief that they'd better use the remaining time they have left to devote themselves to serving God.  Another valid point of view, polar from the first but definitely wiser.  When we meet the Lord face to face after this life, he's going to ask us what we've done to glorify him.  The lowlier we serve God in this life, the higher he is going to raise us in heaven.  Jesus the Lord is our supreme example.
        What are 2011 and the future going to be like?  That would depend a great deal upon us.  Suppose that from now on, everyone in the world starts  rebelling against God, you can imagine the kind of world we are going to have.  Now if everyone starts believing in and loving God, what would the world be like??  It's clear that we have the power to move God and shape the world.  God is our only hope; Jesus, our only savior.  My hope for the New Year is that we will always hope in God.               

God Helping Us

        I see God helping us who love him from two directions.  From the outside, he makes sure that whatever happens to us will be best for our soul.  From the inside, he transforms us interiorly so that we'll always do his will.  This is how he loves us.

Choose God over the World

        In today's Mass reading from the First Letter of St. John, the Apostle exhorts us not to love the world or the things of the world, for all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father.  To be fair, there are good things in the world too.  For Christians we must make the right choice always, so it seems that life is basically a big test ~ you either pass or fail.  I hope that St. John's exhortation will help us choose God always over the world.