In today's Gospel reading from Mark 11, Jesus asked the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders whether John's baptism was of heavenly or human origin. (John refers to John the Baptist.) Of course, it was either one or the other. Then I thought that with Jesus and the Church, it's the same. Either Jesus is true God or a false impersonator, and his Church of divine or human origin. We are either saved or not. Hopefully, the fact that there is no muddy middle ground to stand on will not delay us in making the right choices.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Two Astounding Facts!
(1) Jesus who is God, became man so that we could get to know God intimately. Astounding!
(2) Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist so that we may become one with him. You could say that this is how we get to get inside God. Again, astounding!
"Desire Nothing"
This was what I received from the Lord during prayer after Mass and I tried to understand what it meant. I believe that it means "we are to conform to God's will and beyond that there's really nothing for us to desire."
How to Ask in Prayer
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 11, Jesus counseled "all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours." Again, faith is requisite.
I started thinking: how shall we ask in prayer? If I ask to win the lottery and believe that I will win, will it happen? Then I realize that whatever we ask must glorify God. Therefore, ask the Holy Spirit to teach us how to ask before asking. Basically, we must always ask out of love for God. We ask not to have our way but to have God's will be done. Looking at it this way, I see that asking is also a form of listening to God, a way of discerning his will to which we must conform.
Real Living
As I drove to Mass in the morning, I was acutely aware of God's existence and presence. I know that I trust in him, being not anxious about anything, and just want to follow him with no desire to go off on my own to chase after my own dreams. A peace pervaded me. I realized that this was real living. Any other way would be squandering away the time of my life.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Listening to God Is Essential
It was just in the news that members of certain denominational Christian church picketed with "hate signs" at the funeral service of a veteran. They were anti-gay and believed that God was punishing this nation for tolerating homosexuality. Would their kind of action draw other to Christ?? It just made me realize how we could be so easily mislead when we don't listen to the Lord carefully enough. I always stay away from anyone who proclaims self-righteousness. Let's ask the Lord to teach us in all things and lead us in everything.
God Alone Is to Be...
desired, sought, listened to, and followed. To get ahead, go for the best and ignore the rest.
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