Happy Mother's Day to Mary

        Tomorrow is Mother's Day and I'd like to say something on behalf of our Holy Mother Mary.  I entered the Church as a Protestant and I did experience some difficulty in approaching Mary at the beginning.  (Read my conversion story which started this blog.)  I think it's because as a Protestant, I always prayed to God or Jesus.  Praying to Mary was unthinkable because it would make me feel that I am giving away part of my allegiance to Jesus. 

        Another problem is that Protestants and Catholics understand the word "pray" differently.  They both pray to God... which is fine.  When Catholics pray to Mary or an angel or any other saint, they just talk to them, much like talking to someone over the phone.  Somehow when that someone is already in heaven, the word "talk" gets substituted by the word "pray."  Also, in the Catholic view, all saints in heaven and on earth form one big family.  Asking Mary to pray for us is just like asking another brother or sister in Christ on earth to pray for us.  (God alone, not Mary or anyone else, we worship.)  

        Mother Mary always points out her Son to us, never drawing any attention to herself.  She prays unceasingly for all of us.  She is my partner in doing God's will.  The more I love her, the more I love Jesus.  Mary and Jesus are inseparable and we are inseparable from their love, God's love for us.  So, Happy Mother's Day, Dearest Mom.         

Celebrating Death

        I am talking about the death of one's old self.  This death is to be celebrated as it brings great joy to God. 

Asking God to Be Thorough

        Today at Communion time, I asked Jesus to take away not only my sins, but also my tendencies to sin.  I want God to be thorough with me.

The Indwelling Holy Trinity

        I don't see God, but I know that he fills the entire universe.
        I don't see Jesus, but I sense his love for all souls.

        I don't see the Holy Spirit, but I can tell that he is constantly teaching me.

        I know that the Holy Trinity dwells within me.

What We Need in Life

        Wouldn't you like to have someone who can protect and shield you from all evil and is totally trustworthy?

        Wouldn't you like to have a great friend who will always listen to what's on your mind and in your heart with patience and understanding and then help you?  

        Wouldn't you like to have a most wise teacher who can advise you, guide you, and teach you how to live happily in freedom?

        If you answer yes all three times, then look no further.  Our God in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is exactly what you need.

Jesus Takes Away Sins

        Just before receiving Holy Communion this morning, I really felt that Jesus was going to take away all my sins and I was ready to go to him.  Great mercy from him and great freedom for me.

God Is Always Ahead

        In today's Gospel reading from John 6, we read that a large crowd was coming to Jesus.  And he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" to test him, knowing well what he was going to do.  The multiplication of five barley loaves and two fish followed and there was more than enough to feed the five thousand. 

        A good lesson for us here.  The Lord does test us from time to time, but we can handle that knowing that he already knows what he is going to do with us.  This is just too good to be true.  Our part is to trust and wait.     

Suffering for the Sake of Jesus

        From Reading 1 from Acts 5 at Mass: "The Apostles rejoiced that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name of Jesus."  If we are not willing to suffer a little bit for the sake of Jesus, who willingly gave up his own life for our sake, then what are we?  To suffer for Jesus is an honor and should bring great joy. 

Real Presence Is Real!

        Today's Entrance verses from Revelation 5: "By your blood, O Lord, you have redeemed us from every tribe and tongue, from every nation and people..."  This made me think that Jesus had let his real body be nailed to a cross and his real blood flow to redeem us, but instituted Holy Communion at the Last Supper using bread and wine as mere symbolic representations of his body and blood with no real presence... no way!  Jesus broke the bread and actually said, "This is my body" and took the cup of wine and said, "This is the cup of my blood" to his disciples.  Protestants, you don't know what you are missing!

Be Detached to Others

        The following thought just surfaced in my mind.  Someone close to me will be moving away from me soon and I felt a tinge of sadness.  Then I realized that if that person (or anyone for that matter) is moving away from Jesus, I would feel even sadder.  I'd rather have everyone stay close to him than me.  Again, I must be attached to the Lord alone and detached to all others.