Beauty of Following the Lord

        During the Mass at St. Andrew, I sensed the beauty of following the Lord.  As I journey with him, I discover more and more beauty along the way.   

Where God Resides

        Last Monday away from home, I attended morning Mass at a local church.  Jesus considered the temple of his days his Father's house.  As soon as I entered the chapel at St. Andrew, I felt that I had arrived home.  The song says "Any place I hang my hat is home."  For me, any place where God resides is home. 
        After Mass, I remained to pray for a few minutes.  Amidst all the noises and sounds ~ music rehearsal in the main church, people talking and chatting around the chapel, birds busily singing outside in the trees ~ I felt so good being aware that "the Lord is in me." 

Parents' Heavy Responsibility

        In the Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke), Jesus warns that "whoever causes one of the little ones who believe in him to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone put around his neck and be thrown into the sea."  All parents must pay heed to this.  In general, we must never be the cause for anyone to fall away from God.  Parents in particular must always be good examples to their children.  According to the Lord, any parent who causes one of his/her children to sin commits a grave sin indeed.  

Father's Day Sorrow

        Last Sunday was the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and also Father's Day.  The Entrance from one Psalm read: "God is the strength of his people.  In him, we his chosen live in safety.  Save us Lord, who share in your life, and give us your blessing; be our shepherd forever."  I felt great joy in reading these verses.  Yet I also felt great sorrow because so many sons celebrated Father's day with their earthly fathers and forgot all about the heavenly Father, most loving of all fathers.  For them, I offer up my sorrow to the heavenly Father. 

Best Way to Influence Others

        I once studied abstract math and it's just not possible to explain the subject to nonmathematicians.  It's almost the same when it comes to communicating your personal spiritual feelings and experiences.  Try reading St. John of the Cross.  Anyway, the best way to influence others is by example and not by sharing what the Lord has given specifically for you in private. 

On Judging Others

        I am still trying to catch up after being away for almost five days.  While away, I attended Mass Friday, Sunday at one church and Monday at a different church.  Both churches are quite beautiful. 

        At yesterday's Mass, Jesus in Matthew 7 told us to stop judging.  Here are two logical sequences.   The more we look at God, the more we see our own faults and shortcomings, and the less we tend to criticize others.  It follows that the less we look at God, the less we notice our own faults and shortcomings (the wooden beams in our eye), and the more we become critical of others (about the splinters in their eye).  We sure have plenty of the second kind around.

Pleasing the Lord

        At the end of Mass just before I was about to get up and leave, a little girl entered the church with her mother and headed straight toward the altar.  She went behind the railing and knelt right in front of the tabernacle and prayed, her two little hands pressed perfectly together.  Outside as I walked toward my parked car, I saw a homeless woman, almost totally hidden behind her dark, hooded cloak, pushing a loaded cart.  As she passed the front of the church, she paused, turned, and genuflected reverently.  These two both pleased the Lord that morning.

Called to Enjoy the Lord

        During Liturgy of the Eucharist at last Friday's Mass, I became acutely aware that the priest was exactly following the instructions of Christ during consecration of the bread and wine.

        When I was about to receive the Eucharist, I knew that the Lord was already in me and I was going to receive him just for the sheer joy of union.  Yes, we are called to enjoy the Lord.

Door to Freedom

        The door to freedom is surrender to God.  Out of pure love, God wants to capture us.  So when we surrender, we perfectly fulfill his will.  And when we perfectly fulfill his will, we become free!          

The Same Love

        God loves us with his pure, holy love.  And because of it, we love him back and others.  It is the same love that originated with God and gets spread around and passed on by his people.  It is this love that makes us become detached to the world.