How Best to Follow Christ

        (1) Follow at a steady pace, never rushing ahead nor lagging behind.

        (2) Do not turn your head to be distracted nor look back as you follow.
        (3) Do not look ahead, wondering what might happen ~ leave all up to God.

        (4) Follow faithfully with patience.

Features Unique to Christianity

        Christ made it clear that he is in the Father and the Father is in him; that is, he and the Father are one.  As disciples of Christ, he is also in us.  He fills us with himself each time we receive him in the Holy Eucharist, reaffirming our oneness.  We submit ourselves to the Lord and simply vanish in him.  These are absolutely unique features you do not find in any other belief systems. 

Only One Person to Please

        Watched a clip of Pavarotti in Hyde Park on TV.  The singer was trying to please thousands in the park.  He was good, but I doubt that he would get 100% approval.  It got me thinking that I was luckier because I only needed to please one person, the Lord.  And one nod from him is worth more than a million out there applauding me. 

Ungodly Emotions Lead to Sin

        Emotions rise when people are angry, scared, worried, jealous, envious, impatient, possessive, greedy, unforgiving, hateful...  One can be totally eaten up by such emotions that are out of control, both physically and spiritually ~ ungodly emotions just lead to sin. 

        On the contrary, anyone who's in union with God basically feels just peace.  When you have joy or sorrow, you know that the Lord is feeling it at the same time.  In sorrow, the Lord consoles you and your sorrow turns sweet.        

Be with God or Be Nothing

        During Communion time yesterday, I became acutely aware that I could not possibly survive without the Lord.  It's either being with him or becoming nothing.

Doing Work Through God

        God does work through us as we are his instruments.  In turn we do his work through him in the sense that we can do nothing on our own and need to rely upon his strength, guidance, and protection to accomplish the task.  In union with God, we never work alone. 

The Sad State of Man

        Over centuries man has made this world more comfortable and convenient, more entertaining and pleasurable.  Man has become materialistic and flesh-oriented, to the point that he no longer seeks God.  I see the newborns or very young children ~ they are all so pure and innocent.  Then I look at the adults, impure and sinful ~ how did they get that way?  

        Yesterday's Gospel reading gives an answer.  Jesus said to his disciples: "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.  How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.  And those who find it are few."

        What must we do then?

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.