Same Father and God for All

        Today is the Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene.  Here's the Entrance verse from John 20:  "The Lord said to Mary Magdalene: Go and tell my brothers that I shall ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and to your God."  It's just so good to hear that we and the Lord share the same Father and the same God ~ we are one big family all along.  Rejoice and rejoice.

Ego, the Obstacle

        Before morning Mass during prayer, I saw that the ego is like a weight inside us.  If we just drop it, then our soul will be free to soar upward to God. 

Choose God's Ways

        So far I've read 2/3 of The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Vol. 1, a book 600 pages long.  What inspires me most were her obedience, meekness, and humility.  This morning I wondered how the world would eye Christ, should he show up meek and humble in every way.  Probably not very well at all.  Then we have St. John the Baptist who, aware how mighty and exalted Christ was, deemed himself not even worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.  What a contrast!  God's ways are certainly not our ways ~ let's humbly choose God's ways always.   

Growing in Holiness

        Before you go face any problem in life, pray for God's help and that he'll make you holier.  This last part is important because you want to deal with the problem as the Lord would himself and he is most holy.  Treat every problem as an opportunity for you to grow in holiness.   

How to Be at Peace

        Being at peace with yourself is only possible if you are already at peace with God. 

Invitation to Union

        Thoughts while receiving the Holy Eucharist.  How fortunate to receive the bread of heaven!  The Lord was ready for union ~ was I ready?  The desire was there, but I needed his help to make me worthy to accept his invitation. 

Is the Lord a Fair Giver?

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, we hear the Lord say: "To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away."  Does this sound like "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer"?  Actually, it's totally fair here because the one who has is the one open to the Lord's giving and the one who has not is closed to it.  A small difference makes a big difference.    

Obedience Is Beautiful

        During prayer before Mass this morning, "obedience" struck me a a most beautiful word, because it can bring us into perfect harmony with God, leading us to perfect freedom. 

God's Justice & Mercy

        God also made it clear to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich about his justice and mercy in this vision.

        She said, "Great is God's justice, but still more inconceivable is his mercy. He damns only those who are determined not to be converted; they who have a spark of good will are saved.  Those who grieve for their sins, confess them sincerely, and trust confidently in the merits of their Savior; they are saved and their sins will no longer be remembered.  It's true that they go to purgatory, but not to remain long.  On the other hand, many stay long in purgatory who, although not great sinners, have lived tepidly.  Through pride they would take no admonition or instruction from their confessor.  The time was when the thought of only one poor sinner's condemnation grieved me so that I could not get over it; but on the present occasion, though many were condemned, I was perfectly calm, for I saw that God's justice called for it." 

        (Those last lines really helped me.)

The Value of Prayer

        Anne  Catherine Emmerich had already been officially investigated by and declared Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich by the Church, but Catholics are in no obligation to believe in any private revelations.  Nevertheless, this following vision of hers is instructive to me.

        She was taken to a place to be shown how it is with our prayers before God.  They seemed to be inscribed on large white tablets which were divided into four classes: some were written in magnificent golden letters; others in shining silver; some in darker characters; and still others in black streaked lines.  The guide explained to her: "What's written in gold is the prayer of those who have united their good works to the merits of Jesus Christ and often renew this union; they aim at observing his precepts and imitating his example.

        "What's written in silver is the prayer of those who think not of union with the merits of Jesus Christ; but who are, notwithstanding, pious and pray in the simplicity of their hearts.

        "What's written in darker colors is the prayer of those who have no peace unless they frequently confess, communicate, and daily say certain prayers; but who are, however, tepid and perform their good works through habit.

        "Lastly, what's written in black streaked characters is the prayer of those who place all their confidence in vocal prayers and pretended good works, but who do not keep God's Commandments nor curb their evil desires.  Such prayer has no merit before God."

        (Again, you see that union with the Lord is best for us.)