Fighting Temptation

        We live in a world in which we face temptation every waking hour of our life. Just watch some entertainment on TV and you'll see what I mean. The smart way is to avoid doing anything that might lead you into temptation. The basic recipe for overcoming temptation is to remain humble. And the only way to remain humble is to surrender to God. Therefore, turn to God the moment you sense temptation coming on to submit yourself to him for protection. God is our safe refuge against all evil. Absolutely true.  

Reasons for Being a Catholic

        I am truly happy about being a Catholic because the Catholic Church is the original church established by Christ, her teachings are true and complete, and through receiving the Holy Eucharist I am able to achieve the closest possible union with God in this life.

God Is Life!

         This past week I learned of a couple of suicides committed by people whom I only knew indirectly. And I had posted about the surging high suicide rate among the veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. It's just so sad, so sad. How I wish that all the victims had known Jesus the Lord! God is Life and the creator of life. He grants eternal life and gives us the zest for living the present life. He is our bright hope. Death is the opposite of life and despair. What's why knowing Jesus can turn one around completely. With him you'll never die, as he had promised! It sounds good and is true at the same time. This is what the Good News is all about!

Sharing Padre Pio's Thoughts

        It turned out that I have quite a few books on Padre Pio, now St. Pio. I am more interested in his meditations, counsels, and spiritual wisdom than his story. I've started reading his Meditation Prayer on Mary Immaculate, a little booklet, and would like to share a couple of things he said and add my two cents.

        (1) He wished to acquire a love of God that is continually renewed ~ I thought of how I get my love of God renewed every time I receive the Holy Eucharist. 

        (2) Padre Pio considered the Immaculate Virgin Mary the greatest of all the masterpieces created by God's hands. Realize that all of us, who were not conceived without the original sin like Mary, are nevertheless, still amazing masterpieces created by God.  

Jesus Worth Knowing

        We all have people we know ~ family members, relatives and friends, our pastor, fellow parishioners, business associates, classmates, et al. Some we know well and some not. Some we like and some not. 

        In today's Gospel from John 2, the disciples of Jesus saw how the Lord turned water into the best wine at the wedding at Cana and began to believe in him. Later, after following him longer and witnessing more miracles, they were convinced that Jesus is the Messiah. So I am thinking that if you'll just get to know Jesus, you shall also come to believe in him. I can testify to you that you'll find him to be the most beautiful, trustworthy, and understanding person you'll ever encounter and fall in love with him in time. There is just absolutely nothing worth knowing more than Jesus!

Formula for Spiritual Success

        This morning during meditation before Mass, I saw any of us as a small plant, possibly weak or even diseased, before God. As long as we remain open and passive and let the sunshine of the Father, the water of the Son, and the food of the Holy Spirit heal, nurture, and feed us, we will become healthy, strong, big, and bear much fruit. This is a sure formula for spiritual success.

Greatest Human Accomplishment

        Life gives one the chance to practice being holy continuously. Since practice makes perfect, in time one will be living a holy life, pure and pleasing to God. In God's eyes, there is no greater human accomplishment.        

Touching Jesus

        When I was receiving Holy Communion today, I realized that, the Lord being present in the Holy Eucharist, I was actually touching him. More than that, the Most Holy One came to dwell within me ~ something for me to think about!

Two Joys

        At morning Mass, Reading 1 continued from 1 John. From chapter 5, we read, "God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son does not possess life."  Therefore, it was Jesus whom I want to listen to and obey, and I felt great joy in that.

        Next, I saw darkness hovering over the world and infiltrating most of God's children.  Then I saw the light that's the bright, ever-present hope of God, and I felt great joy again.

Proving Our Love

        The Apostle John has some harsh words for us from 1 John 3. In yesterday's reading, he said, "Whoever sins belongs to the Devil." In today's, he said, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer." Although the messages could have been conveyed in a less harsh way, they are basically correct. Later, John finally advised, "Let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth." This reminds me of what James said that faith without works is dead. Jesus really demonstrated his love by choosing the cross, so let's also prove our love in deed and truth.