Gospel Examples for Us

        Today's Gospel reading at Mass comes from Mark 12. First, Jesus pointed out how the scribes liked to go around in long robes, accepting greetings in the marketplaces and seats of honor at banquets, devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers ~ they would receive a very severe condemnation. We are not scribes, but in our own way we might have acted like them too ~ we'd better watch out.

        In the second part of the reading, Jesus gave us an example in contrast to the scribes above. He observed that a poor widow, from her poverty, put two small coins worth a few cents into the temple treasury ~ she contributed all she had, her whole livelihood! Jesus pointed out that this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury, who had contributed from their surplus. It's true that the wealthier we are, the harder it is to let go. Such attachment to wealth prevents us from becoming selfless.  

Union with God Is for All

        Now that I realize that seeking union with God is the best way for all Catholics to become holy, I am wondering why we didn't and don't hear much about it. Thinking back, I see that in my early days, I didn't even know what union exactly was. Later I read about saints in union with God and automatically assumed that it's a state only saints enter into. So I believe that we don't consider union as a goal because (1) not everyone aspires after holiness and (2) we assume that it's beyond our reach. Of course, the fact is that union is for everyone. Christ asks us to be perfect, and to be in union with God is to be as perfect as we can be, like the saints. Therefore, have courage and break out any box that might be confining you. Speed toward peace and freedom in God!             

Jesus Our Center

        Be occupied with Jesus at all times and leave all other things on the periphery. Direct all that we do at him. 

Let Only God Affect You

        If we do not have any quiet time or if we cannot stay calm emotionally, it'd be difficult for us to hear God's voice. I feel very sorry to see that so many Catholics or other Christians let others affect them so much to the point that their own faith starts to weaken. Some actual examples are in order. One woman's best friend was a devout Catholic, but when that friend discovered that she had views leaning toward feminism, the friend dropped her. Of course, that greatly hurt the person and affected her faith. Another person was shocked when a priest came to her home for dinner on a Friday during the days when they're supposed to abstain from eating meat felt like eating meat and dispensed with the obligation. This shook her faith. Another one remembers that she had a most abusive nun as a teacher in school and when the parish priest came and told the whole class that they're lucky to have a most saintly teacher who's going to heaven, all the kids couldn't believe what they heard. Of course, it's possible that the priest really didn't know the truth and saw it that way; but nevertheless, the damage had been done. Most likely everyone has something to tell that has affected their faith. (I shouldn't deny that there are many who have had good experiences that strengthened their faith. My wife became a Catholic mainly because she had a nun who treated her most kindly.)

        Let's realize that we are all sinners, religious or lay. See how perfect Jesus our Lord is because he is God, then we shouldn't be shocked by what all the sinners do any more because they are not God. Therefore, we need to focus upon the Lord alone and not let anyone else affect our faith! If you want to look at sinners, look at ourselves first. Do we also shock others by our behavior? How do we affect the others' faith? In conclusion, let only God affect you. 

A Prayer for Love

        "I love you, Lord; love me." Praying thus, you show your willingness to let God love you.

Only Way to Peace

        At church before Mass started, I saw how amazing God was ~ his creations, his love manifested in so many ways, the example of Jesus... Then I saw that any negative thought or emotion such as anxiety originated with us, not God. The only way to have interior peace is to let God transform us so that we'll be in harmony with his will. And to let him transform us begins with surrendering to him. We may not have what we've wanted before, but we'll have peace. What's amazing is that once we have God, we'll want the same thing he wants for us.

Questioning God's Existence

        Had the chance to watch the 2002 film The Pianist on TV. It shows how the polish pianist Wladyslaw Szilman struggled to survive the onslaught of Nazi tyranny during World War II. The Jewish population were rounded up and treated horribly. In one scene, one family member of the pianist asked in great apprehension if there was a God. It's totally understandable that we question God's existence when things go bad and bleak. My thoughts as a Christian are that if I already know the Lord well, then under no circumstances would I doubt his existence, but I might wonder what the purpose was behind all that had happened.   

Feeding Priorities

        As I was frying some eggs for breakfast this morning, I thought briefly that the soul needs to be fed too. Since the soul is more important than the body, feeding the soul should have priority over feeding the body.

Practice Run for Heaven

        Living a holy life on earth is like making a practice run for living in heaven. If you succeed well now, you'll need little or no adjustment to make later. A good preparation makes the difference.

Free to Serve God

        One is free to serve God when he has fully surrendered to him. If he hasn't yet, then he cannot be totally free to serve God because he still has to serve himself.