Union Is like Playing the Piano

        When you learn to play the piano, the goal is to be able to forget completely about your fingers and put all your effort and concentration into expressing the music, making it sound beautiful. But due to human limitations, we can play a piece of music well enough, but never to the point of complete satisfaction. Similarly, in seeking union with God, the goal is to be become Christlike. The more we let go in the Lord, desiring to be changed, the more we progress. But since we are finite creatures, we can become more like him, but never reach his state of perfection. (Note that in both cases, letting go is the key.)

Critically Important Message

        In Scriptures, we see that Jesus always had the answer to any question he's asked. No one had been able to trap or stump him. He showed that he's the all-knowing God. In today's Gospel reading at Mass, Luke 13:22-30, Jesus talked about the narrow gate through which we must strive to enter in order to be saved. Once the master of the house has arisen, the door will be locked and those who are outside will be cast out forever; and they will see all those inside reclining at table in the kingdom of God. Everyone should take this reading most seriously because our response to the message will determine our eternal placement.  

Try to Be Faithful, not Successful

        I attended a Respect Life Leadership Gathering today. The task of changing the thinking of all to pro-life is daunting, but one presenter's quote from Mother Teresa was most encouraging: "God doesn't require us to succeed; he only requires that you try." To serve God is to not aim for success, but remain faithful. 

The Weakness Advantage

        We all know our own weaknesses in various areas, and being weak can be a disadvantage in life. Then the Lord makes me see that we can use this awareness to our advantage by letting it keep us humble before him.

The Unsettled Life

        As long as you do not know Jesus yet, you cannot be certain where you'll end up after death; therefore, you live an unsettled life. Happy is the one who lives a life with eternity all settled!

Good Reason to Be Happy

        We feel good when someone appreciates us, likes us, or thinks highly of us. Now, we have God continually loving us more than anyone else possibly can at all times, how can we not feel happy? Believe and rejoice!

How to Know We Love God

        In today's Gospel reading at Mass from Matthew 22, Jesus answered one Pharisee asking him which commandment in the law is the greatest, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." 

      The second commandment is not easy to follow because your neighbor may be an extremely unpleasant person or even an enemy who hates you. Nevertheless, we can't say that we love God if we don't love our neighbor. So, the second commandment serves as a test to see if we fulfill the first commandment or not. 

Obedience Sequence

        Seeking God's will, knowing his will, and doing his will ~ the delay usually occurs between seeking and knowing. Nevertheless, we have peace at the end always.     

Belonging to God

        Communion experience. After receiving the Holy Eucharist, I wanted the Lord to pulverize (vaporize is even better) any hard part or particle that's still in me so that I may be his completely. 

God's Serious Invitation

        Today is the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 22, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. Not only those invited should accept the invitation, but also attend the feast properly dressed. Those who did not take the invitation seriously were cast into darkness. Conclusion (also present day fact): "Many are invited, but few are chosen." It helps to see that God's invitation, his call, to us is for us to become his chosen ones.