Going Infinite with God

        An infinite, omnipotent, all-knowing, loving God deserves placing our "infinite" confidence in him.

Jesus Is Lord

        We cannot feel comfortable if we choose to reject Jesus as the Lord. Even if we accept him as such, we won't feel completely comfortable with him until we have surrendered completely to him, for he truly is Lord. 

The Evolution of Faith

        I recall how my faith in God evolved since the early days. In the beginning when I searched for God, I had fleeting moments in which I sensed his existence. Later after I came to believe that Christ is Lord and Savior, I still needed to remind myself from time to time that I did have faith in him. Gradually, the faith grew more secure. When the Holy Spirit took over during my involvement in the charismatic renewal movement, my faith was greatly strengthened by the grace of God ~ it's all his doing. I can see that if I had let go in God a lot sooner, my spiritual growth would have progressed a lot faster. We notice faith only when doubts exist. After I sought union with God, faith became such a natural part of me that I no longer noticed its presence ~ again, it's all God's doing. Now I read about skeptics who do not even believe that Christ ever existed, I can only smile because they do not experience God's doing and will never be able to understand how I feel. What a joy to enjoy God with faith totally out of the picture!

Not Feeling Guilty Again

        I was finally well enough to attend Mass after a week of staying home. Today is Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It happens to be the hundredth birthday of a parishioner. She, looking remarkably young and fit, was at Mass and we all wished her Happy Birthday. She even received a framed citation from Pope Francis through our parish priest.

         Even though I missed Mass for the whole past week, I do not feel guilty in any way because God knew the reason. I've been thinking that if we trust in God and try always to follow him, we won't ever need to feel guilty again. Of course, we still sin, but as long as the failure is due to our human weakness and not intentional, God understands. Then when we cross the line and experience the struggle within us and the loss of inner peace, we know we are in guilt. What a joy it is not to ever feel guilty again!

We Are Special!

        Still being held hostage by the bug at home, I had the time to wonder what if God had not created us so that there would be only all the other animals and plants living on earth. Of course, the eternal God doesn't depend upon our existence for his own in any way; yet, somehow, I feel that he would miss us. Remember that he created us in his own image so that we alone among all the living things are capable of understanding him and loving him, and that he might have us to love! Intuitively, I also feel that the entire universe with everything in it, including our earth and everything on it, had been created for our enjoyment and needs ~ we are the culmination of his creation! Last, the fact that we can conceive that there is a God our creator only confirms that there is one, for no other can create a mind, especially one that can conceive its creator. In short, we are special, created to know God.

Presenting Mary

        I came across this YouTube video on the Mother of Christ. It's quite a beautiful presentation. 

Test for Our Love for God

        I've been home sick since last Sunday. It's one of those bugs quite a number of us around here has been catching from the cold weather. I just looked at the readings for today's Mass on www.usccb.org/bible/. In Reading 1 from 1 John 4, the Apostle wrote: If anyone says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. Therefore, if I still hold a grudge again someone, I can't claim that I love God yet. I could only say that I intend to love God, but I fall short of truly loving him. How much we love our brothers and sisters tests how much we love God.  

Life Is Simple in God

        After seeing so many people living a life with so many worldly concerns and complicated relationships with others both within and without their family, I come to see how simple and beautiful life becomes when you go deep into Christ. It's as if Jesus cleans out all the clutter, barnacles, cobwebs, and refuse in your life to set you free. By unburdening us, God simplifies our lives.

A Great Oversight

        Jesus asked, "Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?" (Matthew 7.3). It's so easy to get upset over things or people because they turn out to be imperfect, and at the same time overlook our own imperfections (getting upset being one). If we are not perfect, how can we expect others to be perfect? It all comes down to "no sinner has the right to judge fellow sinners."

Life as an Assignment

        When a religious, especially one who has pledged poverty, is assigned to  a post, he does his best to perform his tasks. When he is reassigned to a new post, he simply moves on, does the same again, not attaching himself to his or her previous accomplishments in any way. This is also the way to live for us lay folks. We see our roles as assignments from God. We do our best to please him. When we are done, we are happy and move on, not attaching ourselves to what we've done because it's just an assignment from God. This way we'll always feel free and peaceful.