To Think like God

        Also in today's Gospel reading from Mark 8, after Jesus revealed to his disciples openly that he must suffer, be rejected, and be killed, Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this Jesus, before the disciples, rebuked Peter for thinking not as God does, but as human beings do. Human beings are good at following their own wishes, which amounts to ignoring God's will. In essence, Jesus wants us to be in union with God so that we may think like God.

Jesus, All-Knowing God

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 8, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.

        From an objective point of view, you can see that Jesus knew exactly who he was and what's going to happen to him. He first asked the disciples questions to test them. Once they knew that truth, he told them what's going to transpire. Here's nothing other than our all-knowing God being himself.  

More on Surrendering to God

         I thought more about surrendering to God at Mass this morning. I acknowledge that God created me, so all of me belongs to him except the free will he has given me. If I give that up as well, then I am all his ~ this is crucial to having faith in God. To surrender to God is to return to my creator to be united with him forever, as it should be. It's letting God take over completely so that I totally vanish in him. This is the process that liberates our heart, mind, spirit, and soul! We are free only when we are no longer aware of our own independent existence. Perhaps you argue that this way a person becomes like a puppet of the Lord. Then I say that if you play your own god, you are just your own robot. To be a "puppet" of God is infinitely better than being a master of yourself or whatever else you can think of. 

Falsehood Exposed

        Truth exposes falsehood. That's why the more you get to know and learn from the true God, the more you realize that you've been living in falsehood. Therefore, ask the Lord to open your eyes, your ears, and your mind so that you may see exactly how you are supposed to live. The goal of life should be to discover the truth and discard falsehood.  

God's Greatness

        Communion time musings. Although so high above me, God is totally accessible. Although he is far beyond my reach, there are no barriers between us. Today in one act, he and I become one. He can stoop so low because he is so great!

The Christian Journey

        When we are on earth, we need God because we have health issues to deal with, natural elements to confront, and most of all, sins to fight. After we get to heaven, we no longer need God because we already have him, and all the above-mentioned problems no longer exist. The Christian journey skips to its best part right after the first part.  

Faith in God Works

        I am pretty much back to normal and resumed attending daily Mass this morning. As Jesus indicated to his disciples in today's Gospel reading from Mark 8, without faith we can have eyes and not see, ears and not hear. He made me see that if we have faith, everything will be well. This is the theory, logic, also a simple formula that always works. Faith makes us follow God, and since God can never lead us astray, everything works out well at the end. The ultimate example: Faith in Christ leads to eternal life.  

Conscience Examined

        Conscience is like a clear window pane God implants in each one of us at our birth. The pane gradually gets soiled and stained by the sins of our world, losing its clarity over a period of time. Now the person no longer sees clearly what's right and what's wrong. God is the one who can wipe it all clean again if you give him the go-head. While he is at it, ask him to clean out whatever filth and dirt your muddy conscience has allowed into your heart and mind as well, and you'll be clean all over again. This was Jesus' mission when he came into the world, for the Lord specializes in making all things clean.     

To Your Heart's Content

        Communion experience. I was amazed and thrilled to realize what the Lord can do with us. If you let yourself be his entirely, he can mold and shape you until you become a totally happy, free person, enjoying him and the world.

Relaxing in God

        I still have one more day to go on my antibiotic, but my cough is almost gone. I attended Sunday morning Mass, feeling God refreshing me once again. Letting go in God relaxes the body, mind, and spirit. How good it is to have the Lord at our service anytime we wish to relax!