Formula for Saving Ourselves

        Jesus' saying "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it" from my last post is in fact the formula for saving ourselves. It simply points out that living selfcenteredly is bad for you and living for God is the way to go. To live a fulfilled life, live for God ~ that's all there is to it.

Unforgettable Saying

        Jesus said, "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." This commanding saying of the Lord, recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, popped into my mind today. It is so striking that we must take it seriously! Again, it challenges us. Who else but God can say something like that? We must respect the Lord for telling it like it is and believe in him. 

Pinpoint Diagnosis

        Lack of inner peace in a soul is caused by the soul's rebellion against God.

Changing Labor into Joy

        Today is Labor Day in the US, a national holiday. Doing God's will is never labor, even if it involves hard physical or mental work. That's because you no longer do it to please yourself ~ whether you succeed or not is now in God's hands. By the way, this is the way to live a stress-free life, the way God has always intended for you.  

Worth Repeating

        God is always calling us. He is calling you in everything, happy or sad, large or small, that happens to you. See every such thing as an opportunity to be drawn closer to the Lord. Learn from every experience so that you continue to grow holier. Then you'll live a happy, rich, and fulfilled life.  

Getting Personal

        Communion time thoughts. As I received Holy Communion, I recalled John 6.56: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." How more personal can you get?     

Faith Essential

        The revelation "God is love" through Christ Jesus is the truth that has solved the mystery of human existence and provided us with the hope of living forever with God. Then with faith in Christ, we have everything. Conversely, without this faith, we have nothing. 

Just God and I

        Communion experience. It'd be easier for me to live without food than to live without the Holy Eucharist. After receiving him today, it's just "my God and I," alone together.

Going Through the Front Door

        All messages you hear from the pulpit advise us to love God or grow holier, but having good intentions and achieving results are two separate things. One can hear these messages a thousand times and still remain pretty much the same old person, which can be frustrating. In the world, people can often achieve what they desire through the back door, but I propose that you go boldly through the front door. "Going through the front door" is going straight to God to seek union with him. The fundamental change takes place after you enter him. Now, it's he changing you, no longer you trying hard to change yourself ~ an absolutely amazing and rewarding experience! [This in fact is the central message of this blog ~ I am stating it again after seeing all the frustrations in people.]

No Lazy Christians

        At Mass today the Gospel reading was the parable of the talents from Matthew 25. It was clear that God expects us to make good use of what he has given us to be fruitful. There is just no place for lazy Christians in his kingdom. Believing in the Lord, then sitting back to play it safe does not please him. A Christian needs to remain alive, awake, alert, and adventurous. A timid Christian is only as good as a dead one.