Thoughts On Judging

        As we are all sinners, no one is "qualified" to judge others. It is ironic that a holy person should shy away from judging anyone, while a grave sinner readily judges everyone. Shall not we say that not judging others is a sign of holiness? Jesus tells me not to judge, period. For we have only one judge, the Lord God.

Be Ready for Appearing Before God

        In watching the news a little bit this morning, I saw some of the high-and-mighty politicians speaking for their own agenda, perhaps sincerely or perhaps for political gain. When they appear one day before the Lord, they will realize then that they are completely at his mercy. The best policy for us is to remain humble and be prepared for our day of appearance before the Lord.

*Moving God's Will

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 7, a Greek woman begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. Jesus tested her by saying to her, "Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She replied and said to him, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps." Then he said to her, "For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter." When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. We see and learn here that when the Lords wills something, it is done, and that faith can move God's will!

**God All-Knowing

        You can conjure up many gods, but there can be only one true God and he is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Lord God knows everything about us, his handiwork. If you do not know him, but mean to pray to him, he knows it. If you're misguided and have a false image of him but still mean to seek him, he knows that too. In other words, as long as you believe that there is only one true God and wish to know him, he will reveal himself to you. The Lord knows us before we were born. He sees what's in our hearts and understands us more than we can ourselves. It's such a blessing that we have an all-knowing God, which means that we are well looked after by him. 

Be Ruthless to Sin

        Realizing that you have sinned is good, but to not sin again is so much better. In fact, that should be your goal. Therefore, be absolutely ruthless to sin and become a saint. 

How to Live for God Effectively

        Get out of the way of the Lord, which means that ego must be absent, completely. 

God Our Liberator

        We on our own are easily shackled by all the material things of the world – a simple fact. The God of Christ is the only one who can shatter all our shackles and liberate us into eternal freedom – a simple truth. Submit yourself to God to make it happen – a simple act of will.

Cleaning the Heart 1st

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 7, Jesus said to the crowd, "Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile." Jesus used such examples as evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly. These all come from the unclean heart. The first order of business of loving God is to let him purify your heart and keep it clean. Then you'll be ready to love your neighbors as God loves us, for he is all pure and holy.

God's Will Satisfies

        Matthew 5.6, one of the Beatitudes: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall have their fill. This tells me that if whatever you want is what God wants, then you shall have it. Therefore, follow God's will and you will be satisfied. 

Why Not Talk to God More?

        Most people love to talk. The moment Mass is over, you hear the buzz of conversations. Since the Lord God is supposed to be the most intimate one of all to us, it seems logical that we should talk to him more that to anyone else. Of course, with God, we can easily talk to him in thoughts, for he knows all our mind as well as our heart.