*Transforming the Heart

        Again, I'd like to reiterate that only God has the power to fundamentally transform us by giving us a new heart. To bring about inner changes in ourselves, we can try hard on our own or seek help from fellow humans, but without involving God, any changes effected are necessarily superficial or short-lived. Since it is sin that causes us to lose inner peace and God our creator is the only one who can remove our sins and reach into our hearts, he has to be the only one who can fundamentally transform us. Naturally, it goes without saying that we must invite him to enter our hearts first before he can bring about any changes.

Worthy to Be Trusted

        Today's entrance antiphon from Revelation 1: I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever, says the Lord. I have complete confidence in the one who remains alive forever. Again, it's time for rejoicing!

Perfect Fit

        Communion experience. I experienced the Lord as my perfect fit, for we were most comfortable with each other. 

**Union With God Clarified

        It is wrong to think that in union with God, you are no longer free to do whatever you want to do. On the contrary, in union with God, you are free to do anything you want to do plus that you don't ever want to offend God again! 

*Common Sense Advice

        Two more or less related thoughts. (1) Unless you are certain that Jesus is not trustworthy, you'd better pay serious attention to all that he has said. (2) Since you do not know what might happen to you next, you'd better place yourself completely in God's hands.

*To Remain in God's Love

        Today is the feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle. In the Gospel reading from John 15, Jesus asked his disciples to remain in his love. Attain union with him and you'll be remaining in his love.

***Sign You Are Free

        There are still people who plan their own funeral to make sure that it would be impressive. It only shows that their soul is still enslaved. If you eagerly look forward to meeting God, you are truly free.

Our Primary Concern

        I see people with everything and people with nothing in this world. Life can be so different for different people on this earth. Then I realize that all this in such a short span of time really doesn't matter much, for everyone will enter eternity either to be with God forever or to be separated from him forever. It is the forever part that we need to be primarily concerned about.  

It Will Have to Happen!

      Today we celebrated The Ascension of the Lord in my parish. Now that we know Christ is God our creator, we see that his Resurrection and Ascension just had to happen. And I have no doubt that his coming again to judge us all will have to take place also in time.

**On Carrying Your Own Cross

       Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Today the Lord made me see a couple of new things. First, taking up the cross is clearly carrying a burden, but the Lord wants us to do it willingly, even lovingly, and full of hope! Look at Jesus carrying his own cross on the way to Golgotha, he suffered great agony, but he never complained or became depressed. Secondly, some of the crosses we can actually ask the Lord to take away for his glory. For example, a loved one has not opened up to Christ and you feel the heavy burden. Naturally, you pray hard for him for the glory of God; but indirectly, you are asking him to take away that cross. I now see Jesus both as a cross-bearer and a cross-remover.