Avoid Dying in Sin

        Never die in sin, that is, never die with sins still unremoved. To die when we are committing a sin is also embarrassing, to say the least. Remedies: (1) get your sins absolved as soon as possible and (2) do not sin in the first place. Sound advice: seek union with God to remove your tendency to sin.

Private Joy in God

        Communion experience. Realizing my absolute security in the Lord, I couldn't help smiling a little bit.

*Better than a Grain of Wheat

        Today's Communion antiphon was John 12.24. Jesus said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." Aren't we all better than a grain of wheat? When we let our old self die in Christ, he will surely make us anew to become abundantly fruitful. As nothing is impossible with God, never limit him or yourself! 

***Breaking Through to God!

        In today's Gospel reading from John 17, Jesus prayed to the Father for his disciples, "Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one" and "Consecrate them in the truth. I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth." Here Jesus shows his desire for us to be in union with him and the Father, and that we need to have God consecrate us. It all comes down to offering ourselves up to God – the ultimate move we need to make to break free from the world to belong to God. 

**Preparing for Meeting God

        I believe that when God judges us, he would first see how much time and effort we devote to living for him as opposed to living for ourselves on earth. And he may very well ask us how we died, knowing fully well the answer. Say you died because you got really angry at someone, threw a big tantrum, and subsequently suffered a fatal heart attack – wouldn't you be embarrassed to tell the Lord that's how you died? Therefore, never do anything that would make you look so foolish when you appear before God. And remember that we could leave this world at any time.

No Less than the Apostles

        Communion experience. What I received was exactly what the Apostles received at the Last Supper from the Lord: the Lord himself. 

***My God Forever and Ever

        Today's entrance antiphon came from Revelation 1: Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. What attracts me to the Lord is his forever-and-ever-ness. When he settles your problem, it is settled once and for all. When he forgives you, you are forgiven totally. When he promises you eternal life, you can always depend upon him. When you are saved, you are going to live with him in heaven forever and ever! It is the certainty and trustworthiness that draws me to him. How good it is to know that he is and will be my God forever and ever!

**Recipe for Peace

        If you live a self-centered life, that is, you always follow your own wishes, I can guarantee that you'll never have peace. Wanting to have everything your way is to shackle yourself to everything. To follow Christ is to live a God-centered life. Now you are free because you no longer need to play God who is now taking care of you. I am telling you because I've gone through all this and know what I am saying. The peace you receive is worth giving up everything in the world for. Basically, it comes down to the truth that God is worth giving up yourself for.

**Love at Any Cost*

        In meditating upon the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary today, I realized that the Lord had gone through his Passion – so much suffering! – just to make it easy for us to be saved. Love does not count the cost. I pray that we all will realize and appreciate this.

The Healing Lord

        Communion experience. I developed a big cyst on my cheek, probably caused by exposure to sunlight over the years. The doctor operated on it and prescribed an antibiotic for me to take, and healing has taken place. As I received the Holy Eucharist, I knew that Jesus entered me physically and healing was going to take place spiritually.