*Our Personal Lord

         Today Friday I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary as I walked, meditating upon the Lord's Agony in the Garden, Scourging, Crowning with Thorns, Carrying of the Cross, and  Crucifixion. Naturally, I felt bad that he went through all that and couldn't help asking him why, and I heard his tender voice saying "For you" in my heart. Of course, I already knew that, but to hear his personal voice answering me was deeply moving.

***Path to Freedom

          "We are not free until we abandon ourselves completely to God." This truth reveals why sinners do not feel free as well as the exact remedy they need. When we pray for someone to convert for a long time and nothing happens, we begin to get discouraged. It shows that we haven't totally abandoned ourselves to God yet. God wants us to abandon all those we love and everything else to him in order to be his alone. This is how you become free in him. It is the beautiful paradox: the more we become slaves to God, the more we become free. God must have made us this way.

***Disposing of Satan

        Satan is battling God for our souls, so we must choose sides. If we choose to go with the Lord, he wins and we dispose of Satan for good. In other words, submit ourselves to God completely and we don't need be concerned about Satan anymore.

**No Happiness Outside of Christ

        I had a fruitful walk this morning as the Lord gave me a number of thoughts to post. But I'll start with this one which I had before the walk. I have not seen many people who are truly happy in this world—they are busy looking for happiness all right. Instead, we see so many families that are dysfunctional or broken, for love no longer exists among the members. And we have many people looking for happiness chasing after money and fame. Corrupt worldly influences do not come from God, for they cause us to fall further away from him. This I can tell you: we'll never find true happiness outside of Christ, for he is the Light and our one and only Savior!

*****Incredibly Satisfying Realization***

         Today I suddenly realize that I am a tiny creature in this vast universe, living for a very brief moment on this planet earth. I have not seen the creator of this universe who also created me, yet he has revealed himself to me so well that I know him more than anyone or anything else. I am connected with him and and even belong to him! Through receiving the Holy Eucharist I got to be united with him both physically and spiritually. And soon I'll return to him, see him, and remain with him for all eternity! This whole realizations is incredibly satisfying!

***Keeping the Lord Company (No Lack of Trust)

        People tell me that if I trust in the Lord, I should just pray to him and not worry about anything anymore, since he will take care of all things. This is correct in theory, but in reality it's not always so simple. If you already know the Lord to the point that you are right aware that he is with you, you can't help thinking of him and feeling the sorrows we have caused and are still causing him and the terrible sufferings we have inflicted and are still inflicting upon him. You do not worry, but do grieve and suffer along with the Lord. It'd be impossible to leave him alone. In no way does this show that you don't trust in him enough.

**Greater than You Think

        That's our Lord God. His power of creation and his wisdom are infinite. His love and mercy for us are beyond our comprehension. Heaven is more beautiful than we can possibly imagine. His proximity to us is closer than we think. He is greater than we can think in every way. I am just so happy that I have such a great God to worship and trust in.

**Forgiving Others

        Someone on Facebook just posted a picture of Pope John Paul II (now Saint John Paul II) showing him forgiving the man who shot him. The poster also supplied the following text: Keep in mind that forgiveness is not for others. It is for you. Forgiving is not forgetting; it is remembering without anger. It frees up your power and heals your body, mind, and spirit. Forgiveness open up a pathway to a new place of peace where you can persist despite what happened to you. Then I also saw Fr. Larry Richards posting the same picture on Pinterest with these words: "Forgiveness is above all a personal choice, a decision of the heart to go against the natural instinct to pay back evil with evil" (St. John Paul II). "For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). Forgive others and show them mercy and you will know God's mercy! When you become an instrument of mercy, you will have the peace you seek. Forgive and be at peace. Amen.

Realistic Assessment of Our State

       We are all on a spiritual journey. As of any moment, we have those who are heaven bound, those who appear doomed, and the rest teetering between these two extremes. Of course, the Lord does not condemn us until after we die, and things can change at any time. But what I have described is a realistic picture of all of us. Being aware of it can help us do the right thing while living. It is right to always do the best thing for ourselves spiritually.

***Back to the Basics

         (1) Prayer turns you to God. How much you enjoy praying shows how much you love him. (2) Faith in Christ can sustain us through our entire life on earth, for it opens the door to receiving power from the Lord. (3) Submission to God as your Lord is the key to experiencing the greatest freedom! This explains why we are unhappy without God. (Believing that God will enslave you has to be one great untruth.) (4) Spiritual Priority—there is only one—serving and pleasing the Lord God alone. Putting anything else ahead of it is to court disaster.