Also in today's Gospel reading from Matthew 16, when Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly and be killed and on the third day be raised, Peter began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Lesson learned. God always knows what he is doing. We may not understand, but we must always follow along and never question. Saying no to God is a no-no.
The sharing of my spiritual thoughts and experiences
Thursday, August 4, 2022
****Revelation from God Needed
Today is the memorial of St. John Vianney. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 16, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father." In my early days, I came to believe in Jesus after I read and heard a lot about him. It's my intellectual conviction and spiritual thirst that made me decide to accept him. Of course, I now see the truth without a doubt, for I have opened up to him and he has made himself more real to me than anyone else I now see, hear, or touch. It is important that we remain open to the Lord to receive revelations from him so that our faith may become super strong.
***Christ the Ultimate Quest
We usually admire people who look good, are powerful, are generous and loving, never show off, and/or are holy. Look at Christ Jesus and you'll find all these attributes and then some. In fact, he is the embodiment of everything that's good and beautiful. This is why so many of us have fallen deeply in love with him. In him, you find total fulfillment, the completion of your existence.
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
*Myopic Learning
We all learn the ways of the world fast. We find out how to get good jobs, invest our money wisely, know influential people, etc. We learn from both mistakes and other people and pretty soon do quite well in this world. Sad that we don't see the forest for the trees. Know God first and you'll know how to live this life wisely and take care of your next life as well.
**Awake or Asleep?*
We are supposed to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind. So how are we doing? Looking at the world, I can't say that most of us are even awake. Even though God's mercy is infinite, it wouldn't do us any good if we remain oblivious to it. On the other hand, we can make his work in saving us effortless. Then our eternal joy is assured. The choice we face: to wake up or to remain asleep (possibly forever).
**Heavenly Experience
Communion experience. I have never been to heaven. But after I received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, I was virtually in heaven.
**Beautiful, Logical Sequence
(1) Say the Lord's Prayer with all your heart. (2) Abandon yourself completely to the Lord. (3) You are ready for union with God.
***Most Personal Lord
When Jesus changes the bread and wine into his own body and blood during the liturgy of the Eucharist, he does that for all those present. Nevertheless, at Mass this morning I felt that he, being my personal Lord, just did it for me, and I was overwhelmed.
**This Is Also Trust in God
God does not discriminate. He treats and judges us differently because our backgrounds and life experiences are all different. He knows exactly what we deserve in each case. We are to mind our own business and not judge anyone else.