We Have Hope!

        On NPR this morning, I heard the sad story of Jeremiah, a 14 year old high school kid who took his own life because he couldn't take the bulling he received at his school anymore (http://www.npr.org/2014/01/31/268996343/when-jeremiah-couldnt-take-more-bullying-he-took-his-life). I've been pondering over the subject of suicide lately. If you take someone's life, you are still alive and have the chance to repent and confess to God and be forgiven. But if you take your own life, that chance is gone forever. In the case of Jeremiah, I don't believe he understood the seriousness of his act yet at his age. Besides, he might not even know Jesus. The Lord surely knew all the circumstances and could still easily forgive him.    

        How I wish I can let every single person in the world know that no one ever needs to feel hopeless, for Christ is our bright everlasting hope! This morning at Mass I saw that God is our only hope against evil. God is love, and without love we become defenseless. Sin takes over and we turn cruel against each other, heading toward eternal death. I am not being pessimistic, only truthful and realistic. Yes, even if your life is like living in hell, Jesus can change that hell into heaven as he is our only and true hope.   

Another Christian Benefit

        A Christian follows the will of God. When what God wants him to do is clear, he does it. When unclear, he does not get anxious, but prays and waits in peace. In this sense, a Christian always knows what to do. He's never feels lost ~ that's right.

Not Letting God Go

        Once we believe in God, we are safe and secure in his hands and need only rest in him and enjoy his presence. But sometimes I feel like holding onto him so tight as if I'm going to lose him. Then I realize that this is not due to any insecurity, but because I love and yearn for him so much. I call this "not letting go in God."          

Does Faith Need Works?

        Protestants believe that faith alone is sufficient for salvation, while Catholics quote from James 2 to claim that faith without works is dead. This is how I see it. If you truly believe in God and follow him, you will "automatically" be prompted by the Holy Spirit to do good works to serve and glorify God. Therefore, whether faith needs works or not becomes a nonissue. It also follows that if no good works come forth from someone who says that he has faith, then he is a liar.    

Reality Stories We Need to Hear

        Here are two Journey Home programs with terrific messages. The first is an interview with Kelly Nieto who was a new age atheist. What she has to say perfectly describes the state of our sick society today. 

        

        This second interview is with Leah Darrow. What she experienced was typical of what many of today's young men and women face. Every teenager would benefit from listening to her story. 

Guessing The Unforgivable Sin

        In today's Gospel reading at morning Mass from Mark 3, Jesus said to the scribes, "Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin." I had wondered what this unforgivable sin could be. I venture to make a guess here. In the Gospel, the scribes said earlier of Jesus, "He is possessed by Beelzebul [an unclean spirit]," and "By the prince of demons he drives out demons." It seems that the unforgivable sin must be calling the Holy Spirit an unclean spirit, which is the same as calling the Holy God the devil ~ God forbid!

Taking Advantage of God

        The presence of Jesus I am aware of has become overwhelming to the point I could no longer not think about him even for a moment ~ he is more real to me than anything else! God is just so beautiful and lovely, that's all I can say. I took advantage of this intimacy and shared with him a couple of my urgent wishes and knew that he heard me and would grant them in time. Let the Lord do whatever he wishes with you and he'll fill you with great joy by coming to dwell within you.  

Being a Christian

        A Christian does only the will of God. If his action benefits others, he expects no reward or gratitude, for he receives his reward and joy from God alone. A Christian never compares himself with anyone who is more popular, more powerful, more talented, or richer, for he prefers to remain peaceful through humility. A Christian cares about God first, others second, and himself last.     

Answering God's Call

        Today's Gospel reading came from Matthew 4 ~ Jesus began preaching and called his first disciples. If you are not happy with your spiritual state and wish to progress, what should you do? Here's my obvious answer: Like Peter, Andrew, James, and John who left everything at once to follow Jesus after he called them in the Gospel reading, you too should leave for the Lord immediately, for he has called you. The sinful state is a state of emergency and immediate action is required.

How to Approach God

        I felt well enough to attend Sunday morning Mass, but remained quiet for fear that using my voice would trigger coughing. Before Mass started, I thought about how we should approach the Lord. The following immediately came to the mind: Be open completely; remain passive and at his disposal; leave all our cares at his feet; ask no questions, only trust; rest in his peace now in his holy presence. This is total abandonment in God. This is enjoying him. This is what "Thy will be done" is all about.