Going Beyond Minimalism

      Two guys, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known as "The Minimalists" are becoming increasingly popular. There is a documentary made about their Minimalism, which you can watch on YouTube. In it, they point out that the problem with society is compulsory consumption, which is acquiring things because that's what we are supposed to do. In their own words, they explain that Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life's excess in favor of focusing on what's important, so you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom.  

          This message is catching on with the public. I am posting it because I want to share a superior way that cures the problem at the fundamental level. Naturally, God is involved. Submit yourself to God completely and become detached to all things except the Lord himself. Then even if you are surrounded by material things, you enjoy your freedom. Besides, doing it for God's sake and not your own adds purpose and joy to your existence.

Communion Effect

        Communion experience. The Lord made me aware that after receiving him, he had made me a better person. All the Communion experiences can certainly create a cumulative effect. Praise be to God!

Eternity Is Timeless

        Time is not something you can see passing, not a clock ticking away . . . it is an abstract concept not easy to grasp. All I can say is that things happen in a certain order in time. Anyway, here is an awareness that makes me forget all about time for the time being: it is the knowledge that I'll be with God in heaven for all eternity. It must be that in eternity, time becomes obsolete.

Sign of Spiritual Progress

        We all have things we'd like very much to get done. But if you are OK with it in case you can't accomplish any or all of them in time or at all, then congratulations, for you are no longer being enslaved by them! 

*The Ideal God

        Wouldn't it be nice to have a God who is omnipotent so that nothing is impossible with him and also omniscient so that he personally knows about you and fully understands you? Wouldn't it be nice if he also loves you to death and wants to lead you to paradise to enjoy eternal life with him? To make that possible, with your consent he can and would even take away your sins. Such an extraordinary God turns out to be none other than the God of Christ, for he alone fits the bill. Now the good news – he is wide open to accepting new candidates to be heirs in his kingdom.

*Are You Bearing Fruit?

        Today's Communion antiphon based upon what Jesus said in John 15.16: It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. You bear fruit only when you do God's will. Know that the fruit you bear becomes the treasure you store up in heaven. Alas, most inhabitants of the world are fully occupied with doing only what they will to do. [I admit there are those who are intent on doing God's will, but are unfortunately misguided, for their work miss the true marks of doing his will, which are love and humility.] To not bear fruit is to waste your lifetime. If it dawns on you to repent in the last minutes of your life, you might still squeeze through the narrow gate to heaven, but taking such a chance is being foolish to the extreme. Of course, should you deliberately plan it that way, you'd be shut out for sure, for trying to fool God makes you the biggest fool of all time.

*Doing God's Will Smartly

        Think of God's will as a flowing river. Doing God's will is get in that water and float along smoothly and effortlessly with it. If you do not resist or panic, it will be easy and a joy. Again, God can make all you think is impossible possible. The secret is trust. Letting God do all the hard work for you is being truly smart (or wise if you prefer). 

Key Relationship

        Today is the Memorial of St. Francis de Sales. In the Gospel reading from Mark 3, the mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they asked for him through the crowd gathered around him. He said to them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" Looking around at those seated in the circle he said,  "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." Jesus made a big point as God speaking. All of us are equal before God as his children – and it's not how we relate to each other but how we relate to God that matters.  

**We Need God!

        Communion experience. The Most Holy Lord entered me, but I was relative to him a filthy sinner. How was union with him possible? The Lord showed me that I only needed to be open and submit myself to him, and he would take care of the rest. Again, it is our intention that counts, since we can never be perfect as he is. It is always the Lord that makes the impossible possible!

Prayer for Ending Abortion

        On the 44th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, today is Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Here is the call by Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life (www.priestsforlife.org) to pray for an end to abortion:

      Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, and for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself Never to be silent, Never to be passive, Never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, and never to stop defending life until all my brothers and sisters are protected, and our nation once again becomes a nation with liberty and justice not just for some, but for all, through Christ our Lord. Amen!

**How We Are Judged

        We are not judged by how good a person we think we are, but by how much we please or offend Christ. 

*Enviable Position

        If you have Christ, you would never feel that you are at a disadvantage or less fortunate or inferior to anyone anymore. This is because the possession of such a treasure as the Lord God himself is the ultimate fulfillment of life, putting you beyond the influence of the world.