Choose the Better Part

        Today's Gospel reading from Luke 10 is the familiar story about Martha and Mary.  Martha was busy doing the serving, while her sister Mary just sat at the feet of the Lord and listen to him speak.  When Mary complained, Jesus pointed out that "there is need of only one thing and Mary has chosen the better part."  

        It's clear that Jesus wants us to put my spiritual life, prayer life, ahead of all other chores we need to do in life.  If this lesson is a theorem, then one corollary would be to put the spiritual health of our heart ahead of our physical health and concerns about all other conditions of life.     

On Obeying the Lord

        The word that came to my mind this morning just before Mass was "obey."  To obey is to follow the Lord.  Actually, if you can do it, it's the easy way out.  To follow is always easier than to lead ~ you don't have to think anymore.  You are off the hook, so to speak.  The hard part here is to do it, that is, obeying the Lord.  Knowing that he will always lead you right should give you the confidence to get started. 

        The other part is to hear his voice so you can follow.  This morning during prayer before Mass I realized that even in silence, my mind was busily ticking away, dashing from one quick thought to another ~ it was like I was doing all the talking and questioning.  So I tried to empty the mind by not thinking about anything.  I just wanted to listen to the Lord.

        In reality, if you don't hear any strong voice from the Lord, you simply do your best to love him in the most humble way you see fit, knowing that you aim is to serve him.  If you have peace in your heart, then you know that you're on the right path.  The Gospel reading of today from Luke again reminded us to love the Lord with all our heart, all our being, all our strength, and all our mind.  If we are filled with love for God, we will be obedient to him.  This then is our starting point.  

The Gospel to Remain Intact

        Today is the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi.  In Reading 1 from Galatians 1, Paul strongly admonished those who went over to a different gospel.  He pointed out that the gospel he preached is not of human origin, but came through a revelation of Jesus Christ, and is not to be perverted.  He felt so strongly about this that he said that if anyone, even an angel from heaven, should preach a gospel other than the one he preached, let him be accursed!  With the additional example of St. Francis who adhered to the Gospel teachings, it just shows how important it is for us to keep the original gospel intact.  Times have changed, people say, but the gospel is not to be altered because it is divine revelation.  

The Eucharistic Difference

        Yesterday I attended morning Mass and later the Vigil Mass.  Receiving the Lord in Holy Communion twice in a day can be overwhelming.  The Communion experience goes way beyond maintaining a personal relationship with Christ, which is the goal of many Christians.  Of course, to know Christ, we must have a personal relationship with him.  But without the Holy Eucharist, this is as far as we can go.  It's the Holy Eucharist, the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that draws us deep into him to become one ~ it's no longer two separate persons close together, but two persons in each other united.  How blessed and fortunate are those who recognize and take advantage of this great gift from God!    

No Cowardly Spirit

        Today's second reading is from 2 Tim 1.  Verse 7 reads "For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control."  

        Basically, I see that the Holy Spirit renews us, making us holy.  Since it's the guilty person who gets nervous and is timid, a holy one becomes fearless and strong with God on his side.   Naturally, the Spirit also makes you loving.  Be fearless and loving at the same time ~ this is how we are to deal with others, including our enemies.  As for self-control, once the Spirit takes over, we no longer need to exercise it since the Spirit is now in command. 

        Take full advantage of the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives us.     

We Are Limited

        In thanking God after receiving Holy Communion today, I felt that I wasn't able to thank him enough.  What I mean is that the heart wanted to thank him more, but I was at the limit of thinking of words and thoughts to express myself truthfully.  In the same way, in praising God, we can quickly run out of words to fully express ourselves ~ again, we feel the limitation.  Out of frustration, tongues starts to flow out of the mouth. Anyway, all this makes me realize more our limitations and that God is what we need to lean upon for all things.   

Let God Fill You

        In today's Responsorial Psalm, the response was: "Lord, let your face shine on me."  I pictured opening myself to God's shinging light, deleting whatever that's unclean or impure in me, and letting God fill the entire empty space of my soul.  This is not imagining things; you actually wish so and, of course, the good Lord sees it clearly and fulfills your desire with love.  He always wants to give you more and more, so long as you are open to him.     

Be Ready Now

        It's already Oct. 1 ~ time just marches on relentlessly.  We all keep getting closer to the time of judgment.  I don't mean to sound grim ~ it's just reality.  The urgency for us to stay alert, be prepared, for you know not when the Lord will be coming, becomes even more compelling with the passing of time.  "If today you hear his voice, harden not your heart" ~ the response to the Alleluia at Mass this morning.  To be ready, live as if this moment is your last.  Don't give anyone a chance to say "I told you so" to you later. 

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

        Today is the Memorial of this beloved saint of many. Here is a link to her Act of Oblation to Merciful Love she recited on June 11, 1895, to God: https://stpaulcenter.com/the-act-of-oblation-to-merciful-love/  She was twenty-two at the time.

Jesus the True God

        I woke up in bed around 2 a.m. this morning.  In the dark stillness, my mind was drawn immediately to Jesus.  I started thinking that here's someone I've never met in person and was here on earth some 2,000 years ago, in a region far away from where I reside now; yet, among all the people I know, he is the  one closest to my heart and most intimate to my soul.  I don't believe this kind of relationship exists in any other religion.  I wasn't ever brain-washed, nor was I under any kind of spell.  No one has  pressured me into this relationship, which I am free to sever anytime I wish.  And I am not alone, knowing that there are many, many others feeling the same way.  The only conclusion I could come to is that I have encountered the True God in Jesus.

Trying God Last

        Just saw someone on TV saying how yoga helps him live a balanced, holistic life and all that.  This is fine, but it just struck me why people always try God last in times of need.  If we say that we believe in God, then is it right to set him aside, feeling that we don't need him to "interfere," until we are in a jam or some desperate situation?  To ignore anyone's presence amounts to an insult, let alone that someone is God.  If you wish to establish an intimate relationship with God, then the first step to take would be to stop ignoring him.  Remember: "Draw God in," not "leave him out."

Self-Importance Blinds Us

        I've been thinking about our own place before God.   We are really a lot smaller and more limited than we think.  God is infinite in every way, while we really know practically nothing.  It's true that man has made great progress in all areas of knowledge, discovered many "secrets" of the universe, and changed the material world for his own comfort and convenience, but that does not mean that man is getting smarter.  When you play hide-and-seek and find the object, your IQ just doesn't jump higher all of a sudden.  The "tragedy" is that man thinks he's now god or at least more important than ever.      

        All day long, you hear politicians, scientists, news commentators, celebrities,... express their own opinions.  There are experts and pundits in every field now.  They all love to tell you what they think and knock others in the process.  They all want themselves to look good and be at the center of attention.  Rampant self-importance has blinded them from seeing the presence of God.  How important you feel about yourself really indicates how much you lack humility, the must-have for knowing God.  Christ is our supreme example here.  Pray hard for the conversion of our minds and hearts. 

Never mind...

what people think of or say about you; let only what people think of or say about God be of your utmost concern.

Made for Each Other

        God created the entire universe and all things in it.  He made the plants, all animals, us, and myriads of other objects.  It should be obvious that we are extra special among all his creations.  We were made in his image out of love and are expected to love him back.  No other creatures are expected to love him back because they were not created with the ability to do that.  A tree doesn't know how to love.  All non-human animals do not have the concept of God.  Let alone the planets and stars.  We are so special that God didn't even mind letting his own beloved Son take on our form becoming one of us to reveal his love for us!  Indeed, we and God were made for each other.  Rejoice please.   
        Another thought: We are the only creature that can be made Christlike!!!

Reject...

all praises, compliments, honors, and recognitions coming from other humans as if they were poison, but embrace all graces from God heartily as if your very life depends upon them (as a matter of fact, your eternal life does depend upon God's graces).           

How to Know God

        People want to know all kinds of things.  Scientists, philosophers,... all search and search, hoping to know more.  If the goal is to know God, then they will not find him that way.  You can study, learn, and research for a million years and never get to know God.  The Lord is not to be found in test tubes, cannot be cornered and examined, and is beyond the reach of our intellect.  You will only find him when you have the right attitude and mind-set, then he will reveal himself to you.  The way to know him is really simple ~ it just involves the heart.  Be humble, beg, and wait, and he is there.  This is what faith is all about.  This is why faith is so beautiful.  Sadly, this is also why so many do not get to know God.          

A Not-to-Judge Reminder

        On EWTN last night, I heard Father Corapi (in a 2003 video) quoting Jesus in The adulteress incident (John 8).  When the scribes and Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by asking him what he had to say about following the law of Moses to stone the woman, Jesus answered: "Let the man among you who has no sin be the first to cast a stone at her."  This again is a good reminder for me not to judge others. 

The Lord Really Meant It!!!

        During Eucharistic Prayer at this morning's Mass, father, consecrating the bread, said the usual words of Jesus, "Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you."  Then, to consecrate the wine, again using Jesus' words, he said "Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you..." ~ at this precise point, it hit me hard that the Lord really meant it, as he did go right on to shed his blood.  Then when he said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life," he must really mean it too.  It follows that the Lord has been truthful in all his sayings.  This greatly increased my admiration and love for him.  Thank you, Jesus.