God Makes the Difference

         Thoughts this morning.       

        Without God, I would be living a self-centered life, grabbing whatever I can for myself, wanting to do better than or at least keep up with the others, and enjoying the things of the world as much as possible.               

        With God, everything that's important before is no longer so.  Now I have him guiding and leading me ~ I do not have to struggle for myself anymore.  A new, free way of living with peace in the heart ~ it's God's way, which makes all the difference in this life, and the next too (I almost forgot).   

Ego, Still an Enemy

        I was telling a friend something.  That something was true and appropriate for the moment as it illustrated a point relevant to the topic we were on.  I realized that telling the story would reveal the fact that I was involved in a ministry that might make me look "holy" to the other person; but since that's not really my intention and the story was interesting, I went ahead and told it.  I did feel a little uncomfortable afterwards because it made me feel like a name-dropper. 

        I started thinking about this.  I feel that the buildup or formation of the self (ego) starts from the moment of our birth.  Over time through upbringing, learning, and experience, we become the center of  ourselves.  From this center, we think, speak, and do things our way.   You hear people say "That's the way I am" or "God has made me this way."  Of course, we can change; but after years of forming shields and protective layers around the ego, it becomes difficult.   Surrendering to God by displacing the ego with humility provides the solution.  Nothing is impossible with God. 

God's One-Way Giving

        After receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, again I felt that the Lord had been giving me everything; that is, everything I needed and that's good for me had come from him.  Even myself he had made.  So the only logical thing left for me to do was to love him with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength, as he had requested.    

Heaven, Only Sensible Choice

        I still remember when I first learned how to drive a car many years ago, I read that a head-on collision is something that I should avoid at all costs ~ it's the last thing you want on the list of accidents.  I have always remembered that.  May I say that in planning your future, eternal separation from God should be the last thing on your list of destinations.  In fact, it should be deleted from the list if you possess any good sense at all.  Therefore, aim for the only item left on the list, which is eternal union with God.  Choose it without reservation.

Between God and Us Always

        In the last two posts, I talked about the personal relationship between God and us.  This is what really matters.  When we face God alone after we die, no one can testify on our behalf anymore ~ it's between God and us all the way.  How good it would be to surrender to him now and hear the words "Well done, my good and faithful servant" and share the master's joy (Matthew 25.21) later in heaven.

Benefit of Surrender

        I must mention one great benefit of surrender to God ~ you get to "see" the great beauty of God, out of this world.  When it happens, the heart and soul are overwhelmed by delight.

Surrender Leads to Freedom

        You hear a lot about the importance of having a personal relationship with God.  But a personal relationship could be quite superficial, intimate, or anywhere in-between.  If you want to go all the way, then surrender to God.  When you do it, you will realize that this is something you should have done way at the beginning.  It marks the end of your rebellion and the beginning of true freedom of the heart.  Now you and God are on the same side. 

Three Joyful Things

        From today's first reading from Acts 11, I heard that certain early converts, before they were known as Christians, started proclaiming the Lord Jesus.  That brought joy to my heart.  To proclaim the Lord is one of the most joyful things to do.  The other two joyful things are hearing the voice of the Lord and following him.    

The Ideal Relationship to Be In

        I've been thinking about how we should relate to God.  In today's Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus says that he is the good shepherd who will lay down his life for his sheep.  He knows his sheep and they know him.  As one of his sheep, I am loved by him and am absolutely safe with him.  I hear his voice and he hears mine.  This is truly the ideal relationship for us to be in. 

God's Love, Our Only Hope

        Watching the news is depressing.  There is so much disregard of the human life, so many assaults on the human dignity.  Revenge is widespread and rampant.  People actually are happy when others suffer or die.  Many look after their own interests only and don't care about the rest of humanity. 

        Don't they know that God is love?   The love of God can take away our sins, purify the soul, and transform the human heart.  This love is our only hope for reversing the downslide of our world; but the people must believe in it, accept it, and ask for it first to gain salvation.  Ignoring this love is to bring condemnation on themselves.   

Christ Is Our Test

        Tests show what we are truly made of.  On a battlefield, one finds out whether he is brave or timid.  In court, some will lie and others won't.  And there are ones who can be bought with money if the offer is right.  I can easily think of a situation for each of the Ten Commandments in which one may fail to obey.  Christ is a test for us because he challenges us.  Basically, our response to him exposes whether he is more important than us or not.   

Live for Heaven

        Most people as they grow up begin to set goals for their lives.  The general goal is usually to make a lot of money as quickly as possible.  More specific goals might be to become lawyers, doctors, or engineers.  There are also poorer families whose only wish is to earn enough money to put their children through college so that they will have a better life.  But there is a lot more to live for than just this life.  To be truly farsighted and plan for eternal security, we should make heaven our primary goal.  That is, we should live for heaven.  This is what God wants us to do as he always wants the very best for us.         

Paul's Conversion Gives Evidence

        The 1st Reading at Mass from Acts 9 begins an account of Paul's dramatic conversion. Here was a powerful person who threatened and imprisoned the  Christians. I am sure that no one at the time could possibly have expected him to change sides, but by the grace and power of God, he did become a disciple after Christ called him. To me, this is strong, positive evidence that Christ is real and Christ is God. Again, nothing is impossible with God. 

Eucharist, the Most Holy Sacrament

        Again in today's Gospel reading at Mass, John 6.52-59, Jesus spoke clearly: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you."  He emphasized this several times more in this passage.  Try adding the word "symbolically" after "Man" and Blood" and reread the whole sentence.  You'll see that the word "symbolically" is totally out of place. 

        Jesus fulfilled his promise by instituting the Holy Eucharist later at the Last Supper. 

In Harmony with God's Will

        Picture the will of God as a river flowing with sparkling, clean, refreshing water.  To do his will, you just get in and let the water keep you afloat and the flow carry you downstream without your having to expend much effort on your own.  When you are in harmony with the will of God, it will carry you, making the task easy.

Holy Eucharist Is Real Flesh

        Today's Gospel reading was from John 8.  Jesus declared to the crowds: "I am the bread of life.  Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”  It cannot be clearer that the Holy Eucharist Jesus instituted is the real body and blood of himself. 

        Just before receiving him at Mass this morning, I asked the Lord to crush (the old) me so that I might be entirely at his disposal.

Easy to Follow God

        Picture the will of God as a flowing river of sparkling, clean, refreshing water.  If you are in harmony with God's will, it's like getting in the river and flowing right along with the water.  God keeps you afloat and the water carries you forward without having to expend much of your own effort.  Following the Lord is easy if you let him lead you.  

How to Enjoy God

        Trust in God 100%.  Let his love take over so that you love everyone as yourself.  Focus upon him alone and keep out all non-essential, distracting thoughts.  Then nothing will bother you anymore ~ you can just "sit back" and enjoy the peace and freedom from God.