The Christian Walk

        Today's Gospel reading comes from John 21.  When Peter asked Jesus what's going to happen to John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, Jesus essentially told Peter to mind his own business and follow him.  Indeed, our business is to just follow Jesus only and not get curious about others' businesses.  Not even concerns about ourselves!  Just follow the Lord single-mindedly and we'll always be heading in the right direction.  The opposite way is to wander off on our own and risk getting lost totally. 

How to Make What You Do Beautiful

        No matter what you do, if you  do it for the glory of God with love, the act becomes beautiful.  That's why everything Jesus did on earth was beautiful.  Heaven is beautiful because all who are up there glorify God, doing his will.

Ideal Match-up

        I was thinking about relationship this morning.  We all like to have friends who unconditionally love us, always understand and support us, and are most patient with us.  The only one that fits the bill is the Lord our God.  On the other hand, having made us to understand his love, God needs us to love him and spread his love around the world.  Thus, we have an ideal match-up here.  Let's work to establish this close relationship in this life, the only chance we've got.

Praying More Personally

        The Lord dwells within us.  I just feel so much more personal when I pray to the Father or Jesus or the Holy Spirit right within me.  (I don't even have to step outside.)

Joy Awaits Us

        The "J" in the name Jesus stands for "Joy" for me.  Jesus awaits me in heaven, and that's the same as "Joy awaits me."  There are sufferings to bear or go through in this life.  I had my share of sicknesses, injuries, and accidents; but when everything is well again, you forget the past.  In heaven, God will wipe away all our tears, so all trials and tribulations of this life will be forgotten completely.  Start rejoicing now.  Get emotional ~ that's OK with God.

Plain Truth About Money

        As long as money is more important to you than God, you are not free.

Most Satisfying Career

        There is no career more satisfying than following Jesus like the Apostles.

Describing God

        During Mass today, I just felt that God is a pearl, a great treasure, priceless and most precious ~ somehow it doesn't sound quite right.  That's because there are just no adequate words around to describe how "terrific" God is.  "Terrific," another inadequate word. 

Eucharistic Feast

        Feelings at Eucharistic time:  What a feast!  What a heavenly banquet!  Such intimacy!  Such love!

Feeling Safe and Secure

        In this morning's Gospel reading from John, Jesus actually prayed to the Father that his disciples might be one as he and the Father are one.  Jesus actually protected and guarded them so that none were lost.  And he wanted them to share his joy completely.  He asked the Father to keep them from the Evil One, consecrated them, and even consecrated himself for them.  As one of his disciples, I just feel absolutely safe in his protection and secure under his watch.     

How to Do God's Will

        Live as if God alone exists. 

Total Immersion in God

        Don't just test the water with your fingertip or dip only your hand in it.  If that water is the Lord our God, jump all the way in and let it cleanse, soothe, and heal you.    

Surrender Unceasingly

        This morning during prayer before Mass, the sacrament of holy orders came into my mind.  I could picture those ready to be ordained lying prostrate on the ground in total submission.  And I thought that it would be nice to submit ourselves like that before we think each thought, say each word, and perform each deed.  This would be a great way to practice surrendering to God.  Like praying unceasingly, we also surrender unceasingly. 

Reason to Believe in Jesus

        From John 16, today's Gospel reading, we learn that the disciples, having seen the many wonders Jesus had performed, heard his many discourses, and discovered that Jesus knew everything, finally came to believe that he came from God.  I have not met Jesus in person, but this testimony from the disciples is plenty good enough for me to believe likewise.  

God Is Awesome

        This morning as I kneeled and prayed facing the altar before Mass began, I trembled because I sense the awesomeness of God.  This is the God whose magnificence, beauty, generosity, and mercy are beyond our comprehension.  I was overwhelmed, yet there was no fear as his love came right through.  With such an awesome Father, we can surely become awesome as children too. 

Love to Reign in the Heart

        At Communion time this morning at Mass, I desired Love to reign completely in my heart, dispelling all of me.  Jesus heard me and gave me great peace.

Trust, not Question

        The word for me today is "trust."  I have been praying faithfully for a number of people to come back to the Church or to accept Christ as savior.  So far I have not yet seen any clear changes of the heart.  I looked to the Lord and he let me see that my role is to trust and not question.  Most of those I pray for are of younger ages than I, so it's possible that I may not even see their return or conversion in my lifetime.  That's OK.  I am to keep on trusting in God's mercy always.  

To Be Joy or Sorrow to God

        In my last posting, I pointed out that the Lord is our joy.  Then because of his great love for us, we can be his joy too.  We learn from the parable of the prodigal son how his return brought such great joy to the father. Jesus also told us that there would be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.  If we can affect God this much, then naturally, we can easily bring him great sorrow too by sinning against him.  Such is the "power" we have over God ~ we can touch, move, or break the heart of God.  The choice is ours.