God Is Always Fair

        In today's reading from Matthew 20, Jesus told the parable about the landowner who paid all workers in his vineyard the same wage at the end of the day whether they had started at the beginning, later, or in the last hour.  This seemed unfair and the workers hired earlier grumbled.  The owner responded, "My friend, I am not cheating you.  Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?  Take what is yours and go.  What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?  Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?  Are you envious because I am generous?"

        The lessons for us are: (1) God has the right to do what he pleases, (2) He will never shortchange us, (3) How others are rewarded by him is not our business, and (4) We are to be content with what he gives us (if God is going to grant us eternal life, we should be happy even if we are the last ones to get into heaven). 

Wonderful Oneness

        I watched the beginning of World Youth Day live from Madrid, Spain, on EWTN.  Seeing how exuberant the youths were, I sensed the beautiful communion I had with God, all the saints, the Holy Father, and all those now celebrating in Spain.  The oneness of all those who love the Lord, sharing the same faith, fills me with great happiness.     

Entering the Kingdom of God

        Today's Gospel reading is taken from Matthew 19.  Jesus said to his disciples, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God."  The "eye of a needle" has been interpreted as a gate in Jerusalem, which opened after the main gate was closed at night. A camel could pass through this smaller gate if it was stooped and had its baggage removed.  While the road to hell is wide and downhill, the road to heaven is narrow and steep.  To get through that eye of a needle, we'll have to detach ourselves from our material things as well as dropping our spiritual baggage consisting of pride, greed, envy, etc.   

Our Own Sins

        At morning Mass Today, when I came to saying "I have sinned through my own fault" in reciting the Penitential Act, I was particularly struck by the phrase "through my own fault."  Indeed, I cannot sin through someone else's fault; neither can others sin through mine.  When I am being judged before the Lord, I cannot blame anyone else for my sins.  We are the source of our own sins.

True Humility

        Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is our loving intercessor and a great model for us to imitate.  Her most notable virtue is humility.  Humility is not believing that we are the lowest and letting everyone trample on us or that we are useless and thereby remain idle.  True humility is selfless obedience to the will of God, which may call forth our courage, boldness, and resolve.

        A footnote.  Humility also takes the form of not speaking unfavorably about anyone or making someone look bad before others.  I am still working on it.     

Please Consider Jesus

        I have personally known so many sad cases of the human state.  Their minds are occupied with problems.  Basically, they are mired in their own misery, yet they do not turn to the Lord for help.  Mind you, these are already avowed Christians.  I just want to shout at the top of my voice to ask them to please turn to Jesus, the only hope and one who can truly free us.  Yet, they are deaf to any such suggestion.  The heart, once hardened, is surely hard to crack open.  Perrsistent prayers for them are needed.     

Holy Spirit the Sword

        Whether you have seen a Star Wars movie or not, you probably know what a lightsaber is.  I mention this because what appeared in my mind was the picture of the Holy Spirit as an almost transparent sword emitting pure light.  As you wield this sword, the length of the blade changes, depending upon where the person you want to touch is and there's no limit as to how long you can extend this sword.  When the Holy Spirit touches a receptive person, he kindles the fire of his love in that person.  Thus touched, a devout person will love the Lord even more and a sinful one will feel sorry for his trespasses and be drawn back to God.  If you know that the Holy Spirit dwells within you, use this great weapon for the glory of God.

God to Be Trusted

        Today's Responsorial Psalm response reads: "His mercy endures forever."  The Gospel reading is from Matthew 19, in which Jesus made it clear that when a man is joined to his wife, the two become one flesh and that what God has joined together, man must not separate.  So marriage is forever too.  We also know that God's promises to us will never be withdrawn and his love for us is everlasting.  Such a God is to be trusted.   

Beautiful Novena

        The prayers of this Novena to the Holy Spirit are so beautiful that I want to say them even without any specific request to make.  Please go to: http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/novenas/p00012.htm

God Most Enjoyable

        God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is to be enjoyed.  A lifetime of pleasures, entertainment, and amusements of the world can not compare with one second of joy with the Holy Trinity.   

Unselfish Praying

        When we pray, we should ask for things that will glorify God only.  If we pray for good health, the reason must be such that we may serve him better.  If we pray for our enemies, it must be for their salvation for the glory of God ~ whether they will cease to be our enemies or not should not be of our concern.  Unselfish prayers that emanate purely out of love for God will go straight to the divine heart.

Rendering Our Account Now

        When we see God, we'll have to render an account of what we did in this life ~ our present deeds have eternal consequences!  The smart way is to start rendering an account as we perform each deed now, then we'll have nothing to worry about later.

The Sublime Holy Spirit

        Recently, I asked the Holy Spirit to take over my life.  While praying the Novena to the Holy Spirit for one of my intentions, I was totally bowled over by the beauty and warmth of the Holy Spirit.  If Jesus is like a brother to us, then the Holy Spirit is like a best friend, comforting, guiding, and keeping us company.  Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit ~ he dwells deep within our heart, but will engulf and permeate us to the extent we'll let him.  He is simultaneously gentle dove and fiery fire.  What a great blessing to have the Holy Spirit purify, transform, and shape us!

Earthly Pleasures vs. Spiritual Joys

        Earthly pleasures are, well, earthbound ~ the more you enjoy them, the more you feel weighed down.  On the other hand, spiritual joys come from above ~ the more you receive them, the more you are uplifted and freed from the world.

Joy of Union

        After morning Mass, I prayed for a friend, a mother who had just delivered a premature baby.  Both needed prayer.  I knew that the Lord loves them and wanted me to pray for them, so the prayer went "comfortably" well.  It's like a perfect match: God wanted me to pray and I prayed as he wanted.  It is a great feeling when the Lord and you are on the exact same wave length, you might say.  Again, this points to total union as the ultimate joy.  

How to Treat Our Enemies

        The last post was about the provocative (desecrating) art exhibit in the Philippines.  The artist's name is Mideo Cruz.  The exhibit enraged so many people that it finally closed down.  Emotionally, I did feel like punching him in the face too; but in morning prayer before Mass, the Lord made it very clear to me that I was to feel pity on all enemies and to pray for them.  This means that we must treat all others with his mercy.  

God's Love & Mercy

        Right now, an art exhibit in the Philippines is provoking great outrage because the exhibition desecrated the sacred, all in the name of cultivating artistic expression.  Out of reverence for the Lord, I don't even want to describe one exhibit that includes a crucifix.  Another one shows a statue of Jesus with the ears of Mickey Mouse.  Of course, the Lord could instantly wipe out both the artist and his works if he so wishes, but he doesn't.  When he was on earth, he remained meek and humble, always turning the other cheek, finally offering himself to be crucified on the cross.   This art exhibit is just one example of the billions of sins committed against the Lord every day throughout the whole world.  His love and mercy are so great that he endures them all.  It's totally accurate to say that people condemn themselves, while God wants to save them.  Such a great, loving God deserves all our love and adoration.

Most Impressive Prayer

        Which of the following moves the Lord the most when we pray?  (1) We pray with beautiful words, (2) We prayer on our knees, (3) We pray vocally, (4) We pray when we are holy.  Actually, the answer is none of the above.  God is most pleased when we pray with total sincerity from the heart.