From Nothing to Something

        A corollary to the last post.  If you think that you are somebody, then here's the bad (and hopefully good) news for you: We are nothing until God makes something out of us.

Thoughts on Life

        We're born into this world, live an unknown number of years, and then leave the world.  We didn't bring anything with us when we came and won't be able to take anything with us when we leave; we're just passing through.  While we are in the world, we depend upon everything that comes from God to survive ~ we are basically "nothing."  But we can become something, in fact, something truly beautiful, if we'll just let God come into our lives to transform us.  All we need to do is to remain open and God will do the work.  It just seems such a natural thing for us to do.

Mary's Birthday Thoughts

        Today is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The more I read about Mary, the more I realize her special sanctity and the important role she assumed in the history of salvation.  She is the greatest among all saints.  Her sorrow at the death of Jesus exceeded what any of us could ever possibly experience.  Because of her supreme humility, God exalted her to be Queen of Heaven.  I am so blessed to have her as my ally, mother, intercessor and partner in doing God's will.  Praised be to the glorious Holy Trinity.  

Unique Features of Catholicism

        Today I am again thinking about some of the unique, outstanding features of Catholicism, my faith.  The whole truth was directly revealed to us by God from above through Christ, not founded by anyone from down below.   It's been handed down through unbroken apostolic succession, not to be modified, changed, or corrected by anyone outside the Church afterwards.

"Surrender" Review

        I've talked about surrender to God a lot.  Here are some more thoughts.  The word "surrender" is not a pleasant one, especially to most men.  Of course, you don't want to surrender to an evil dictator or a mean boss, but surrendering to God is entirely different.  It is basically going home, returning to the one who made you, reconciling with the Father who has always loved you, receiving his love and achieving freedom.  It is what we should for do for eternal happiness.  Nothing can ever be more fulfilling than union with God, initiated by surrender to God.

Don't "Punish" the Lord

        I've known Catholics who left the Church because a priest was not sensitive to a parishioner's needs or advised without showing sufficient love.  This is most fortunate.  We should concentrate on Jesus alone.  Do not be disturbed by anyone, priest or lay Catholic, who does not reflect the light of the Lord.  We should never loosen our hold on Christ.  Bad Catholics do not equate bad Jesus.  It's unfair to "punish" the Lord for the sins of his followers.  When you are no longer bothered by others' misdeeds and have learned to forgive, you'll have peace, still keeping your faith in and love for Christ intact.

"Do You Love Me?"

        Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" and Peter answered "Yes."  And Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."  He asked Peter a second time and Peter said yes again.  And Jesus said, "Tend my sheep."  After the third time with the same question and answer, Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."  I am sure that the Lord asks each of us the same question at one time or another, even though we might not be attentive at the time.  If our answer is also "Yes," I could just hear the Lord follow with the natural request "Surrender to me."  

On Longing for God

        Communion verses from Psalm 41 today: "Like a deer that longs for running stream, my soul longs for you, my God.  My soul is thirsting for the living God."  God is so sweet and beautiful that he becomes the love of our soul.  This is both a comment and stating a reality.  

Inevitability Demands Action

        The word that came to my mind just before Mass was "inevitability."  All of us will inevitably die one day.  There will inevitably be judgement for each of us.  God will inevitably triumph at the end.  If you believe likewise, then there is no point in delaying your surrender to God.  Doing it now to get the most out of your life.        

More Sad News

        It's so sad to read in the news that as many as 750,000 people could die in Somalia as the drought worsens in the coming months.  This makes me feel that all the comfort we have really doesn't mean much anymore ~ it's not to be attached to.  Only serving God matters.  Please pray urgently for these children of God's. 

Nations at God's Mercy Too

        I was shocked to read recently the news that the our own government conducted experiments in Guatemala of STD (sexually transmitted disease) during the 1940s.  The number of infected people could be as high as 2,500.  One US report released showed that 1.300 Guatemalans were infected without their knowledge to study the effects of penicillin, with a view to applying the results on US troops stationed around the world.  There's enough evidence to conclude that Guatemalan authorities collaborated at the time of the tests.  Can you believe that some 1,300 prisoners, psychiatric, and sex workers were deliberately injected with syphilis, gonorrhea, or chancroid bacteria into the eyes, the central nervous system, and male genitals?  The Nazis experimented with typhus and malaria on prisoners of war, using Poles, Russians, and Jews.  Were we any better?  At least since these experiments came to light last year, President Obama had apologized to his Guatemalan counterpart.  Nations, like us individuals, must also be holy to avoid condemnation by God.     

What the World Lacks

        I stumbled upon a blogsite of an internationally known artist.  He's not a Catholic and he criticized the Holy Father for beatifying Pope John Paul II too soon.  And many of his followers chimed in, with less kind opinions ~ one didn't think that John Paul II was a good enough man.  Another said that he finally realized that God gave him a brain and he's going to use it and went on expressing his negative view.  I am glad that he had such a revelation, but I don't recall Jesus telling us to use the brain to think freely of whatever we want to say ~ I just remember that Jesus wanted us to believe in him like a little child.

        My thoughts are that there are many out there who are intelligent, intellectual, and eloquent.  And they see themselves as the norm and are quick to express their unfavorable opinions on others.  To put it bluntly, they lack humility.  Jesus wants us to examine ourselves first before finding fault with others.  It's the humble who get to know God.  Once you know him, you feel free in his presence and become free yourself.  The wise and the proud of the world just don't understand something this simple.

Following the Truth

        Since Jesus is the way and the truth and the light, we who belong to him are then children of the way and the truth and the light.  We know our way to the Lord, we know how he loves us and has worked out the plan of salvation for us, and we now live in his light, being guided and kept safe from all evil.  Without Jesus, mankind would be lost and living in darkness.    

Huge Claim by Jesus

        Today's Alleluia verse is John 14.6: "I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me."  (In the Gospel reading from Luke 6 that follows, Jesus makes it clear to the Pharisees that he is also the lord of the sabbath.)  You don't have to read that statement a second time to realize that it's a huge claim ~ you either have to take it or leave it, no middle ground possible.  To me, this is the Lord of all speaking the truth with love without the slightest arrogance, as is consistent with all he'd said and done his whole life.

Joy of Nonexistence

        Let God pervade the whole of you, then you are no longer aware of your own existence but God.  This leads to freedom and to joy.   

Be Fit to Receive the Lord

        To me this morning's Gospel reading from Luke 5 was all about "fitting."  When Jesus (the bridegroom) was still with his disciples, it's fitting for them to eat and drink.  New wine must be poured into fresh wineskins, not old ones.  Likewise, to receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, we must be sufficiently clean and pure on the inside.   

Huge Message About Jesus

        Today's first reading at Mass was taken from Colossians.  Some excerpts: "All things were created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.  For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the Blood of his cross through him."  The Holy Spirit must have revealed all this to Paul. 

        We can either accept or reject Paul's claim, but must not ignore it.  If we accept it, then we must follow up by preparing ourselves for it.

Most Joyful Calling

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 5, Jesus instructed Peter to lower the fishing nets after Peter and his partners had worked hard all night and caught nothing.  Peter obeyed and they caught enough fish to fully fill two boats.  So astonished, Peter fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."  Peter was awed by the superiority of Jesus.  What he said deeply moves me.  If we also have such a realization, then know that God is calling you  to him.  The proper thing to say now would be "Come to me, Lord, for I am a sinful man who needs you."

        By the way, after the big catch, Jesus said to Peter, "Do not be afraid; from now on, you will be catching men."  Then Peter and his partners brought the boats to the shore, left everything (I suppose that included the fish too) and followed Jesus.  What a beautiful lesson and story! 

        The most joyful thing you can ever hear is the Lord calling you.  It's not just hearing his sweet voice; it's knowing that this is Love letting you know that he loves you!