Choosing How to Suffer

        Life is all about fighting a spiritual battle.  As in any battle, casualties and sufferings are unavoidable.  How you want to suffer depends upon which side you're on.  If you're on the side of the enemy of God, your suffering may not be great, but you risk eternal separation from God after this life.  If you are on the side of God fighting for his glory, you may suffer a lot, but all sufferings will be short-lived and your joy will be great in heaven.  Make your choice.           

All Need God's Mercy!

        We usually just pray for ourselves, our nation and government, our soldiers, our families and friends, our own church, etc.  But let's not "limit God's mercy"!  The Lord made it clear that we should always forgive others and love our enemies, so let's also pray for everyone else in the world: the hungry, the starving, the poor, and also the terrorists, the suicide bombers, all enemies fighting against us, those who have committed horrendous crimes, not just their innocent victims.  Note that the ones we normally neglect to pray for are those who need God's mercy the most.  So pray for all the souls indiscriminately, both living and deceased.  Then ask all the angels and saints to intercede for us too.  We need to storm heaven to convert the whole world for Christ!

On Suffering for God

        Today is the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.  We know how Mary must have suffered when she witnessed the Passion of her own Son.  As Simeon predicted, she should be pierced by a sword (Luke 2:35).  This was indeed her martyrdom. 

        For those of us who do not know the love of God yet, intense sufferings can be crushing, bringing on despair ~ this is sad.  But for those who gladly offer up their sufferings to God for his glory, there is always a sweetness to it.  The joy of Christ's Resurrection fills us with hope, capable of overriding all our sorrows.

Obedience to Death

        In today's second reading from Philippians 2, Paul talks about how Jesus humbled himself, becoming obedient to death.  This is a model for us.  Obeying the Lord for us should be nonnegotiable.  Whether we succeed or not due to human frailty, obedience to death nevertheless should be our aim.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

        Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.  A dead person hanging from a cross is normally a scary, macabre sight.  The priest mentioned this morning at Mass that he and a Jewish friend attended a Catholic wedding and it's the first time for his friend to be inside a Catholic church.  When the friend saw the big crucifix hung over the altar, he became quite uncomfortable.  Of course, we Catholics see the crucifix as something beautiful to behold, for it reminds us of God's love for us.  The Holy Cross is to be exalted because through it God manifested his glory. 

Jesus, Make Us Holy

        Everything about the Lord Jesus is holy.  Let him touch you to make you holy too. 

God's Inner Beauty

        Go deep into God and you'll discover his profound inner beauty that moves and stirs the soul.

Learning from Blogging

        This is post #1,000.  If someone had told me a year ago that I would hit this number, I would have responded with a loud "No Way!"  Mind you, it's not writing about anything; it's writing about God's love only!  It seemed that the line "God's love is infinite" would have said it all.

        Here's what I have learned:

        (1) God alone knows how things will work out.  We are to live faithfully one moment at a time.  All useless projections are a waste of time.

        (2) I don't know what I'll post next.  God can keep me going or stop giving me any more thoughts ~ this should not concern me.  I am to let go in all things.

        (3) What good does this blog do is also up to the Lord.  I only do what he wants me to do at this point.

        (4) Blogging has benefited me personally; it has brought me a lot closer to God.

Chosen to Bear Fruit

        Today's Communion verse is John 15:16.  "You have not chosen me; I have chosen you.  Go and bear fruit that will last."  Looking back, even though I searched for God, I see that it's still God who initiated the search.  He had his eyes on me all along.  He chooses us so that we can bear fruit for his glory.  This is the purpose, the goal, and the fulfillment of our life. 

How to Get Exalted

        Another beautiful paradox.  The more we humble ourselves, the more we get exalted by God.  To be humble is to hide in God.  Then, of course, the more we remain hidden, the more he notices our presence in him.  To get his loving attention this way is to be exalted by him.    

Everything About Jesus Is...

sweet and fragrant.  When you receive him in the Holy Eucharist, you become like him.

Trust Defined

        During prayer before morning Mass today, I asked Jesus if I was being selfish when I trusted in him, dumped all my problems on him, and just sat back to enjoy his peace.  Then I realized that my trusting in God does not mean that I am no longer concerned about others with their problems and sufferings; it's that I no longer worry or get depressed over them because God has stepped in to unburden me.  So to trust is to let God take over, freeing me from holding the problems in my own hands.  Peace is merely the result of that trust and there is nothing selfish about enjoying that peace.     

God the Light

        Light is a substance we can sense and measure, whereas darkness is a void, a concept.  We are aware of darkness only when light is absent.  In the same way, we are aware of evil only when God, being our light, is absent.  Therefore, immerse yourself in God the Light and no evil will "materialize" in you. 

We Are Part of God

        In an online interview, one classical pianist pointed out that music is part of his life.  Of course, this is true in every serious musician's case.  Then I thought of us who are Christians that God should be a part of our life.  And it's even better to be aware that we are part of God and then live that part.

Most Beautiful Prayers

        These are the ones inspired by the Holy Spirit.  You pray in total harmony with his will.  You feel the union with him during prayer.

About the Christian Faith

        The Christian faith is such that the deeper it gets, the more beautiful it becomes.

To Be Serious or Hypocritical?

        Today's Gospel reading from Luke 6 prompts me to ask how serious we are in following the Lord.  Jesus asked his disciples, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command?"  He wanted them to listen to his words and act on them ~ this is likened to building a house with a solid foundation laid on rock.  Otherwise, it's like building a house without a foundation, which can easily collapse and be destroyed.  It's being either a serious Christian or a hypocritical one? 

No Anxiety for Christians

        Anxiety has no place in the life of a Christian, for a Christian is not to do what he wants to do, but to do God's will.  He is not even supposed to be anxious about doing God's will, for he must wait until it's clear to him.  That's why patience is regarded as a sign of holiness.