On the way home from morning Mass, I experienced a great calm in my heart. I recalled how Jesus rebuked the winds and the waves and a great calm followed (Matthew 8, Mark 4, Luke 8). If he could do that, then surely he can calm the winds and waves in our hearts.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Sin and Peace
The world has no peace because it is in a sinful state. The same holds true for an individual. For someone in the Lord, the conscience could be sharpened to the point that any sin committed against God becomes so distasteful as to be unbearable. The great saints would rather die than sin against God. This loss of internal peace is proof that sin and peace cannot coexist. Then, at the opposite end, there are those whose conscience has been dulled to the point that they can easily sweep their sins under the carpet. Even though they look away from their sins, the lack of peace remains in their heart.
Safe in Christ
Living our life is like climbing a cliff ~ we are always hanging on precariously because one slip and we can be lost forever. For the faithful Christian, Jesus has already tethered a cord around him. A slip may slow down the ascent, but he is ultimately safe.
Friday, November 18, 2011
God Is Accessible
During contemplation after morning Mass, I looked ahead and saw the lit sanctuary lamp signifying the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle behind it. This was the Blessed Sacrament I received just a short while ago. I then realized that our God is totally accessible and personal, not at all distant or aloof. How can a God who is love be otherwise? Certainly something to rejoice about!
Nothing Is Free?
People who work hard to get where they want to be lament the fact that nothing is free. I do know that the beautiful love of God is absolutely free, unless you consider opening your heart to this love is work. When you receive this love, you get all the other good things you need to help you live a life full of joy and freedom as well.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Jesus Is Ours
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life ~ he is our way, our truth, and our life. Jesus is the light of the world ~ he is our light in this world.
Our Real Enemies
In today's Gospel from Luke 19, Jesus mentioned the enemies of Jerusalem that would destroy the city in the coming days. I started thinking about enemies. There are people who don't like us because we hold different political views. There are others who still owe us money they borrowed from us. Some say nasty things about us. Are they and similar other examples our enemies? I don't think so. In a way, they are blessings from God to test us to see how Christian we are. Of course, we must still love them.
The real enemies are those who cause us to sin or lure us away from God, thus endangering our souls. We should love them too, but must fight them at the same time.
Keeping the Heart Pure
When God looks at us, he sees the heart first. To delight the Lord, you must have a pure heart. The "secret" to keeping the heart pure is to have the Lord dwell in it. Where God is, impurities cannot exist.
Getting Back into Grace
Adam and Eve fell from grace through pride and disobedience to God. Jesus the Savior had already come to invite us back. Let's seize this opportunity to get back into grace through humility and obedience to God.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Another Union Advantage
In union with God, you are totally in the Lord. Since you are with him, you no longer need to ask him to lead you anymore. Where he is, you are. When he wants you go in a certain direction, he will let you know.
Beauty of the Holy Spirit's Mind
As I was driving to Mass this morning, I sensed the profound beauty and perfection of the mind of the Holy Spirit, which made me want to share it.
God as Light
It was a beautiful morning. As a past photographer, I am very aware of the quality of light. There were a few times when the light was just perfect and made what I saw extraordinarily beautiful. Once I drove along a creek and saw the distant hills with trees on them and clouds overhead to one side of the road, bathed in the late afternoon sunlight after a rain, so beautiful that the image just etched in my mind's eye. I had driven along the same road many times before, but the scene never struck me like this. So, the presence of the right kind of light is essential to the creation of a great image. All this makes me think of God as light, for the presence of God is absolutely necessary for transforming a human soul into a pure one. As physical light transforms an ordinary scene into one beautiful to the physical eye, God transforms an ordinary soul into one beautiful for him to behold.
A Golden Thread
I can recall many pleasant moments in life. For instance, someone was being extra nice to me or I happened upon the best apple strudel in the world. These were all isolated moments. Then there were moments in which the Lord drew me to him, step by step, at different times. Nevertheless, they form a continuous thread, leading to spiritual fulfillment. If God had already thrown you a thread, hold onto it and let him draw you all the way to his bosom.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
How Close Are You to Union?
Do you tell the Father everything that's in your heart? Are you open to anything he may want to reveal to you? Is there free flow or still some kind of barrier between you and God when it comes to communication?
You may specifically want to see him, touch him, to be healed by him, to hear his voice, or to dine with him; but the important goal is to achieve intimate union with him in spirit.
How Good to House the Lord in Us!
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 19, Jesus chose to go stay at the house of Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector. Zacchaeus was overjoyed and promised to give half of his possessions to the poor and not to extort anything from anyone. I got to thinking that I too should be overjoyed because the Lord had called me, come to me, and is now dwelling in me. I must promise to give all of myself to him and not to sin against him.
To Stop Offending God
The best way to prevent us from offending God is to be filled with his love, letting this love be our sole motivator. Secondly, develop an utter distaste for sins as a line of defense. The more we unite with the Lord, the more nauseating sins become.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Total Immersion in Christ
The one thought I've been having in these last two days in total immersion in Christ. Like the total immersion in water at baptism, we now immerse totally in Christ (and his love).
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