Beautiful Praying

        After Mass was over, the interior lights in the church got turned off, creating two rather dim areas in the back. I was sitting in one praying and someone sitting in a bright spot didn't realize that anyone else was in the church. She started praying aloud in Spanish, which I didn't understand; but obviously, she's talking to the Lord straight from her heart, with nothing held back. Her pleading tone was so sincere and fervent that made me see how beautiful praying can sound to both God and us when it's done with total trust in God. Later on, we talked a little bit, in English, and she told me that she's telling the Lord that she wanted to do his will from now on. So we have beautiful intention, beautiful praying, and beautiful listening.                                                                                               

Being Holy, a Good Feeling

        When the body is healthy, we feel good. Likewise, when the soul is healthy in a pure and clean state, we feel uplifted and carefree. St. Augustine said that "God has made us so that our hearts are restless until they rest in him." It follows that I could say that "God has made us so that we feel good when we are holy." This is our reward for remaining close to God.

Awesome God

        The Entrance Song at this morning's Mass taken from Psalm 68 reads: "O God, when you went forth before your people, marching with them and living among them, the earth trembled, heavens poured down rain, alleluia."

        Reading these verses made me realize how awesome God is. Here's a Lord who is infinite in every way, with whom nothing is impossible, and who loves us with the greatest possible love. He is so awesome that if it weren't for his love, I would be prostrating before him with tremors. Then his love draws us to him, removing all fears. In a way, this love has made him even more awesome!

The Right Serving Attitude

        In John F. Kennedy's inaugural address half a century ago, he made this notable saying: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." I brought this up because I am thinking that in performing spiritual tasks, I must not ask how it can benefit me spiritually, but ask how I can glorify God.

The Real No.1 Enemy

        Spiritually, who is our greatest enemy? Is it Satan? Certainly he is our enemy; but the no.1 enemy is actually our own ego, for the ego attracts Satan and Satan manipulates it to keep you away from God! If you have perfect humility, then Satan literally wouldn't have a handle on you anymore. Vanquish enemy no.1 and you will have vanquished all other enemies as well. 

God Loves Everyone

        Back to John 3.16, with which today's Gospel reading at morning Mass started. "God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life." Next time I see anyone, I must treat that person as one for whom Jesus died. Reality may be hard to accept, but dodging it would make it harder for me to face the Lord later. 

How to Free the Heart

        In principle, to achieve freedom of the heart, you only need to live every moment for Jesus and not for yourself ~ this actually takes the burden off your heart! In practice, go to the Lord to ask him to fill all of you so that there will be no room left for anything to prevent you from living for him.  

Preserving Inner Peace

        Late yesterday I had no idea as to what I was to post on this blog today; in fact, I didn't know anything today might bring. I was not concerned about it, so I remained at peace. I recalled Jesus' words from Matthew 6: "Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself." The Lord is right. One reason people are restless is because they occupy their minds with wasteful and useless thoughts constantly, while the way to inner peace is to dwell in Jesus, the source of all peace. 

My Lord, My God, & My Friend

        I rejoiced during Mass today. What happened? Well, we all have friends or people we know. Some people are proud of the fact that they know someone who's famous. At Communion time, I became aware that among my friends, one is actually God! And I even know his name and a lot more! And he is absolutely the best friend among all my friends! So I couldn't help rejoicing at this fact.  

More Reason for Seeking Union

        Reading 1 at Mass from Acts 4 tells us that the early community of believers was of one heart and mind. How sad that we cannot say the same thing about the Church today. Not only the laity is not of one heart and mind, the clergy has fallen into the same trap. Since division only pleases Satan, all the more we need to seek union with God so that we can become of one heart and mind.

In Praise of Jesus

        Jesus is what makes life worth living. He's the reason for which I want to live joyfully. He's the sole one who can guide us back to God with certainty, as he staked his life on that. He is everything to us and all we need. Without him, we are lost and life becomes meaningless. With him, I am completely content because I have fulfilled his wish, for he is not happy unless we are happy ~ that's how much he loves us. His love is the greatest possible love capable of transforming the most hardened hearts if we cooperate. To be in union with him is to be in love with love.   

Discovery Is Not Revelation

        After that last post, I realize that there is a difference between what we discover and what God chooses to reveal to us. Left on our own, we simply find out more and more, through science mostly, about things that already exist. We would never have known that God is in three Persons, that he is love, that he had planned to save us... for these could only have been revealed by him directly to us. Therefore, we must take all such revealed truths to heart and treasure them. 

        In conclusion, we cannot know God if he does not say anything. But if he does, then we'd better listen and hold onto everything he says, for this is the only way for us to know him.   

We Have All We Need to Know

        Since we are only finite creatures, it's impossible for us to know anything beyond what the infinite God reveals to us. Therefore, let's be content by holding onto what he has revealed to us through his Son Jesus, enough for us to live on for ever. This is all he wants us to know now ~ anything more is unnecessary, out of line, and impossible anyway.

Where to Keep Jesus

        After Mass I remained in church to pray and contemplate as I normally do. I looked at the large crucifix hung above the altar, the statue of Mary on a pedestal in the niche, the picture of St. Joseph and that of Jesus of Divine Mercy hung on the walls. All these external images are beautiful, but Jesus is to be kept in our hearts. To have Jesus is to have him in the heart.

Expect More to Receive More

        At Communion time this morning, I mentally saw the image of the transfigured Lord (his face shining like the sun and his clothes dazzling white) in the Holy Eucharist. This is the very Lord whose body I was about to receive, so I expected that much more would be coming my way and greater things happening too. Open wide your heart to the Lord and expect him to fill your cup to overflowing. 

Living a Boring Life?

        I've known and seen people around who are very sophisticated and consider themselves worldly-wise. To them, those of us who love to pray, appreciate solitude or silence, and have no interest in much of the entertainment and fun most others enjoy may not necessarily be boring, but definitely live a boring life unattractive to them. The fact is that many of us were once worldly-wise too. Having tasted something that's truly refreshing, uplifting, and sweet, we have moved beyond and the ways of the world are now relatively tasteless ~ we are in love with Love! How I wish that all can taste the Lord and experience living a most delightful life.

The Love of Christ

        Is there anything you can love more than anything else in the world? Yes. Right after receiving the Holy Eucharist at morning Mass today, I knew, felt clearly, that it's the love of Christ. Basically, the love of Christ is the Lord himself, for he is love. Once I saw it, heavenly joy completely filled my heart. Experience this love from heaven and be lifted right out of this world.

Addressing Jesus

        The Gospel reading at Mass was John 20:19-31. Thomas, after the Risen Lord asked him to see the mark of the nails in his hands and put his finger into the nail-marks and put his hand into his side, believed and answered to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" What a most beautiful response! Catholics were taught to address the Lord thus right after the consecration of the bread at Mass. If your heart feels like exclaiming it whenever Jesus comes to your mind, you can be sure that it's the Holy Spirit who's prompting you to do so.