Made for Heaven

        In today's Gospel reading from John 14 at Mass, Jesus told his disciples that he was going to his Father's house to prepare a place for them. Even before the Gospel reading, the Lord had made me see that we are truly wonderful creatures made by him. In his eyes, we are worthy to be saved to live eternally with him in heaven! If God so highly thinks of us, then isn't it a great sin to denigrate our own worth, to not hope in him, and to alienate him by continuing our sinful way of life?      

The Best Feeling Is...

knowing that God loves me (you). It touches the soul and heals it, uplifts the spirit high, and is most moving, deeply satisfying, sweet, and intoxicating. If you know Jesus, you'll know that this is true. To be loved by God is to experience God's greatest power!

All God's Love

        Today is the Feast of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles. After receiving Holy Communion, I felt that I was loving God with his love, for he is the source of all good things. Since his love is inexhaustible, the possibility of loving him more is also unlimited.

To Be Detached from Thoughts

        To be detached from your own thoughts is to never have your thoughts put a burden on your heart. This feels the same as being detached from the world, for all things go through the mind first. When thoughts can no longer enslave you, your heart will be light and free. Let Jesus displace all your own thoughts so that you can be so detached and free.

Goose Story with Happy Ending

        Many animals are known to mate for life ~ they are more faithful than humans. I've noticed that the Canadian geese in my area seem to show up in pairs. Recently, as I looked out my home window, I noticed a single goose, sitting or standing out there by the creek, day after day. I surmised that it must have lost its mate, so I felt sorry for the lone bird and wished that it would join some flock and find another mate. Yesterday I looked out the same window and was delighted to see a pair of geese with a gosling walking around them, while pecking at the grass. My initial guess must be all wrong ~ the lone goose was out there because its mate was away sitting upon the egg somewhere hidden for the baby to hatch. So I felt sorry for nothing! Perhaps there are spiritual lessons to be learned here, but I just want to share the surprising story with the happy ending.

God's Ultimate Assurance

        In today's Gospel reading from John 10 at Mass, Jesus told the Jews about the sheep (us) who follow him, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." This reaffirms all that I believe. We are assured of eternal life. We are assured of safety in God's hand. How loving the Lord is! What a loving Father! Once you are one with Jesus, you are one with him forever! It's impossible to ask for more than what you get here, the absolute ultimate one could ever desire.

        (Note. The very opposite to being held securely in the Father's hand is being lost with no faith, direction, or certainty.)

Don't Blemish the Universe

        Do you realize that when we disobey God, we are the only creatures in this universe that become blemishes to God? The Lord wants to reign in our hearts, but we have the power to keep him out, thus becoming a blemish. Know that when we submit ourselves to God, we are making this universe more perfect. In the end, all remaining blemishes will be blotted out by the Lord. 

On Praying for Others

        We tend to pray for others not as ardently as we pray for ourselves, especially when the others are people we don't even personally know. Since Jesus wants us to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves, it dawned on me that we should pray for others just as hard and sincerely as we pray for ourselves.

Essential Questions to Ask

        Before a couple gets married, it'd be good to know how the two answer certain questions to ensure that they are compatible and will be happy to live together. Here are three questions normally not asked, but could prove to be important. (1) Do you like camping? (Imagine that one enjoys camping outdoors and the other much prefer staying at a hotel when they travel together.) (2) Are you a saver or a dumper? (A saver doesn't like to throw away anything, while a dumper doesn't feel good unless everything not needed, not working, or that takes up too much space is disposed of.) (3) Do you like the contemporary or the traditional style? (When it comes to decorating the home, diametric preferences can easily start a war.)

        I brought all this up because we are all going to meet God one day and it would be wise to prepare some questions in advance to make sure that we will be compatible with God and happy to live with him forever. For example, (1) Do I really believe in God? (2) Did I skip Sunday Mass for no good reason? (3) Do I receive the Holy Eucharist with great reverence?...you can think up the rest. We must be very thorough because we are not just marrying and living with someone for a short time, but are going to be considered to live with God for all eternity!    

The Muddy World

        Here are more thoughts on the unattractive world. It's actually a picture I have envisioned. The world is like a really muddy place. We are like pigs that wallow in the mud. We are dirty and filthy, yet we feel good. To enter the realm of Jesus is to get out of the dirty mud and get all cleaned up. Now we feel truly great and know that that's where we should remain.

The Unattractive World

        Since the world conscience is different from the Christian conscience, what seems harmless to the world may very well be offensive to God ~ the world is just not concerned about the human soul. I had lost interest in the attractions and entertainment of the world; in fact, they could be downright boring. I wondered why, then the answer came: Jesus was not in them.

A Matter of Knowing

        Reading 2 at Mass from 1 John 3 mentions knowing Jesus. The Gospel read from John 10 is all about Jesus being the good shepherd. Verse 14-15: "I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep and they know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep." Jesus' love for us is declared here. To know Jesus is to know God and the whole truth!

Belonging to God

        I attended a men's conference yesterday. Over 200 men were present and some of talks were excellent. Of course, the highlight for me was receiving the Lord at the noon Mass said by the local bishop. Right after I received Holy Communion, I heard Jesus say to me, "You are now mine." Joy filled my heart. Today on Good Shepherd Sunday, the same happy message continues. 

Abortion Silences Life

        During the liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass this morning, I heard a child's voice a few rows back behind me. It was a beautiful sound and I instantly thought of the countless children that had been aborted ~ their lives were snuffed out before they could make any sound. May God have mercy on this nation whose highest court legalized abortion.

Real Body & Real Blood

        The Gospel reading at Mass are verses 52-59 from John 6. Read them with an open mind and you won't find the slightest hint that Jesus was talking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood symbolically. We who receive Holy Communion and believe in the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist will live forever as promised by the Lord here.

God Speaks with Love

        In today's Reading 1 at Mass from Acts 9, the story of Paul's conversion was told. After Paul had already inflicted great harm on the Christians, Jesus still called him lovingly and Paul was converted. The voice of the Lord is sweet, for he only speaks the truth, intent on leading us to eternal life. If you hear him speaking to your heart, welcome his voice and pay attention, for he is loving you.

The Duality of God

        Jesus is the king of kings, but he's also the lowest of all servants. He's the most high, yet he's instantly accessible to us. He's the judge of all, but his mercy is equally great. He punishes, but forgives easily. He's the most powerful and at the same time humble and meek. Love explains it all!  

God More than Fair

        At today's Mass, the Communion Song, 2 Corinthians 5.15, goes like this: "Christ died for all, that those who live may live no longer for themselves, but for him who died for them and is risen, alleluia." If Jesus did die for me, then of course, it's only fair that I should live for him. In fact, it's more than fair because I have the easy part, while he took the harder part.