The World in Balance

        Today's Gospel Reading comes from Matthew 10. Jesus to his Apostles: "Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves...beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts... Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents... You will be hated by all because of my name..." You could say that all this is even "truer" today than in Jesus' time. The news all over the world is shocking to the point that we are becoming numb. I see the world caught in a vortex sending all those in it to a bottomless pit and the saddest thing is that they are not even aware of it, still deeply immersed in the things of the world and in themselves. The true God, our only hope, couldn't be farther from their minds. Yet I can't feel too sad because the whole dire situation is balanced by the infinite mercy of God and I trust in his mercy.  

We Are All Prophets!

        Reading 1 at Mass all this week has come from Hosea, the prophet. We who follow Jesus and listen for his voice do hear him speak to our hearts from time to time, since the Lord wants to teach and shape us. For example, all my posts initiate from the thought buds the Holy Spirit placed in my mind and felt by my heart. I see that when we share the good things we hear from Jesus with others, we are in a way speaking as prophets. Check out the first definition of "prophet": A person who speaks for God or by divine inspiration. 

Be Surprised or Be Disappointed

        I mentioned that I was into photography in the past. Recently, I got invited to participate in a coming group show. Although I am not active nowadays anymore, I did conceived of a couple of images ~ an abstract piece which I may entitle "Heaven" and a moonlight scene still to be worked on. So I saw the invitation as an invitation for me to bring these two images into reality. Then the mind quickly projected ahead and started thinking about sending out invitations, friends showing up at the opening...I cut it off right there. I know that if we expect too much, we're likely to be disappointed ~ the fact here is that some of my friends don't even understand art much and some may even dislike what they see. (A slight digression. One famous pianist gave a recital and really didn't play that well. After the recital is over, his friend, another pianist, went backstage to "congratulate" him and said, "You did it again!") So it's better to not expect anything and be surprised later. What Jesus says in Luke 14.10 comes to mind: "When you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, 'My friend, move up to higher position.' Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table." The lesson again to me is: Do not project ahead but live in the present moment, then you will not be disappointed and can only be surprised. 

Completely at God's Mercy

        This morning I realized that in praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, we beg God's mercy by offering him the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of of his Dearly Beloved Son in atonement for our sins... Then in St. Gertrude's Prayer for the souls in purgatory, again we start out by offering the Eternal Father the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Both these prayers were dictated by Jesus, to St. Faustina in the first example. It just clearly shows that we have no merit at all. Mercy comes only through God's mercy. Our only suitable role is to surrender to his Divine Mercy. We must realize that this is a terrific blessing that God cares for us. 

Jesus Did It Just Right

        Today Friday I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. I thought about how Jesus suffered without complaining whatsoever. He did not try to explain to those who wanted to kill him that he was innocent and had absolutely good intentions, etc. He just went ahead and did what he knew he must do to accomplish the mission his Father assigned him. Of course, to win us over, he could have used his power to amaze us, dazzle us, and bowl us over, then faith wouldn't be needed anymore. Overall, he did it just right so that those who choose to believe in him will have true faith in God.  

Be Free to Serve God

        In today's Gospel reading at Mass from Matthew 10, Jesus sent his Apostles away to proclaim the Kingdom of heaven at hand. They were going to take neither gold or silver or copper for their belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. That was indeed traveling light, and traveling light is always a good feeling. Even though we are not doing God's work going from house to house, we can also "travel" light by letting go of all our attachments to people and things. Not being encumbered thus, we become free to serve God.

Latching onto God

        All things in the world are finite, temporary, and passing. God alone is infinite, permanent, and forever ~ so let's latch onto him. 

Jesus Forever Constant

        Today is the Memorial of St. Benedict. The Gospel Acclamation, Mark 1.15, reads: "The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." When I think about all the other similar sayings of Jesus in the Gospels, I realize that like the statement quoted above, they are just as relevant today as at his time. This is because he always spoke the truth, and truth does not go out of fashion. You may have come across the clever quote attributed to Louis Jouvet, the French actor-director: "The thing constant in a changing world is the avant-garde." The same can be said about the counsels given by Jesus.  

How to Think About Others

        Many of us are interested in other people, especially those we know, in how they live, what's happening to them, etc. The question is whether we think about God with just as much interest. The ideal way is to think about God at all times and be aware of others as God sees them, never apart from his love.

Some Thoughts on Living

         (1) Today I feel acutely that I am to live by every word spoken by God because I am totally dependent upon him. 

       (2) Half of 2012 has gone by ~ this prompts me even more to live in the present moment. There will always be unfinished business in life, so I am not going to let that bother me. Besides, this could be my last day on earth.

        (3) It's essential not to live in sin, for sin destroys life. How good it is to live in union with God instead! 

Nothing Has Changed

        Today's Gospel reading at Mass was taken from Matthew 9. When Jesus drove the demon out of a mute demoniac, the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the prince of demons." Later, at the sight of the crowds, Jesus was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Today, like the Pharisees, disbelievers make movies, write books, and post online to discredit, ridicule, and defame the Lord. The crowds are just like the ones in the past ~ lost sheep without a shepherd. What's true then is still true today. The same can be said for Jesus ~ he is the same loving Lord always.

God Is Always Present

        If you don't think about God, don't believe in him, or just ignore him, then of course, you don't feel his presence and can easily say that there is no God. Then to those who turn to him, believe in him, and come to love him, his presence is made clearly known. This just shows that God (Christ) out of love has always been there, standing next to you and waiting patiently for you open your heart to invite him in. If we don't see God, it's because we are blind, not because he is not present. 

Closely Following the Holy Spirit

        A certain prayer group requires that every participant to speak always from his or her personal "I" ~ this is to avoid speaking for others. I think a superior way is to focus on the Lord always and speak whatever he prompts you to say, with the self totally out of the way, in a prayer group or not. This is not saying that you don't use the word "I" anymore ~ it's letting all thoughts be prompted by the Lord. In sum, follow the Holy Spirit in all things you say.         

Dining with the Lord

        The Communion Song at Mass, Luke 22.28-30: "It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a kingdom on you, says the Lord, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom." It is a great honor/joy to stand by Jesus in his trials ~ and this is merely a prelude to receiving even greater honor/joy later in his kingdom. God loves us so much that he does his utmost to make sure that we receive the greatest joy in his kingdom. (I am trying hard to stay calm.)

To Remain Free in God

        Today is optionally the Memorial of St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions. The Psalm Response is Psalm 31.6: "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." This is exactly what Jesus cried out before he breathed his last on the cross. It was so appropriate for me to say it as I received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist ~ I just wanted to be his and remain free. God is my true refuge!

Power Perfected in Weakness

        In today's Second Reading from 2 Corinthians 12 at Mass, Paul talked about his thorn in the flesh the Lord gave him to keep him from being too elated. We're not sure exactly what it was. Paul begged the Lord that it might leave him, but he said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." Paul continued, "I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

     I see that Paul put weaknesses in the same category as insults, hardships, persecutions, etc. We all have our own weaknesses and Paul showed that we ought to be content with (not to be ashamed of) them. For when we wish to serve God, our weaknesses are invitations to God for him to send his power into us. Accepting our weaknesses is actually a strength.

Essentials for Living a Christian Life

        They are (1) Prayer and (2) Labor ~ I am referring to all work done in serving God. If these two are performed to perfection, then you are perfect.

The Newness of Jesus

        In today's Gospel reading at morning Mass from Matthew 9, Jesus likened himself to a bridegroom and said that his disciples had no reason to fast when the bridegroom was still with them. "Bridegroom" brings to my mind celebration, joy, newness... and it's the newness of Jesus that struck me in particular today. He came to bring us the good news of salvation; he transforms us into new creatures; he's the first one to show us how great God's love for us is; he was always meek and humble (unlike any of us); he is most holy... he is so refreshing that he is forever new.