Reacting to Shocking News

        Today's news headlines are shocking after the horrific school killings in Connecticut that happened three days ago: (1) "Deadly Oregon shooting at shopping center," (2) "Delhi woman gangraped in moving bus," (3) Six Hyundai workers kidnapped in Nigeria," (4) Pakistan blast: Market bomb kills 17," (5) North Iraq bomb attacks kill 25," (6) Bangladesh factory fire was sabotage ~ inquiry (111 workers were killed).

               What are we to do? I believe that every single person living should repent our sins before God for failing to make our world a holier place and cry out for his mercy to save us. President Obama promising to use the power of his office to do all he can to prevent another massacre of the innocent and senators starting to discuss more strict gun control do not understand the cause of such violence at all. (On the same day the Connecticut school tragedy took place, it was reported that a man with a knife (not gun) wounded 22 children and an adult at a primary school in China.) We have turned the world into an evil place and only God can turn us and all things around.

"I Need You, Jesus"

        Two days ago, I posted "Acknowledging Our Need for God." I have found saying "I need you, Jesus" often during the day most edifying. When I say it, I feel the Lord coming right over to me. When I am required to do a chore, I say it and find the Lord giving me strength and patience needed for doing a great job. This practice builds up the trust we need in him. I hope that you'll try saying it and let me know of your experience.

Looking for God

        I see life as a journey whose end goal is to find God, whether you realize it or not. For some, this realization comes early ~ for example, both St. Therese and St. Gemma felt in love with God when they were still a child. For others, they don't turn to God until they are on their deathbed. Anyway, if you believe as I do about life as stated above, you might as well start looking for God right now if you do not know him yet.  

Go to God First!

        You get a lot of spiritual advices from many sources such as books, friends, retreats, and the homilies we hear at Mass. Generally, you are advised to love God and others more, to pray more, to forgive others, to do more charity work, etc. All good advice, but I am afraid that they miss one big point ~ here's what I mean. 

          These advices ask you to initiate the doing by yourself and it always turns out to be a struggle and progress is usually slow. It may sound uncharitable for me to say that in a way God is excluded from the endeavor. Remember that nothing is impossible with God ~ this specifically implies that we cannot make spiritual progress without God's involvement and help. Therefore, if we have a problem, go to the Lord, the source of our power, first to ask for his help. Basically, it comes down to seeking union with him first, then he will draw you to him, making all things easy for you. "The Lord is my strength" (Psalm 28). "The Lord is my helper" (Hebrews 13). Go to him first for strength and help and your spiritual life will become airborne.  

Preparing for The Lord's Entry

        The opening song at morning Mass today consisted of only the line: "Prepare ye the way of the Lord." To me, this is preparing our hearts for the Lord to enter, which is something we should have done and always do before we receive Holy Communion each time. The Lord has come, is here, and wants to enter, so it's up to us to get our hearts ready. We rejoice that Christmas is approaching and that the opportunity offered by the Lord for us to be united with him is ever present as long as we are still alive on this earth.  

The Ego Exposed

        The best hiding place for us is God, but our ego knows how to hide itself! The ego makes us focus upon ourselves and lose our focus on God. If we did something good, we love to go over it in our mind. If we said something clever, we love to guess how others might have received it. The ego fools us into thinking that self-importance is OK and that we are quite good already. Don't fall for it! We need to hide ourselves completely in the Lord in order to expose the ugly ego. God and ego do not mix.

To Be at God's Disposal

        Some nervous people are again preparing for doomsday, this time December 21 based upon Mayan prophecy, less than six days away. Jesus wants us to be alert for his second coming, but no one except the Father knows the time and day. Actually, we only need to be alert to what the Lord wants us to do at any moment by putting ourselves completely at his disposal, then we'll be ready. To be at God's disposal ~ what an awesome, ideal post for us! 

Occupation by Jesus

        When one is fully occupied with Jesus, there is neither time left for him to think about sinning nor any space left in his mind for sinful thoughts to occupy anymore. Besides, sins are already repulsive and nauseating to him. Let the Lord occupy you fully and you become holy.  

Our Presentation to God

        Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." Then what better way is there to be with God than to give your heart to him? This thought came to me today when I was meditating on the 4th Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. Giving our heart to God seems to be an ideal way of making our "presentation" to God.

Perfect Balance

        As we grow older, our exterior appearance becomes less attractive to others, but we can balance it with an interior that's more beautiful for God to behold.

The Big Message

        Being in Advent, today's Gospel Acclamation at Mass, Luke 3.4,6 reads: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. All flesh shall see the salvation of God." It struck me that "the salvation of God" is the big message that we really should pay attention to. We can be so busy doing shopping, decorating the house, planning the Christmas dinner...and the salvation of God couldn't be further from our mind. But this message is BIG! It is big because it is beautiful, relevant, special and of critical importance to us. We should think about it and thank God for it every day. 

How Good Are We?

        We seem to know how good we are as a person; after all, we should know ourselves. But should we, especially if we have a big ego? Often, others do not see us as the person we think we are. Of course, it could be their problem. At any rate, what we need to be concerned about is how God sees us ~ we need to see ourselves through the eyes of the Lord. To cut to the chase: how is God going to judge us on the last day? My good suggestion: Concentrate on loving God and don't even think about how good you are.      

Where Is God in You?

        Today's horrible news: Killing in a Connecticut school leaves 27 dead, 20 of whom were children. God is always present, so the question is: where is God in you? Without God in our hearts, we are doomed! Think of the continuous silent killing of over one million unborn babies each year in this country ~ is it less horrible? Mark my words, as long as we have that abortion-is-OK mentality, other killings will continue. Lord, have mercy on all those who offend you and all those they victimized. 

Acknowledging Our Need for God

        If we acknowledge that we absolutely need God for us to do anything, then we will become totally dependent upon him, we will not rush ahead doing anything on our own, we will know that we are following his will, and we will be courageous and have peace. This wonderful acknowledgement works wonders.

Holy Eucharist Essential to Union

        At the beginning, receiving the Holy Eucharist means mostly a physical union with the Lord. Gradually, as we let the Lord draw us deeper into him, it becomes more a spiritual union. Then one is in full union with God and receiving the Holy Eucharist reinforces that union. 

My Shortlist of Saints

         (1) St. Mary ~ If you love Jesus, how can you not love his mother? She is the greatest saint and our mother in heaven. I love her especially for her obedience to God.

            (2) St. John the Apostle ~ I love him because he knew that Jesus loved him.

            (3) St. Therese of Lisieux ~ I love her because of her total abandonment in God.

            (4) St. Gemma Galgani ~ I love her for her willingness to suffer for God.            

Patience Needed

        We must never rush into action. Let the Holy Spirit initiate all things. Therefore, patience is a virtue to acquire. When someone tells me a story, I have the fault of prematurely assuming that it's not worth listening to, before I had a chance to hear the rest. Impatience is insufficient love. This quote from St. Teresa of Avila is good: "Let nothing disturb you, let nothing dismay you. All things pass; God never changes. Patience attains all that it strives for. He who has God lacks nothing: God alone suffices."

Fount of Our Joy

        The "J" in the name of Jesus has to be associated with joy. The following is a partial list of joys that accompany the Lord.

           (1) Hearing his word, his voice

           (2) Talking and writing about him               

           (3) Following him closely

           (4) Calling upon his holy name

           (5) Waiting for him to speak

           (6) Asking for his forgiveness

           (7) Enjoying him in silence

           (8) Receiving him in Holy Communion!        

           (9) Suffering for him
           (10) Dying for him