At church before Mass started this morning, I knew I was going to meet my most beloved, then I realized that he's already dwelling in me, and I felt great joy. I had experienced the crushing weight of sin in the past, but now everything about the Lord, including the crosses he gives me from time to time, was uplifting.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Another Mark of Truth
In past posts, I pointed out some of the things that to me mark Christianity as the truth. Here's another feature that came to my mind this morning.
Our God is demanding in that we must love him more than anything else, yet he is not demanding in the sense that he has given each one of us a free will to exercise. Thus faith is made fully meaningful. Imagine that you have a tyrannical god who lords it over you or a god or gods who don't challenge you much, making it easy for you to accept or ignore as is the case in some religion ~ neither would be satisfying to me.
The Right Thing to Do
Surrendering to God is surrendering to love and truth! It is totally the right thing to do because love shall keep you safe and truth shall set you free. There is nothing more to ask.
Pleading with God
In one of the stories in Fr. Groeschel book Travelers Along the Way, he mentions a Sister Mary who quoted something by memory from St. Teresa of Avila. Apparently St. Teresa's brother had been in serious trouble with the law. In desperation the saint prayed: "Dear Lord, if I were You and he were Your brother, I would see to it that he was saved." It would be hard to argue with that.
I also pray for the salvation of various, specific individuals, some of whom may not be that holy, but I love them and have no problem forgiving them. So I reason (and realize) that the Lord is infinitely more merciful than I, and if I am willing to forgive them, certainly he'd be even more willing to do so. Creative pleading?
Chosen by the Humility of God
I've started reading my third book by Fr. Benedict Groeschel titled Travelers Along the Way, in which he wrote about 30+ men and women who shaped his life. One of them was none other than Mother Teresa. Fr. Groeschel was at the time the liaison between Mother and the New York archdiocese in which some houses were opened for her Missionaries of Charity. Once when Fr. Groeschel felt discouraged that he couldn't handle what he was told to do well enough and thought of resigning his post, Mother Teresa asked him pointedly why he thought God had chosen him to be a priest. Father had trouble coming up with a right answer and Mother Teresa looked at him and said, "You are chosen because of the humility of God. God chooses the weakest and the poorest, the most inappropriate persons to use." She followed up with what Fr. Groeschel considered to be extremely revealing, something he would never forget: "I pray that my place will be taken by the most unattractive and ungifted of all the sisters. Then everyone will know that this is not our work but God's work. Don't ever forget that you are chosen by the humility of God." [I hope that Fr. Groeschel wouldn't mind my quoting these sayings directly from his book.]
It's true that the Holy Mother appeared to the poor and uneducated rather than the strong, rich, wise or gifted. And Jesus called a bunch of fishermen, not any learned scholars, to follow him. The lesson here is that when we are called to serve the Lord in whatever way, we should realize that God has chosen us, no matter how inadequate we might feel. It's an honor and the Lord knows exactly what he is doing.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
God's Will vs. Our Will
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 1 at morning Mass, Jesus, moved with pity, touched a leper and made him clean. Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed." The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
The lesson here is that we can be so much like the healed leper, getting carried away by something exciting happening to us and forget all about obeying God's will ~ we must listen to God first and obey without thinking about anything else. To do God's will, we must ignore our own will.
Nations in Mortal Sin
The Church teaches that if we are in a state of mortal (serious) sin, then we risk losing our souls. This makes perfect sense. I dare say that practically all of the nations in the world are in the state of mortal sin ~ look at the suicide bombings, killing of innocent civilians, genocides, assassination of political enemies, legalization of abortion, and many others. The nations are definitely risking losing their souls. Only repentance and returning to God can save them. Since only believers pray to God, they bear the responsibility of praying for the world. Therefore, pray hard to the Lord for his mercy.
God Only Knows How to Love
You can love God or fear God. We should fear him because he is our ultimate judge, but I choose to concentrate on loving him as St. Therese of Lisieux did. Both logic and common sense tell me that if I do this, then I really don't need to be concerned about anything else, including being judged by him. It also simplifies things, perfectly suiting someone simpleminded like me. If you truly love God, you don't care what he's going to do with you ~ what else can Love do besides loving you? The Lord wipes out all my worries ~ how can you not love him?
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Following the Sure Way
I am half way through reading Fr. Groeschel's A Still, Small Voice, A Practical Guide on Reported Revelations. I found out that even saints had misinterpreted or recorded wrongly the revelations they had received, to the point of contradicting the teachings of the Church in one case. Therefore, I am not going to pay much attention to any private apparitions, visions, etc., especially those the Church has not officially approved yet. I already know the sure way, that is, to focus upon Jesus alone who has revealed to us all we need to know and to follow the public teachings of his Church.
My Joy Completed
Communion experience. Jesus is the Perfect One. He is exactly the one I need to complete my joy.
Power of God's Love
If you love God, open yourself wide to let his love completely fill your heart to overflowing. This sweet love will heal and delight your soul such that besides the Lord, every problem in your life will seem insignificant to the point of being forgettable. This is one reward you can reap in this life.
"Love" Defined
I start to think about the love of God for us. This love is so pure and selfless that in theory, it's not possible for us to love to that degree. Therefore, it is unique with God and strictly speaking, "love" should mean the love of God or God and nothing else.
Hope Ever Present
To anyone who is aware that he is in a sinful state he should not be in:
Know that we live in a pretty much secular, hedonistic society populated mostly by other like sinners. Without proper guidance, the rampant, materialistic and immoral influences around us start to shape us the moment we are born. Now imagine that you enter a world of saints filled with love for God, chances are you'll grow up to be a holy person too. But despite the condition of the society or the world, the hope is ever present. Jesus can take away our sins and make us holy if we let him. Just repent and believe that he is your Savior and you are on your way. This is how accessible and amazing our God is ~ always loving us!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Leave the Judging to God
At church before Mass began this morning, I came to see that it's so easy for us to form opinions of others whether we know them well or not. The danger here is that what we have perceived or observed may not be the truth, especially after the story has been transmitted through others. God is the only one who knows what's in the heart of a person. His command for us not to judge anyone is most wise because we can turn out to be wrong. Let's leave the judging to God and see all others as his loved ones who may turn out to be good.
Anchored in God
I have asked the Lord to change me, shape me, mold me ~ and I do not feel any difference until a test comes along. What would normally get me excited, alarmed, or distressed now finds me remaining cool and calm, and I know that he has worked on me. Basically, when I am anchored in God, nothing can upset my equilibrium anymore.
Monday, January 14, 2013
The God Factor in Life
Without God, you try to manage your own life and you get bogged down by earthly affairs, never feeling free or at peace.
With God, you place all your trust in him and are extricated from all worldly concerns, knowing now fully what you are doing and where you are heading. Freedom and peace are no longer strangers in your life.
Power of God's Love
Communion experience. It was the love of Christ that I felt ~ so powerful, so beautiful, keeping all life going, and giving eternal life to those who respond to his call.
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