Facing Each Day

        If we are unhappy in life, we normally don't feel good about getting out of bed to face another day each morning. I once was like that when I didn't like my job and nothing else "exciting" was happening in my life. But now, because I do have interior peace and the external world no longer has anything exciting for me, I actually look forward to waking up early to start the day with Mass. Today the thought came to me that if we are ready to die for Christ, then certainly we would welcome each new day and be ready for anything coming our way. 

True, Beautiful Living

        Jesus taught us to do good in secret, to pray in secret, so that only the Father sees us. Likewise, we should carry our cross in secret to show our willingness to follow him. Living a hidden life in Christ is true, beautiful living! 

In a Life-and-Death Struggle

        The International Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima is traveling through our area this month. At Fatima, the Blessed Mother warned that if people did not stop offending God, there would be wars, famines, persecution of the Church and annihilation of nations. All had come true. The big war was World War II. It seems that historically, God's warnings usually went unheeded. Why? It must be that people are too steeped in sin and/or they don't know the true God yet. What the world most urgently needs to do is to repent if it wishes to be saved. And it's just as urgent for those who know God to spread the good news. All of us are involved in a life-and-death struggle.

The Perfect Perfectionist

        Some people are very fussy and particular ~ they want everything they do come out right or perfect, or they would feel terrible. Others keep their material possessions in top shape, such as making sure that their cars are scratch-free and spotless. I had a friend once who kept all the original boxes the things he bought came in and placed all things exactly where he thought they should be ~ I was afraid to touch or move anything in his house. I really think all these people so afflicted are in fact imperfect. The perfect perfectionist is one who wants to be as perfect as possible before God and is not discouraged or disturbed if he turns to be not quite perfect ~ he or she simply accepts the fact and tries to do better.

Resting in God

        Communion experience. I am absolutely dependent upon God's love and mercy which will never vanish. Therefore, all I need to do is to rest in them in peace.

Glad God Knows What I need

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6 at Mass, Jesus, before teaching his disciples how they were to pray, said, "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him." I am so happy that God reads our mind and our heart that I don't need to hide anything from him anymore, that he knows my needs, and that he will let me know what he wishes me to do, now that I have signed up as one of his followers.   

Measuring Our Love for God

        The more we realize how great God's love is, the more we forget that we have enemies. Therefore, how much we forgive our enemies measures how much we love God. 

Letting God Work on Us

        I feel that when we read or pray the psalm or other prayers devoutly, God listens to us and at the same time shapes and forms us. When we petition God for various needs sincerely, again he hears us and at the same time checks out what's in our hearts. Turning to the God is to let him work on us.

I Have the Lord!

        Communion experience. I have the Lord ~ so I have everything. There is nothing else I desire. I am full, complete, and content. I am at peace.

Revelation + Incredible Invitation

        Today's Communion antiphon at Mass, Matthew 25.40, 34: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did it for me, says the Lord. Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

        We first see that Jesus identified himself with every one of us. Serving others is serving him. The way to endear ourselves to the Lord is made clear here ~ it is a great revelation. Then I heard the second part read and I was virtually shaken ~ it was definitely an incredible, wow moment. To me, in extending such an invitation, the Lord truly showed his infinite mercy.

Holy Spirit the Guide We Need

        It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that Christ rose from the dead, that his Apostles and disciples were emboldened to spread the good news to the four corners of the world, and that sinners are transformed into saints. So surrender to this most gentle, loving spirit and he will lead you, inspire you, protect you, mold you, and draw you into full union with the glorious Holy Trinity. He is the guide we all need.   

Meant for Perfect Union

        At Mass today, I was drawn to the Holy Spirit. When I was involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the 70s, I simply asked the Holy Spirit to baptize me, and zap me he did. He made everything easy for me so that I progressed rapidly in a relatively short time. You could say that he carried me all the way. Eventually, the "honeymoon" ended. Today I have already surrendered to God the Holy Spirit, so I expect even greater things to happen. After receiving Communion, I submitted myself once again to the Holy Spirit and experienced his sweetness. Man and God are just meant for perfect union!   

God the Sole Soul Healer

        The morning's Gospel message at Mass came from Luke 5. Levi, the tax collector, gave a great banquet for Jesus in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained that Jesus eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus replied, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." As I received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, I knew that he came to me, a sinner, to restore the health of my soul. In fact, he is the only one who can get this done! For this, I am most grateful.

No Ordinary Food

        Today's Communion experience. I am receiving true food from God. This is no ordinary food which feeds the stomach for a few hours ~ this is the body and blood of my Lord that spiritually nourishes my soul resulting in union with him, my eternal God ~ the food to live by forever! 

Words of Wisdom

        Dr. Benjamin Carson, famed Baltimore neurosurgeon, showed both courage and wisdom in addressing the National Prayer Breakfast just a week ago on Feb. 7 in Washington, D.C. 

Living in Delusion

       It is in today's news that a meteor has crashed in Russia, injuring at least 950 people. A much bigger asteroid is now passing the earth in its own orbit around the sun, but there is no risk of impact or collision with our earth. Since God is in control of everything, nothing can be accidental. The meteor could be a warning to us this time. Even Russian President Putin said he thanked God that no big fragments had fallen in populated areas. God is always calling us, teaching us, and warning us if we are in danger of losing our souls, but we don't listen. Here is why.

          God has given us the free will. We start to rebel against him, thinking that we have the power to do whatever we wish. As a result, we are deluded into believing that God is no longer in control, thereby dismissing all messages coming from him. Therefore, we basically live in delusion.       

Jesus the Whole Truth

        In today's Gospel reading at Mass from Luke 9, Jesus told his disciples that he must suffer greatly, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. 

         Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?" These three verses provide our complete guide to living. To summarize: Forget about saving your own life ~ follow him and you will not lose it. This is the whole truth in a nutshell. 

         Jesus' teaching has been consistent throughout. He came and showed us how much God loves us. He opened the door to light, hope, and all we need to know for our salvation. If all this is not good enough for you, then... (I'll let you draw your own conclusion).

Most Personal God

        Communion experience. Our God knows every single one of us. He loves every single one of us by dying for every single one of us. After consecration of the bread and wine, he is ready to enter each one of us, you, me, and everyone else at Mass. When I receive him, he enters my soul ~ it's even more intimate than touching him, holding his hands, embracing him (although I'd like to do all that too). Yes, God focuses upon each one of us with his full attention! Unbelievably personal! This is our God, the God through Christ.