Why Is God Attractive?

        This morning before Mass, I saw God as the most refreshing, sweetest nectar for the soul to drink. Well, the secular world surely provides copious attractions, yet why am I drawn more to the invisible God? What special power does the Lord possess? I venture to say that the following contrasts may provide the answer.

         (1) God is eternal, while the world passes.

         (2) God is love, while the world is emptiness.

         (3) God is true, while the world lies.

         (4) God challenges us, while the world tolerates us.

      Here's an imperfect analogy using musical examples to show how God and the world attract in their different ways. God is to the world as Brahms's symphonies or Beethoven's last piano sonatas are to heavy metal.

Pathway to Freedom

        Today I see Jesus as the Savior who can get us out of any trouble ~ he is our gateway to freedom. The biggest trouble we can be in has to be our soul remaining in a state of serious sin. The only good thing I can say about sin is that it gets the Lord's attention and can get ours too. In Matthew 9, to show that he has authority to forgive the sins of the paralytic lying on a stretcher, Jesus ordered him to rise, pick up the stretcher, and go home. And rise and go home he did. So, first, get our sins forgiven by the Lord; then let him help us carry the rest of our burdens; and finally, freedom!

In a Precarious Position

          I am thinking that in heaven, we have the fallen angels rebelling against God. On earth, we are doing the same thing, except that we are given a chance to be reconciled to God. See this clearly so that you can take advantage of this opportunity to get out of your precarious position as your eternal destiny hinges on your decision.

God Is Wide Open

        Today's great Gospel reading came from Matthew 7. In it Jesus said to his disciples: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." This means that God is wide open to us. We should ask to know him, to experience him, to be filled with his love, to be healed, to be saved, and for joy, peace, freedom, union with him in this life and heavenly dwelling with him for all eternity in the next. Actually, all these things are already ours. Claim them while there is still time.

So Much Love!

        God is love, but it's easy to deny that when you are not happy. Find out first why you are not happy as it is impossible to know God and not be happy. Read the Gospels and you'll see love written all over Jesus ~ so many invitations, so many promises, so much mercy shown in the kind deeds he performed and so much suffering on his part for our sake. For me, a believer, I get to touch him and be united with him everyday in receiving the Holy Eucharist. That love is ours for the asking.       

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.