Work of Ego

        Judging others in order to exalt yourself. 

Be Dead to Sin

        Didn't get to blog yesterday due to visiting guests. The Communion Antiphon yesterday was 1 Peter 2.24: "Jesus bore our sins in his own body on the cross, so that, dead to sin, we might love for righteousness. By his wounds we have been healed. What caught my attention were the words "dead to sin." We ought to be dead to sin, but there are minor sins that can easily escape our notice because of the presence of ego. The loss of interior peace should indicate that we have slipped in some way. Then a quick examination of conscience is in order. The more you of aware of your sins, the more you'd appreciate God's perfection. 

Ego Theory

        Every time after I've had a thought or said something and lose peace, I sense or know that the cause is the presence of ego. Test it yourself to see if you feel the same. I say that there is a genuine you in you and the ego turns you into a phony you. Anytime you think or speak as the phony you, you lose your peace. If you don't have any ego, that means you no longer play god. Then you acknowledge that there is only one God and you can't help but trust in him. And trust leads to peace. In short, be the genuine you and you'll have perfect peace.

Learning to Trust

        There were days when I didn't have much to post and then a lot more to post the following day. I never try to think up something to post ~ the thoughts come spontaneously. I have finally stopped wondering if I'll have something to post the next day. I must believe that God will always provide what I need at all times.  After all, what I need is what he needs. In Matthew 6, Jesus told us not to worry about our life or tomorrow, and that God even takes care of the birds which do not sow or reap and the wild flowers which do not work or spin.   

Freedom in God

        To enter God, we give up our will. Once in him, his will is our will, then we can do whatever we want. Hence, in God, we have complete freedom.

Entering Jesus

        Communion time thought. Jesus enters me when I receive Holy Communion. When I succeed in entering him, then we'll be in each other and have union.

Most Powerful Gift

        The Holy Eucharist is not just a nice gift given by the Lord for us to remember him by, it is in fact a most powerful gift that can change our lives and draw us into spiritual union with him. 

Essential Sacraments

        Without the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we cannot be sure that we have been fully forgiven by God. Without the Blessed Sacrament, we cannot be sure that we have attained full union with God. 

That Levitation Feeling

        Saints such as Teresa of Jesus and John of the Cross have been known to levitate. When I am detached from all things of the world, I am no longer shackled to the world. And I feel so light, as if I have levitated. 

Union Is Perfect Match

        God already loves us. When we love him, we have a perfect match. And this is what union is about.

Blinding Love

        The Prodigal Son parable shows how much our heavenly Father loves us. He's forever waiting for us to turn or return to him. Picture him with welcoming arms stretched far apart, ready to embrace us and hold us tight against his bosom. The joy he feels must far exceeds what we experience when he receives us back, for his love for us is far greater than our love for him. This love is blinding because the Father is so overjoyed at our return that he doesn't see our sins anymore. At the same time, this overwhelming love also "blinds" us because it's so dazzling.   

In Union with Each Other

        When you carry a burden for God, he carries that burden for you.

Stark Contrast

        Be humble and God will notice you and protect you.  

        Be egotistical and Satan will notice you and attack you.    

        Let God possess you and he will keep you free.

        Let Satan possess you and he will keep you enslaved.

Why I Love God

        I love my God. Of course, we know that he is love and he loves us. Putting that aside, I love him for these additional reasons. He does not make everything too easy for us. If he did, I don't think I would particularly appreciate it. Instead, he challenges us, at the same time, always remaining gentle. He wants us to realize on our own that his ways are right and superior. He makes all his challenges possible for us to meet because he secretly assists us when we accept them. In meeting each challenge, we learn that his love is even greater than what we had imagined. Finally, we would gladly die in the burning flames of his love.    

The Dancing Heart

        Communion experience today. I don't know how to dance, but my heart danced with great joy in anticipation of receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

One Right Move

        It is true that one mistake can cost one his whole life. Around three dozen inmates were present at today's prison Communion service. Not all of them were career criminals; some might have made just one wrong move and ended up getting locked up for life. But there's always one bright hope for all of us. By turning our hearts to the merciful God, we can still get to enjoy eternal life later. In sum, one right move can wipe out what all our mistakes cost us.   

Journey of Love

        Life is a mystery until you know Christ. Life is not fulfilled until you find love. Since Jesus turns out to be love, life is fulfilled once you find him. So you search for love, you find love, and you fall in love with love ~ your spiritual journey is now one of love.       

Life's Journey

        This is what life's journey is like. A person is born into this secular lost world. He encounters confusion from the outset. He starts to seek the meaning of life and he may or may not find it. He may find the wrong god or he may find the true God. But the mercy of the true God is great ~ he still saves those who are good people even though through no fault of their own, they do not know the true God. I know that some of you out there would disagree, believing that if you don't accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, you cannot be saved. All I can say is that I believe my God is a lot more merciful. Anyway, the happiest and most blessed person is the one who searches, finds Jesus, and believes. Anyone who has not found Jesus to be the true God won't be able to tell you all the above.