Christians are being persecuted in many countries around the world. In my opinion, our government should not give money away so freely to aid those countries if they do not promise to provide fair protection of Christians, who have human rights too! Pray that all governments will defend the rights of all their citizens.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Food to Work For
In this morning's Gospel reading from John 6, the day after Jesus multiplied the loaves to feed the five thousand, the crowd went looking for him. When they found him, he said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me...because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures for eternal life." In today's BBC News online, one story exemplifies working for food that perishes and the other for food that endures.
"King of Bling" headlines the first story. A man in India spent $250,000 on a shirt made with 7 pounds of gold. He says wearing it makes him feel good. For him it is the ultimate manifestation of achievement and gives him a status he has craved since he was young. With all the gold he has accumulated, he says he feels financially secure. Ironically, he still has a security guard with him whenever he travels wearing the shirt.
"Pedal Empowered" is the title of the second story. US teen Thomas Hircock of Philadelphia initiated the project of sending bikes to some of the poorest children in India. When he was 12 years old, he traveled with his father to India and was shocked by the poverty he saw. Some of the pupils at one school told them they needed bikes to get to classes from homes up to 20 miles away. Back in Philadelphia, Thomas and his family started a fundraising campaign at his own school. So far, the charity has shipped 400 bikes to schools in India.
To each his own, I guess, but you also reap what you sow.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Reconciling All Around
When you want to reconcile yourself to God, don't forget to ask him to help you reconcile with others and with yourself so that he may dwell comfortably in you.
Communion Joy
After receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, my soul wanted to fly to him right then and there, but the realization that I hadn't loved him enough yet caused hesitation.
Proving Our Love for God
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus also asked Peter three times if he loved him. Each time after Peter answered yes, the Lord asked him to do something ~ they are "Feed my lambs," "Tend my sheep," and "Feed my sheep." It shows that the Lord wants us to assure him that we love him and to prove it by performing works.
"It Is the Lord!"
The Gospel reading at Mass came from John 21:1-19. Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias. While fishing from their boat, the disciples did not at first recognize Jesus standing on the shore. Finally, after he told them where to cast to net and they caught a large number of fish, the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord."
It is such a joy to recognize the presence of the one you love! Jesus is not physically with us today, but we can still realize his presence everywhere, in others, and especially in our own hearts. Such realizations should constantly fill us with joy.
Being "Foolish" for God
Acts 5 continued to be read at Mass. The Sanhedrin ordered Peter and the apostles to stop speaking in the name of Jesus and dismissed them, but they left rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. Did the apostles have a warped mind? No, they were elated because they already knew and belonged to God. Once we have the Lord, only what he thinks of us matters ~ this is how we were made.
On Entering God or Not
With God, either you are in or you are out. When you are in, you enjoy peace, freedom, security, knowing that you are heaven-bound...all the good things I've mentioned numerous times on this blog. These are not things I've cooked up ~ they are actual knowledge. When God lays something in your heart, you just know that it's true. If you are still outside God, can you give one good reason if it's not fear of facing the truth? Outside God, there is nothing. Seek union to enter God to gain everything.
On Securing Life
Suddenly, I see how vulnerable life is. I am still breathing, typing away this moment, but life can leave me at any time as it has happened to so many of my friends. We are powerless in securing our life in this world, but we can secure our life in the next. Happy are those who have already "arranged" with God for a dwelling place in heaven! Now, they can truly sit back and rejoice.
On Following the Lord
Yesterday I gave a presentation for the first time, before a small group at a mini-retreat. The subject was "Seeking Union With God Through the Holy Eucharist," what this blog is about. The urge to spread this message has become so strong that I must go beyond mere blogging. When the Lord wants us to do something specific, he does not want us to be concerned about how it might affect others ~ he wants us to follow him single-mindedly so that his wish may be realized. He alone is to be our focus, our vision, and our guide.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Prayer of All Prayers
Ask the Lord truly be the lord of your life and he'll take care of you in every situation. This prayer takes care of all other prayers.
Passing the Test
In today's Gospel reading from John 6 at Mass, when Jesus saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he asked Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" He said his to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do (multiplication of the loaves, coming up). The Lord tests us too. Let's always remain faithful and watch for a miracle to follow.
Words to Live On
Today's Gospel acclamation at Mass, Matthew 4.4b: "One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." How much time do we waste on listening to words spoken by the media and by people we know ~ and on speaking our own words to others? The words of Jesus are all we need to hear. Read the Gospels and let his words of life speak to you.
A Realist Is...
one who is completely honest with God, sees everything as they are, and does not run away or hide from anything coming to him, for the Lord is with him.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Jesus Perfect for Us
Communion experience. Jesus is a true treasure because he is the one who can make us perfect!
Reading the Gospel Anew
I've started reading the Gospel of John in bed every night before I go to sleep. This time I do not read it as a bystander; I see myself at the scene, in the story, and even imagine seeing things from Jesus' point of view. What comes across is amazing because everything becomes real and makes sense now. You see what actually happened and how Jesus spoke and acted as the all-knowing Lord.
Pray As We Write
I started reading a couple of excellent books on how to write better. Both authors recommend writing with brevity and clarity ~ no wordiness. Every word should express simply what we want to say. This suggests to me the proper way of praying to God. Sometimes we can be so brief and to the point that no words are needed, and the Lord hears us perfectly.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Jesus Our Transformer
At Communion time, I saw the Lord as our transformer. As I had pointed out in the past, we are the only rebellious creatures against God in this universe. If we cease rebelling and start obeying, he will then transform us into the most beautiful creatures existing in this universe ~ that is, one small change of mind resulting in a great transformation! (Neil Armstrong's famous first words, after becoming the first person to set foot on the moon in 1969, come to my mind: "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.")
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