The Christian Joy

        Continuing the story from Acts from Acts 13, we heard that later on, the Jews incited the people, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet and left. The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

         Spreading the word of God, telling others about Jesus, sharing how the Lord has transformed your personal life...these things are continually prompted by the Holy Spirit. Since joy and the Holy Spirit are inseparable, the Christian heart is continually filled with joy. 

On Hearing the Word of God

        First reading at Mass from Acts 13 tells that on a sabbath almost the whole city of Antioch gathered to hear the word of the Lord from Paul and Barnabas. The Jews, filled with jealousy, contradicted what Paul said with violent abuse. Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles." Note that rejecting the word of God is condemning ourselves as unworthy of eternal life! Let's then latch onto the good news once we hear it so that we may be made worthy of eternal life.

Contrast in Living

        If you live as if this life is your only life, you will feel more emptiness as time passes, I assure you. This is why the majority of the world remain unhappy. But the minority who live for the eternal life Jesus promised not only find their present life meaningful, but also experience greater joy as time moves onward.   

No Place for Pride

        Being finite, we often fall short of achieving the best results in serving God despite our best effort. We must humbly accept that and move on, not judging ourselves out of pride. Remember that the Apostles rejoiced when they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name of Jesus.

God-Centered Living

        The Christian life must be God-centered, living for God's glory alone and never for our own sake. What we gain is peace as the Lord takes away all our struggle ~ the result of resting (trusting) in him. 

Ask and Trust

        The Communion antiphon at yesterday's Mass based upon John 17.20-21 reads: Father, I pray for them, that they may be one in us, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me, says the Lord. Here Jesus was praying for those God had given him out of the world. This example teaches me to make my intention clear and not be concerned about how God is going to answer my prayer. "Ask and trust" is doing our best. 

A Blessed State

        Receiving the Holy Eucharist is more than touching God. It is letting the Lord God who seeks union with us enter us. How do we respond? If we wish to enter him too, then we shall have union. Every time we receive this most holy sacrament, we are given the opportunity to become one with God or strengthen the existing union. How blessed it is to be in God with him in us!

What Conversion Is About

        This morning's first reading came from Acts 9. Saul (Paul) was breathing murderous threats against the disciples of Christ and wanted to arrest and imprison anyone he might find living according to the new way. Then Jesus called him and he began proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God. Left to myself, I used to think that divorce is OK, abortion permissible, getting ahead of others by any aggressive means just fine, and so forth. After I got to know God, all my views changed because I realized that I had been wrong. This is what conversion is about ~ it's giving up our own ways and adopting God's ways. The world has lost its way precisely because it has been following its own ways.

Blessed Freedom

        This morning I no longer felt "trapped" in this world; I am now free in Christ! I feel blessed that I came into the world after Christ, who showed us the way to salvation so clearly. We now know God the Father as revealed through God the Son and are set free by God the Holy Spirit.

Yearning for God

        I've mentioned that I like piano music, and consider Rachmaninov a great composer. His two sets of preludes are beautiful enough to stir the human soul. One of my favorite preludes is the one in D major, Op. 23, No. 4. It's not an easy piece to play, requiring big right hand stretching at places, and making the melody sing is another challenge. I like Boris Berman's interpretation. He plays warmly with tenderness. I don't know what Rachmaninov had in mind when he composed this prelude, but it expresses my yearning for God very well.

Ultimate Fulfillment

        After I received Jesus in the Holy Eucharist this morning at Mass, I felt the Lord asking what I would want from him. Feeling like a small child who greatly admires his father, I spontaneously came out with "I just want to be like you." Then he made me see that this is the ultimate fulfillment for all of us: to be like God.

Learning from God

        Last night I realized that if I pray to obey God always, then I shall have peace always. This seems obvious ~ I am posting it because the realization came to me when I was half-asleep. Learning from the Lord is always a delight whether you are awake or asleep.

Father and Son Are One!

        I've been reading John 5. Here's Jesus speaking to the Jews in verse 20: "For the Father loves the Son and everything the Father does he shows him." I stopped, thinking that if the Father loves the Son, then how could he sacrifice him to save us? Does he love us more than he loves the Son? I realized that this is possible only if the Father and the Son are one. So we have the Lord God sacrificing himself for us, and it all made sense.  

Crime or Wisdom

        The Philadelphia doctor Kermit Gosnell who performed thousands of late-term abortions and murdered newborns after inducing labor is finally being tried in court. If killing the newborn is considered a crime, then how come our law allows killing the unborn? You figure that out. Life begins at conception ~ this is certain. Our "Supreme" Court had the wisdom to amend one of God's Commandments to read "You shall not kill except in the case your target is an innocent, defenseless unborn child." 

Who Can Save Us?

        Certainly not another ordinary human being. Certainly not some god who doesn't care for us. It has to be a loving god who wants to save us, and that leaves only God the Father whom Jesus the Son has revealed to us. Conclusion: Nothing but the love of God can save a soul. Think about it.         

Spiritual Overhaul

        Communion request. When receiving the Holy Eucharist, I asked the Lord to dismantle me, clean and restore each part, and put me together again ~ time for a thorough spiritual overhaul.  

The Way to Truth

        Today at Mass, the first reading came from Acts 7. The people, the elders, and the scribes did not have the humility to listen to Stephen proclaiming the truth; instead, they threw him out of the city and stoned him to death. The proud are always so occupied with themselves that they turn blind and deaf to any truth. Only the humble can hear the Lord and get to know the truth.

Beauty of God Ever Present

        I have an outdoor deck on the east side of my house. On a moist morning like today hundreds of water-drops hung from the white metal rails of the deck railing. As the sun light hit the drops, they turned glisteningly red, green, yellow, or white. When I moved my head from side to side, all the colors continually changed ~ the sight was beautiful! This exquisite natural phenomenon reflected the ever-present beauty of God.