The Right Approach

        To remain in God's love, we need to go inside the Lord. Therefore, seeking union with God is the right approach.

Remaining in God's Love

        In today's Gospel reading from John 15 at Mass, Jesus asked his disciples to remain in his love as he remains in his Father's love. Today roughly half of the marriages in America end in divorce ~ where is love? To be married to someone for life is definitely a beautiful thing. To remain in God's love for all eternity has to be the most beautiful of all.

Jesus Not to Be Dismissed

        In Reading 1 from Acts 15 at Mass this morning, we heard that Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them. Paul and Barnabas were eyewitnesses. Then we have the numerous signs and wonders Jesus performed and his Transfiguration, Resurrection, and Ascension, all recorded in the Gospels. To reject Jesus is to reject all these signs and wonders only God could have worked! Jesus must be taken seriously, not dismissed lightly.  

We Are All Guilty

        BBC shows this video online today: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22368598.  It was beautifully done, but sad. It shows how the war against the drug cartels in Mexico has destroyed many small villages. The villagers got shot; their houses destroyed, burned, and abandoned. One picture shows a small church with only a Divine Mercy image of Jesus hanging on the wall intact ~ this is what sin has brought. Then I realize that we are guilty too. Our government has not done enough to educate and warn the people of the danger (evil) of drugs. The drug addicts do not realize that they are the cause of these tragedies. And we bystanders do not live a life holy enough to bring others to Christ. Evil cannot be stopped if we are not holy ~ we sinners are all in it together. 

Most Carefree Moment

        Communion experience today. After I received the Lord, I let myself go in him and I was the most carefree person in the world!

Power of God's Love

        Since we were created in the image of God, his love can transform each one of us into a god like him, achieving its goal of union with us.

God's Love Unique

        God's love is meant for us. We are the only creatures who need to be saved, so this love is directed at us alone. Consequently, we are the only earth creatures who can discover this love and come to understand it. If you understand it, then it's only fitting that you should accept this unique gift.    

Love, God's Attraction

        The Lord never forces his love on anyone; he simply shows his love for us and the rest is up to us. I have never forced myself to love him either ~ it is his love alone that draws me to him. Once you taste this love, you'll know it's what you need. To reject this love is to reject yourself.  

Most Selfless Offer

        Again, during today's Eucharistic Prayer at Mass, Jesus asks us to eat of his body which will be given up for us and drink the chalice of his blood which will be poured out for us for the forgiveness of sins ~ are we to refuse this offer of the greatest gift from God, the Lord himself? Are we? Are we?

Fast and Serious

        At morning Mass, Father Paul mentioned that he was in Southern California last weekend and learned that the sex abuse scandal cost the Los Angeles archdiocese $660 million. He pointed out that such was the wages of sin. But worse than the loss of money is the loss of our soul which, once lost, is irretrievable. Paul said in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. A couple of days ago, the Lord made me see the beauty of putting our faith in the true God. In the second half of the same verse, Paul said that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ. What a huge difference from sin to faith...from death to life ~ all can happen in a split second!

On Receiving the Eucharist

        A church without the Holy Eucharist in it is like an empty cross with no Jesus on it. Since the Holy Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, we should never touch it if we are in a state of serious sin. When we receive this most holy sacrament, we should not only let Christ enter to dwell within us, but also ask him to become an integral part of us so that we may become like him. The saying "You are what you eat" has now a new meaning. 

After We Sin...

        Realization at morning Mass today, the Memorial of St. Catherine of Sienna. Having offended God, we feel sad; but there are joys to be realized too: (1) Despite our failure, God's love for us remains undiminished, (2) He is still there for us to love, (3) We're given the realization that we need to change, (4) We have repenting our sin and being welcomed home again to look forward to. 

Humility Scrutinized

        I've found that it's more challenging to remain humble with your family at home than with outsiders, especially if you happen to be the head of the family. I believe it's because your family already knows you well and your feel comfortable remaining the same you. While with others, wanting to make a good impression on them helps motivating you to appear more humble. In either case, we fall short of being truly humble. To remedy this, we need the Holy Spirit to fill us with compassion for all, family members or non-family members. 

Union via Obedience to the Spirit

        Yesterday the retired bishop of the diocese celebrated Mass at my church for the confirmation of 65 young people. He gave a beautiful homily centered upon the Holy Spirit, which made me sense the beauty of obeying the Spirit. If I could do that at all times, I'd be in union with God at all times. Then I would have constant peace because in obedience to the Spirit, one on longer offends God.   

God's Contrary Ways

        God's ways are not our ways. God wants us to be weak in him so that we may become strong; to surrender to him to become free; to die in him to bear fruit; to remain passive to get close to him; to be lowly to get exalted; to serve others to become great; to forget about ourselves to be noticed by him; to give up all to gain him who is everything... 

News to Rejoice In

        In the same reading from Revelation 21 I brought up in my last post, John also heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away."

        My only comment is a recommendation: Read these verses and be thankful and rejoice in the news!

To Be Adorned for God

        Reading 2 for today's Mass comes from Revelation 21. In his vision, John saw a new heaven and a new earth. He saw a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Now, a bride adorns herself solely to please the husband. If we wish to please God, we need to adorn ourselves as best we can too, and that means seeking union with God so that we can become like him. At the end of the reading, John heard the One who sat on the throne say, "Behold, I make all things new." Things definitely are going to work out for us!

Moment of Abandonment

        Communion experience. It's a moment of abandoning myself in God, letting him perfect me.