Do you wish you can touch God like holding his hand? Or hear him speak to you? Do you know that we are spiritually connected to him even more intimately than any physical or mental contact? The Lord has chosen us and nothing can take us out of his hands; we are God's adopted children and Jesus is our brother; and we will inherit his kingdom and live with him forever ~ these are all God's promises! Yes, we are indeed connected to God, alleluia.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Humility Practice
Regard everyone to be holier than yourself and you no longer judge or look down upon anyone ~ a great way to practice humility and retain interior peace.
Gospel Remains Fresh
In the early days of Christianity, the gospel was new. People either accept or reject it, and the persecutions of Christians were severe. Today 20 centuries later, the gospel is no longer news, so people have become indifferent. They need to go back into those early days to snap out of their tepidity. Know that truth remains forever the same and the gospel always fresh.
Being Secured for Eternity
Luke 9.62: "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God." Jesus was referring to how we should follow him. Looking back upon our past, no matter how pleasant our memories, stops us right in our track from following him. For us, the best is yet to come, so there's no point in going back into the past. The good disciple doesn't wonder about the future either because he is already with Jesus, his future. Staying with him every step of the way is being secured for all eternity.
A Right Time for Everything
I read John 7 last night. When his brothers asked Jesus to go to Judea to do the works for his disciples there to see, for the feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus said to them, "My time is not yet here, but the time is always right for you." Later, Jesus did go up to the feast, went to the temple area and began to teach. The Jews tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him because his hour had not yet come (John 7:30). This shows that there is a time (hour) for everything we do and everything that happens to us. Doing whatever we feel like doing or rushing ahead of the Holy Spirit is easy, so is wasting time. Following the Lord with discipline, patience, and calm puts our time to its best use.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Form Without Substance
As a photographer in the past, I often saw images that had form with no substance. One well-known photographer exhibited superb craftsmanship, topnotch print quality, but the image was always "dead" making no emotional connection with me. Perhaps this is analogous to any Christian who is outwardly pious but is devoid of Christ in his interior.
One and Only Relationship with God
Just think that we and Lord God can become one! Union with God through receiving him in the Holy Eucharist: this extra special relationship does not exist in any other world religion or anywhere else in this whole universe.
Living for God Alone
We sin to escape God, but this attempt is doomed from the start. If we cannot escape God, we might as well learn to face him. What I want to say is that we really should live for God alone. This is made easy if we are aware of his holy presence at all times. Therefore, pray that he'll grant you this favor after receiving him in the Holy Eucharist each time.
Seeking Our Own Perfection
At morning Mass, I simply wanted to be in Jesus, to become like him. I believe God has placed in us the desire to be perfect even though we'll never be perfect. To sin is to be imperfect. Since we do not ever find peace in sinning, the quest for our own perfection begins. This is how searching for God begins. This is also what seeking union with God is all about.
God Alone Perfect
Today is the Feast of Sts. Philip and James, Apostles. At morning Mass I saw the perfection of God's love. Jesus has demonstrated this love to us with his own life and death ~ it just cannot possibly get any greater! I turned to the world to see if there is anything that can be regarded as perfect ~ I failed to find any. It looks like perfection belongs to God alone.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Purpose of Living Long
Many wish to live long ~ they admire and marvel at old folks still in good health. If you wish so too, what is your purpose? Think before you respond, for the answer generally reflects how much you love the Lord. What do you think the best answer should be?
Christian Life Easy
Since God can make all things new, he can make all things easy. When that happens, following Jesus becomes easy. (Hint: Think Union with God.)
Passive Praying
In praying the Holy Rosary after Mass, the Holy Spirit inspired me to remain passive even in prayer. In other words, I was to put all my trust in God and not in my words.
True Fulfillment
Before receiving Holy Communion today, I knew I had been invited to the supper of the Lamb. If I were invited to go to heaven to dine with God the Most Holy One, I would be so overwhelmed that I would want to become holy for his sake. Receiving the Holy Eucharist on earth is no different. In fact, what is being served is even more special, the Lord's own body and blood! When he enters me, his light will dispel all darkness in me ~ this is true fulfillment!
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.
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