Schubert's Ave Maria

The singer is American Soprano Barbara Bonney.

Knowing God's Love

        When there is nothing more to post about, there's always the love of God. I have always believed that God loves us, but it "wasn't real" until I started seeking him. Therefore, if we do not desire to know him, we remain intellectually convinced only. Seeking union with him definitely opened up the flood gate. Now I don't just believe, I know God loves me, for he has overwhelmed me with his presence.

Becoming One with God

        Jesus the Son and God the Father are in each other, so they are one. This is the model for us to follow when we seek union with God. Through the Holy Eucharist, Jesus enters us so we may enter him. Then we become one.      

Life Is Precarious

        Jesus has taught us to stay awake, for we do not know the day on which the Lord will come. We also do not know when we shall meet the Lord. I serve on the team of visiting the elderly at their homes or care facilities in our parish. One person I visited for the first time a week ago unexpectedly passed away yesterday. Life fleets! Everyone, especially the young in busily pursuing their worldly careers, need to be awakened to this fact. And we must help all by bringing the good news of Christ to them. Life is slippery and precarious until we have settled safely in the hands of the loving God.  

How Can You?

        At fraction of the Bread at Mass, before receiving Communion, we asked Jesus to have mercy on us and grant us peace. God is the source of inexhaustible mercy. We sin a thousand times and he forgives a thousand times if we repent. He does not condemn us; only wants to save us. How blessed we are to have such a merciful God! He wishes peace to be with us. This peace is ours if we believe in him and ask for it. How fortunate we are to be so favored! Salvation is ours for the taking. If you are aware that you're a sinner, how can you not embrace the love of God? How can you?    

Mary's Love for Her Son

        On April 18, I posted about Rachmaninov's Prelude in D, Op. 23, No. 4. Now, here's the one in E flat, Op. 23, No. 6. This beautiful piece expresses for me the love our Blessed Mother has for her Son and for all of us. Sergio Fiorentino plays faster than most other pianists, but his playing "sings" the sweet melody best.

Key to Union

      Today's Communion experience. Jesus made me see that total surrender to him is the only way to completely enter him, to fully belong to him, to become one with him. 

Prayer Should Include All

        There are other religions whose followers wish to wipe out the Christians, but we must not be like that. Jesus wants us to love our enemies and pray for those who have most need of his mercy. I am disappointed that during Prayer of the Faithful at Mass, petitions on behalf of our enemies and those who suffer the most in the world are not heard. For example, shouldn't we pray for all those contemplating suicide bombing, the innocent victims of all bombing attacks, and even the recent surviving Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev? Praying for them is not being unpatriotic; on the contrary, not praying for them is ignoring the compassion of our God for all.

Hell Not to Be Ignored

        In Matthew 16:26, Jesus asked his disciples, "What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" St. Faustina was led by an Angel to the chasms of hell. She saw these kinds of tortures: (1) loss of God, (2) perpetual remorse of conscience, (3) constancy's of one's condition, (4) terrible suffering caused by a spiritual fire penetrating the soul without destroying it, (5) continual darkness and a terrible suffocating smell, (6) the constant company of Satan, (7) horrible despair and hatred of God. There are other more special tortures too. (For a complete description, read her Diary, 741.) To me, the worst part is suffering not for a finite period of time, but for all eternity! Those who believe in God need not worry about hell, for they will end up in his company; but those who don' believe that hell exists had better be concerned about God, for they could easily end up in hell.

Start Loving God Now!

        The need for loving God is urgent because everything is passing! Every living moment provides opportunities for us to serve the Lord; do not let time pass by without showing his love for us to others. Save as many souls as possible by seeking union with God or whatever means he provides you. Do not delay loving him, for time is fleeting! God will ultimately ask each one of us how good and faithful a servant we have been. Live a life to glorify God and he will glorify you later ~ this is his promise you can count on. 

Ultimate Freedom

        Communion experience. I wished to die in Christ, with Christ, and for Christ so that I would have nothing of myself left and be free of myself. Imagine your freedom when you are no longer aware of your own existence but that of God!  

The Peace of God

        On earth you may experience peace when you relax on a beautiful beach, sipping your favorite drink and listening to your favorite music, with the surrounding temperature and cool breeze being just about perfect and you temporarily forgetting all your troubles in life. The peace of God is different. It seats deep in your heart and tastes sweet to the soul, unaffected by anything external. In Philippians 4, Paul tells us that the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus is a peace that surpasses all understanding. It is so because it is placed in our hearts by God.  

Priorities of Life

        Following Christ is both peaceful and exciting. But if you don't let God be the most important person in your life, you will not experience peace. Anytime you see someone upset, that would be the case. The proper order of our priorities: God, our family, ourselves.

Confession Pride

        Even after I have made a good confession, I still came away going over in my mind what I had said, wondering whether I looked good or bad before the priest. This is still pride and should not exist. Make my honest confession, hiding nothing, get forgiven, thank God, walk out, feel good, never look back, and resume serving the Lord ~ this is how it should be.

Our Spiritual Connection

         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.        

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.