Consider Eternal Life

        I ask the Lord to let me evangelize to as many people as possible, and the opportunities often come up, and the right moment to say something follows too. People commonly talk about their worldly problems. At the appropriate moment, I would let my listeners know outright that what I am going to say to them, most likely they won't hear from another person. I tell them that my main concern for them are not worldly problems but eternal life, which must be considered foremost. Then I present Jesus as our answer. My listeners always seem to understand my intention and that I speak it out of love. So a seed is sown and may bear fruit one day.  

The Human Plight

        Here's my simple view of the human situation. Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, we ended up carrying the original sin and got banished as far from him as possible. Then because he loves us so much, he sent Jesus his own Son into the world to die in our place to redeem us. Now, we can believe in Christ and be adopted by God the Father as his children again, or ignore or reject Christ and remain banished. 

         A footnote. Because God has created us in his own image, he loves us and we can understand his love.  

Taking the Holy Eucharist Seriously

        Receiving the Holy Eucharist is not a casual affair. In 1 Corinthians 11:27, Paul wrote that "whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord." Before we receive the Sacrament, we should make sure that we are in as pure a state as possible spiritually. Then we ask the Lord to bestow on us whatever we need to be drawn close to him. We must become more like him, even for a tiny bit, after each reception.

Do not Neglect Loving

         Do not forget to visit your loved ones or any needy folks as often as possible ~ this is loving your neighbor. To follow the commandment of honoring your father and your mother, don't forget to keep in touch with them if they live away from you. If there is any animosity between you and your parents or any other family members, seek reconciliation, ask for forgiveness, before you face God ~ this is absolutely urgent, first-priority business. You must cast aside all pride and let humility rule!
       I've been visiting the homebound for quite some time and I am so happy that I'd made special visits to some of them and regret that I didn't go see some others more often before they passed away. One I saw a month ago was a laughing, talking person; two weeks ago, he lost all his energy, stopped eating, and had trouble breathing. Last week, he's gone. Let your loved ones know that you love them and you care for them before they or you leave the world. Show that you truly love God.   

Most Common Addiction

        Attachment to material goods is the most common addiction in the world. This spiritual failing makes you forget God, thus pleasing Satan greatly. The only remedy for it is to attach yourself to God.  

Living Our Only Day

        You've heard that we should live every day like it's our last. To add urgency to it, I'd suggest that we live every day like it's our only day. This should motivate us to pack as much loving God into one day as possible.

The World Is Our Stage

        It came to my mind this morning that "the world is like a stage." Then an online search showed that "All the world's a stage" is the phrase that begins a monologue in William Shakespeare's play "As You Like It." The speech compares the world to a stage and life to a play. Here's the beginning of that monologue: 

           All the world's a stage;

           And all the men and women merely players:

           They have their exits and their entrances;

           And one man in his time plays many parts .... 

This was exactly what I had in mind. In addition, each of us is free to play any character of our choice in our role on stage. And if God is chosen to be our director, he works mainly behind the scenes. After we exit at the end, our performance will be judged and that judge is God. I suggest that you ask God to direct you in the play. Get to know him well and he'll most likely judge you more leniently.

No Better Feeling!

        Communion experience today. By receiving the Lord with great reverence, love, and firm belief that he is the bread of life from heaven, my place in heaven is assured. There is no better feeling than knowing that we are in union with the Lord and heaven bound!

Same Division Today

       Today is the Memorial of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs. The Gospel comes from Mark 12. Jesus addressed a parable to the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. In speaking he quoted this Scripture passage: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes. He was speaking of himself whom his listeners were seeking to arrest.

          It's same today. Those who have accepted the Lord know that it is wonderful in the Lord's eyes and those who have rejected him out of pride don't know what they're doing.

The Holy Eucharist Fulfills Us

        Communion experience. It's extra special to receive the Holy Eucharist on this Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. With Psalm 23:1 in mind, I could sum up my feeling by saying that "the Lord is in me; there is nothing I lack."

Power of the Holy Eucharist

        Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The message I picked up during the homily: By receiving this Most Blessed Sacrament, which is Christ, we can become like him. Of course, if we receive it every Sunday at Mass just out of obligation, we shall remain the same. I've seen some who regularly receive the sacrament, yet still feel miserable most of the time. The power is there and will enter only those in a state of grace, open, and desirous of becoming holy.

Ultimate Freedom

        In John 8:32, Jesus said, "The truth will set you free." Since Jesus is the truth, I have come to realize that when I am completely filled with Christ, I attain ultimate freedom. 

A Wow Awakening

        "God loved us so much that he died for us so that we might have eternal life" ~ we've heard it so many times that we hardly pay any attention anymore. Indeed, familiarity breeds contempt. Today at Mass I paid attention to it and the Lord made me see that the saying reveals the ultimate expression of love, an act as momentous as the creation, a powerful display of God's perfection, and the greatest favor he could have bestowed upon us. It definitely was a wow awakening moment for me!        

A Fundamental, Good Feeling

        I've been posting about how God has made us. Here's one more observation. People are good at being in denial about their sinfulness and they lose inner peace. When you do something wrong, no matter how hard you try to deny it, you'll always get that uneasiness ~ this is how God has made us.  I've said in the past that there's no better feeling than knowing you and God are on good terms. Today I am seeing it from a specific point of view: When your heart is clean, it's a most wonderful feeling because you know you have nothing to hide and you welcome the Lord to dwell within you. Once you've experienced this, you'll never want or need to be in denial about anything anymore.

Awesome God

        I was attending a special Mass tonight for the Feast of St. Joseph Marello. When I let the Lord know that I was going to trust in him, he let me know that he's going to trust in me. It's pretty awesome to hear that and it's something I'd better remember always.

Amazing God

        I am still amazed that my God loves me so much that he died for me and that he and I can become one! I defy you to find a more amazing god.

Ave Maria by Bach/Gounod

Kimi Skota of South Africa sings beautifully.

Showing Love in All Things

        This morning I heard this story about St. Joseph Marello. When his barber was no longer able to give good haircuts because of the loss of eyesight, the saint, already a bishop, continued to go to him just to support him ~ showing love is more important than looking good in a new haircut. Like St. Therese, St. Joseph Marello advised all to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Every day we have numerous ordinary opportunities to be charitable. Let's make them extraordinary before they vanish.