"Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

Friday, August 30, 2013

Jesus the Coolest

        We humans typically behave like creatures that are finite, facing the vast unknown, and are constantly amazed, surprised, or shocked by what's happening. We learn about some scientific discovery and think that we can conquered the world. Hit by a tragedy and our life falls apart. Hurt by someone and we are upset and become unforgiving. In other words, we are pitiful! Now, read about Jesus in the Gospels. You'll see what he says and how he behaves fit perfectly one who is (1) all-knowing, not surprised or shocked by anything and knowing exactly what's coming to him, (2) the creator of all things, making miracles happen so naturally, his own Resurrection included, and (3) infinitely merciful, forgiving his enemies even from the Cross. As a human being, he has to be the coolest dude (no disrespect intended) there ever has been or will be. 

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Transformation to Effect Transformation

        Communion time thought. Jesus transformed the host into his own body so that we may receive him and be transformed by him.

Ego, the Conscience Killer

        We all have a conscience, but to keep it clear we must leave it alone. The common trouble is that we let the ego dictate our conscience. As a result, the conscience gets muddied or even entirely ignored as the heart hardens. Pope Francis came on scene as a breath of fresh air the world had sorely needed. 

Herod, Typical Sinner

        Today is the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist. The Gospel reading from Mark 6 tells us that Herod the king married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, and John said to him that "it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Herodias harbored a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. On the other hand, Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, so he just had him arrested and bound in prison. When Herod heard John speak, he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. [Here Herod knew that he had done something wrong, so he feared the righteous and holy John. He's perplexed about John, because it's difficult for a sinner to understand why someone wants to be holy. He still liked to listen to him because his conscience needed to be soothed.]
         Then at Herod's birthday banquet he gave, Herodias' daughter performed a dance that so delighted Herod and his guests that the king swore he would grant the girl whatever she asked of him. Herodias had her asking for the head of John the Baptist. The king was distressed, but not wishing to break his word before the guests, he gave in to the request. [Here, looking good before others overrode Herod's conscience.]
        Herod might be an evil person, but all the above comments bracketed could have described any average sinner.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

All I Could Ask For

        During Communion, I was at the supper of the Lamb. The Lord God was the host. What was served was the Lamb himself. As I ate, I was purified and promised eternal life. There's nothing more I could ask for.

Hypocrisy Brings Woe

        Today is the Memorial of St. Augustine. In these last three days, the Gospel reading has come from Matthew 23. Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the scribes and the Pharisees, who appeared righteous on the outside, but were filled with evildoing inside. Certainly, a hypocritical person does not experience inner peace. All we need to be concerned about is our inside because if the inside is clean, the outside will appear clean too. We are blessed to have Christ who can cleanse and purify us, removing all hypocrisy so that we may feel free being our genuine selves.         

From God or Not

        If you imagine yourself doing some great work for the glory of God, that is not from God. If you think about yourself being totally humble before God, that is not from him either. If you don't think about anything, but serving God faithfully ~ that is from him.  

Most Amazing Experience

        To me, this has to be the most amazing experience of the human life. A sinner, which could be anyone, knows that he's in trouble because he feels the weight of sin upon him. By the grace of God, he is lead to repenting and confessing his sins. The heavy weight is instantly lifted from his heart and he is a free new being. This experience is well known to many who have come to Christ. It was recounted on a recent EWTN Coming Home episode by Fr. George Turano who were baptized as a Catholic, left the faith for many years, and finally reverted. He described the tremendous relief and elation after making his confession. Only the true God as known through Christ can bring about such a fundamental transformation ~ not another god or man has the power to do anything with sins.

Reconciliation in Order

        Reconcile with God your Father first, then you'll be able to reconcile with your neighbor and yourself. If you don't love your neighbor and/or yourself, you have not reconciled with your creator fully yet.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

God Alone Is Sufficient

        Today is the Memorial of St. Monica. After I received Holy Communion today, I really felt that once I have Jesus, there is nothing else I want for myself anymore. If God is not sufficient for me, then nothing will. Of course, I do want everyone in the world to be saved, but that's something I want for God, not for myself. 

Monday, August 26, 2013

Union Is like Playing the Piano

        When you learn to play the piano, the goal is to be able to forget completely about your fingers and put all your effort and concentration into expressing the music, making it sound beautiful. But due to human limitations, we can play a piece of music well enough, but never to the point of complete satisfaction. Similarly, in seeking union with God, the goal is to be become Christlike. The more we let go in the Lord, desiring to be changed, the more we progress. But since we are finite creatures, we can become more like him, but never reach his state of perfection. (Note that in both cases, letting go is the key.)

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Critically Important Message

        In Scriptures, we see that Jesus always had the answer to any question he's asked. No one had been able to trap or stump him. He showed that he's the all-knowing God. In today's Gospel reading at Mass, Luke 13:22-30, Jesus talked about the narrow gate through which we must strive to enter in order to be saved. Once the master of the house has arisen, the door will be locked and those who are outside will be cast out forever; and they will see all those inside reclining at table in the kingdom of God. Everyone should take this reading most seriously because our response to the message will determine our eternal placement.  

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Try to Be Faithful, not Successful

        I attended a Respect Life Leadership Gathering today. The task of changing the thinking of all to pro-life is daunting, but one presenter's quote from Mother Teresa was most encouraging: "God doesn't require us to succeed; he only requires that you try." To serve God is to not aim for success, but remain faithful. 

The Weakness Advantage

        We all know our own weaknesses in various areas, and being weak can be a disadvantage in life. Then the Lord makes me see that we can use this awareness to our advantage by letting it keep us humble before him.

Friday, August 23, 2013

The Unsettled Life

        As long as you do not know Jesus yet, you cannot be certain where you'll end up after death; therefore, you live an unsettled life. Happy is the one who lives a life with eternity all settled!

Good Reason to Be Happy

        We feel good when someone appreciates us, likes us, or thinks highly of us. Now, we have God continually loving us more than anyone else possibly can at all times, how can we not feel happy? Believe and rejoice!

How to Know We Love God

        In today's Gospel reading at Mass from Matthew 22, Jesus answered one Pharisee asking him which commandment in the law is the greatest, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." 
      The second commandment is not easy to follow because your neighbor may be an extremely unpleasant person or even an enemy who hates you. Nevertheless, we can't say that we love God if we don't love our neighbor. So, the second commandment serves as a test to see if we fulfill the first commandment or not. 

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Obedience Sequence

        Seeking God's will, knowing his will, and doing his will ~ the delay usually occurs between seeking and knowing. Nevertheless, we have peace at the end always.