Two of the many things I've so far learned halfway through reading Garbrielle Bossis' He and I: (1) God wants us to "go higher and higher" because what he can give us is inexhaustible! What is his is all ours for the asking! This is most encouraging. (2) The Lord used the word "at-oneness" with Gabrielle. He wants us to be at one with him so that we don't just do things for him, we do it with him! It's as if when I go buy a gift for him, he goes with me to pick out the gift. I love at-oneness because it greatly simplifies our life.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Big Risk Gambling
Gamblers playing at casinos lose most of the time. If you don't think that they are being smart, then how about the atheists? The most a casinos player can lose is all his money, but an atheist risks losing his soul if he turns out to be wrong!
Spiritual Discrimination
The law of the country prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Yet in praying to God, we freely discriminate against people we don't like. Do we ever pray for those we cannot forgive? for all our enemies? How can we not care about anyone whom God loves?" How can we ask the Father to love us while we don't love our brothers and sisters? This is hypocrisy at its worst because we also tried to "limit" the mercy of God.
Realistic Living
Live with the belief that God is infinitely more awesome in every way than we can possibly imagine. This is being realistic because God is infinitely more awesome in every way than we can possibly imagine.
Centering on God
We must center on God and never on ourselves. Even when we ask for things for ourselves, we must not think that we deserve anything, but focus upon his love, mercy, and generosity.
God and Devil Exist
Two stories hit the headlines today. On this Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis lays flowers and prays at his namesake's shrine, urging the Church to strip itself of all "vanity, arrogance, and pride" and humbly serve the poor in society. At the other end of the news spectrum, pop icons Miley Cyrus and Sinead O'Connor mock and accuse each other through the media, escalating their ongoing row. Everyday the news shows clearly that both God and the devil exist.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Seeing Others Correctly
When we see someone, we instantly get an impression and form certain ideas, often negative without any basis, about the person. In a way, we are judging already. The right way is to see each person through the eyes of Jesus. He would only see a being he deeply loves and wants to save at all costs.
Loving God Thoroughly
At Communion time, I realized that the closest parts of us are our soul, our heart, our mind and our body, in descending order of importance. Then I remembered Jesus' first commandment for us: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your soul, with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength" ~ he covered it all!
A Trusty Recipe
Put no trust in yourself and all your trust in God, then God is greatly pleased and makes you super strong.
The Only Tragedy in Life
I have quoted Leon Bloy (1846-1917): "The only tragedy in life is not to be a saint," previously on this blog. Interestingly, Gabrielle Bossis' entry on February 11, 1943, in her journal recorded Jesus' saying to her: "The only tragedy in life is not to love God." Since both Bloy and Bossis were French, at first I thought perhaps Bloy had read Bossis' journal. Then the dates clearly showed that it's not possible, for Bloy died before Bossis began recording in 1936. Bloy definitely had said the right thing.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Pray for Courage
Pray that we'll listen to God alone and have the courage to obey him, overriding all other considerations.
Following Jesus' Example
Today is the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 18, Jesus called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said to the disciples that whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the the kingdom of heaven. I saw that the Lord, being humble and the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, was indirectly talking about himself. Therefore, we are to follow his example.
Purpose of Resurrection
As I continue reading He and I by Gabielle Bossis, I am impressed by what Jesus told her about his Resurrection. He said that he did not do it for his glory, but so that she might believe and live in the hope of her own resurrection.
God Always Does It Better
We love God, but he loves us so much more. We finally decide to seek union with him, but he has always desired to be one with us. While we hardly pay him much attention, he yearns intensely for us. We often get unhappy, but he is so easily pleased even if we just look in his direction. Sometimes we don't feel like seeing anyone, but he welcomes our approaches at anytime. Who always waits for whom patiently? God outperforms whatever you expect of him.
Our Dual Role
It's necessary to be Martha in life, although it's more enjoyable to be Mary. If we'll just do everything with love for Jesus and in Jesus, offering it as our prayer, then we are Martha and Mary at the same time.
Getting Hit in Heaven
We know God loves us, but with our finite mind it's impossible for us to fully comprehend his great love. Then we get to heaven and finally realize and the infinite magnitude of this love and it will be like being hit by the sweetest tsunami.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
God the Generous Giver
Today is the Memorial of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the beloved saint.
Every time I brought someone closer to Jesus, I felt great joy. God is the source of this joy. We cannot love others without God wanting to express his love for them through us. We cannot feel joy without God wanting to share his joy with us. We cannot achieve union with him without God desiring union with us. He has given us everything, and when we give it back to him for his glory, he gladly gives us more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)