Lesson from Dreams

        I sometimes have certain recurring dreams, indicating that certain people have emotionally affected me in the past. This teaches that we must be responsible for how we treat each other, for what we do can haunt others and ourselves too. May the love of God always reign in us. 

On Responding to God

        Today's Gospel came from Luke 1. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and informed him that his wife Elizabeth would bear him a son, to be named John. Since the couple were already advanced in years, Zechariah did not believe the words of the angel and he was rendered speechless. This got me thinking: we are responsible for my responses to God. In fact, every thought, word, and act coming from us would get an appropriate response from God!

Most Wondrous News

        In our disordered, pitiful world, we do hear good news from time to time. During this Advent season, I realize that the most wondrous news of all has to be the Incarnation, the coming of Christ into the world. It not only is an earthshaking groundbreaker, but also forever rejoices the heart.

The Christian Profession

        To be good or at least survive in any profession, we must learn all aspects of it and perform our assigned tasks. Christians should see that being a Christian is also a profession. To be good at it, they must learn all about Christ and practice being holy. In fact, this should be their first profession before getting into any other profession.          

Mercy Demands Submission

        During fracture of the bread before we receive Holy Communion at Mass, all say, "Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us." This morning I realized that when we ask the Lord to have mercy on us, we should submit ourselves to him, for how can we beg for mercy and not decide on changing ourselves? How can children ask for their father's blessing when they remain disobedient?       

Overwhelming Intimacy

        Communion experience. As I received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist at Mass this morning, I was made sharply aware that I was receiving the flesh and blood of the creator of the whole universe, the one who is pure love and who forgives our sins! I felt crushed, but what a liberating crush! I had not seen God, yet he entered to dwell in me. Such intimacy and union readies the soul for complete transformation.

Being Drawn to Jesus

        What makes Jesus so beautiful, attractive, and inspiring? I thought about this today and can say that it's his complete, perfect obedience to God the Father. [This has also been the goal of all the great saints.]

Jesus as Soulmate

        Ideal soulmates are people who think alike, have the same values and tastes, share the same interests, are compatible with each other in every way; therefore, they greatly enjoy each other's company and are most happy together. We all wish that our spouses and friends are all soulmates, but in our imperfect world, finding a soulmate is rare at best. This morning at Mass, I realized that when we are in union with Jesus, we become like him in every respect ~ in thinking, viewing others, doing all things for God, etc. ~ Jesus then is our soulmate! And he is the only soulmate who can take care of our souls!  

The Surrender Experience

        Being human, it's natural that we feel some uneasiness when we are ready to surrender ourselves totally to God. There is a little bit of that jumping-off-a-cliff-into-the-unknown feeling. In reality, not only you do not free-fall after jumping, the Lord catches you and lifts you to new heights of freedom! Then you know that God is solidly with you.   

Freedom in God

        In many countries ruled by a dictator or a dictatorial government, there's no freedom of personal expression. People live in constant fear and you could even feel the oppression in the air ~ I know because I visited such a country once. The very opposite of such confinement is the utter freedom we can have in God. Since God is infinite, the space within him is infinite. Since he is also love, we are given complete freedom to live and explore in this immense space. This is why I love and enjoy the Lord so much.

Christianity Stands Out

        Jesus said, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14). As a Christian, I directly get to know God in person! As a Catholic, I even receive the Savior into me in the Holy Eucharist and achieve intimate union with him. Where else would you find and get so close to God? 

Jesus Our Test

        Today is the Memorial of St. John of the Cross. I have posted in the past that you meet a lot of seemingly nice people, but you don't really know them without seeing how they undergo certain tests in life. Does a person have the courage to risk his own life to save another person whose life is in danger? I had "friends" who became "enemies" the moment they saw a chance of making financial gains. Then there were cases in which the wife suffered cancer or some other illness that required a lot of care, and the husband left or divorced her. Tests do reveal the true person. This morning before Mass began, I saw Jesus as the test for all of us. How we deal with him reveals how self-centered or how humble we are to God. 

The Evil of Laziness

        Obesity has become a major problem in many of the more affluent nations. The obvious causes are eating too rich foods and the lack of exercise. Normally, one is aware of his bad habits, but is too lazy to do anything about it. It's so easy and comfortable to continue eating the same junk food, watching a lot of TV, and skipping exercise or even regular walking. Time flies and soon you are middle-aged. It's now even more difficult to change yourself in any way. The risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke rises.

          Spiritual unawareness (death) happens in the same way. Normally, you are aware of your sins, but you are too lazy to do anything about it. It's so easy to rationalize away or ignore it ~ you are fooled into believing that you would feel comfortable by not facing the uncomfortable. Of course, you're wrong, for unforgiven sins stick with you forever. Again, time goes by and you become an older person burdened with even more sins. The risk of losing your soul is ever great.   

Prayer Progress

        Wanting to pray harder for someone "compels" you to trust in God more, resulting in greater inner peace. This is an excellent way of letting God draw you closer to him.  

Elated by Love

        We all want to be loved, but when I realize that I am being loved by none other than God, I am elated, for the intent of this greatest divine love is to ensure my eternal happiness! 

How to Possess God

        The only way to possess God is to let him capture you. Always trust in him, letting him do the work, and you'll be well taken care of. 

God Forever Our Delight

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 1, when Mary entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth, the infant (John the Baptist) in Elizabeth's womb leaped for joy. Some people leap for "joy" when they learn that they have won the big lottery, but our hearts can be in constant joy when Jesus dwells in us ~ God is forever our delight.  

God Forever Our Hope

        Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. At the time the Protestant Reformation caused many Catholics to leave the Church, the Lord sent Mary to appear in Mexico and converted the entire nation. I thought of how Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead, how his disciples went from almost giving up to being willing to die for the Lord, and how so many of us were in the pit and are now being lifted into heaven. God is at his best in making things happen ~ he is forever our hope.