The Faith Difference

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 6, Jesus came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. He began to teach in the synagogue and astonished many who heard him. And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house." [I think we all feel that way sometimes.] So he, amazed at their lack of faith, was not able to perform any mighty deed there. My observation: without faith, we won't see God in action; with faith, we get to experience all the wonders of God.   

Living for God Best

        People live for various things in life. For example, I have friends who live intensely for playing music. There is no question that a lot of people live mainly for making more money. The drawback in all such cases is that if some misfortune such as illness or financial failure happens, they would be devastated or ruined. But if we live for God alone, no matter what happens, life is always joy-filled for he is uplifting and forever dependable.

"Faith" Reexamined

        In today's Gospel reading at Mass from Mark 5, a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years went up behind Jesus in a crowd, saying to herself, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be healed." She touched his cloak and immediately her flow of blood dried up. Jesus, aware that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked who touched his clothes. The woman came up in fear and trembling, fell down before Jesus and told him the truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."

             This passage makes me think about faith again. What is considered great faith? Obviously, faith can work wonders. What I've noticed is that the woman who suffered hemorrhages was in a rather desperate situation and had no hesitation in believing that Jesus could heal her. These two requirements need be present to demonstrate our faith. If I suffer a cold, I know God can heal me, but there's no urgency here. Ask the Lord to cure me of my cold miraculously would be to force myself to be "unreasonable," you could say. I had blogged in the past how my son was miraculously saved from death when I prayed for his recovery without hesitation ~ the situation was desperate and my request just came out spontaneously. I think we all have faith, but we don't know how strong it is until we are being tested. One thing is certain: if you seek union with God, the Lord will automatically (my favorite adverb) make your faith strong. 

The Peace of God

        Today's Communion experience. After I received the Holy Eucharist, I knew that it was the Lord himself and experienced deep peace, fulfilling the wish God has for all of us. 

The Christian Life Is...

a balancing act between total immersion in Christ and living the realistic life in a secular world. 

Seeking Love

        I yearn for Jesus because I yearn for pure love and it happens that Jesus is the only pure love around the whole universe.

On Being One with Jesus

        When Jesus and I are one, I no longer view or talk to him as a separate person. We are now in each other, inseparable. We talk and listen to each other. We glance at each other at the same time. We trust in each other. We belong to each other. One exception: I am in his love, but I can't say that he is in mine because all my love came from him. 

One More Christian Benefit

        In this morning's Gospel reading from Mark 4 at Mass, Jesus and his disciples were in a boat crossing to the other side. A violent squall came up and waves broke over the side so that the boat started filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. The disciples, fearing that they were perishing, woke the Lord up. He rebuked the wind; it ceased and there was great calm. He then asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" It follows conversely that if we have faith, we shall not be afraid of anything. 

We Have Hope!

        On NPR this morning, I heard the sad story of Jeremiah, a 14 year old high school kid who took his own life because he couldn't take the bulling he received at his school anymore (http://www.npr.org/2014/01/31/268996343/when-jeremiah-couldnt-take-more-bullying-he-took-his-life). I've been pondering over the subject of suicide lately. If you take someone's life, you are still alive and have the chance to repent and confess to God and be forgiven. But if you take your own life, that chance is gone forever. In the case of Jeremiah, I don't believe he understood the seriousness of his act yet at his age. Besides, he might not even know Jesus. The Lord surely knew all the circumstances and could still easily forgive him.    

        How I wish I can let every single person in the world know that no one ever needs to feel hopeless, for Christ is our bright everlasting hope! This morning at Mass I saw that God is our only hope against evil. God is love, and without love we become defenseless. Sin takes over and we turn cruel against each other, heading toward eternal death. I am not being pessimistic, only truthful and realistic. Yes, even if your life is like living in hell, Jesus can change that hell into heaven as he is our only and true hope.   

Another Christian Benefit

        A Christian follows the will of God. When what God wants him to do is clear, he does it. When unclear, he does not get anxious, but prays and waits in peace. In this sense, a Christian always knows what to do. He's never feels lost ~ that's right.

Not Letting God Go

        Once we believe in God, we are safe and secure in his hands and need only rest in him and enjoy his presence. But sometimes I feel like holding onto him so tight as if I'm going to lose him. Then I realize that this is not due to any insecurity, but because I love and yearn for him so much. I call this "not letting go in God."          

Does Faith Need Works?

        Protestants believe that faith alone is sufficient for salvation, while Catholics quote from James 2 to claim that faith without works is dead. This is how I see it. If you truly believe in God and follow him, you will "automatically" be prompted by the Holy Spirit to do good works to serve and glorify God. Therefore, whether faith needs works or not becomes a nonissue. It also follows that if no good works come forth from someone who says that he has faith, then he is a liar.    

Reality Stories We Need to Hear

        Here are two Journey Home programs with terrific messages. The first is an interview with Kelly Nieto who was a new age atheist. What she has to say perfectly describes the state of our sick society today. 

        

        This second interview is with Leah Darrow. What she experienced was typical of what many of today's young men and women face. Every teenager would benefit from listening to her story. 

Guessing The Unforgivable Sin

        In today's Gospel reading at morning Mass from Mark 3, Jesus said to the scribes, "Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin." I had wondered what this unforgivable sin could be. I venture to make a guess here. In the Gospel, the scribes said earlier of Jesus, "He is possessed by Beelzebul [an unclean spirit]," and "By the prince of demons he drives out demons." It seems that the unforgivable sin must be calling the Holy Spirit an unclean spirit, which is the same as calling the Holy God the devil ~ God forbid!

Taking Advantage of God

        The presence of Jesus I am aware of has become overwhelming to the point I could no longer not think about him even for a moment ~ he is more real to me than anything else! God is just so beautiful and lovely, that's all I can say. I took advantage of this intimacy and shared with him a couple of my urgent wishes and knew that he heard me and would grant them in time. Let the Lord do whatever he wishes with you and he'll fill you with great joy by coming to dwell within you.  

Being a Christian

        A Christian does only the will of God. If his action benefits others, he expects no reward or gratitude, for he receives his reward and joy from God alone. A Christian never compares himself with anyone who is more popular, more powerful, more talented, or richer, for he prefers to remain peaceful through humility. A Christian cares about God first, others second, and himself last.     

Answering God's Call

        Today's Gospel reading came from Matthew 4 ~ Jesus began preaching and called his first disciples. If you are not happy with your spiritual state and wish to progress, what should you do? Here's my obvious answer: Like Peter, Andrew, James, and John who left everything at once to follow Jesus after he called them in the Gospel reading, you too should leave for the Lord immediately, for he has called you. The sinful state is a state of emergency and immediate action is required.

How to Approach God

        I felt well enough to attend Sunday morning Mass, but remained quiet for fear that using my voice would trigger coughing. Before Mass started, I thought about how we should approach the Lord. The following immediately came to the mind: Be open completely; remain passive and at his disposal; leave all our cares at his feet; ask no questions, only trust; rest in his peace now in his holy presence. This is total abandonment in God. This is enjoying him. This is what "Thy will be done" is all about.