In Christ Is Freedom

        Why do we have fears, worries, get anxious, or feel self-conscious? Answer: because we are still attached to ourselves, still think we are somebody, don't fully trust in God yet, and care about what others think. Galatians 2.19, 20 provide the clue to the solution we need: I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me. When Christ displaces us in us, nothing can affect us negatively anymore. The wicked will only make us feel sorry for them and we'll be able to forgive our enemies. No longer shall we be concerned about our own image; we simply do what the Lord wants us to do and let what follows follow. With God taking over our lives, we are set free.

Importance of Humility

        Without humility, one cannot have inner peace, love others truly, and be holy.

Saving the World

        Transformation of the world must start with the transformation of each one of us. And our transformation starts with following Christ, becoming humble, loving, and holy as he is. We may not witness notable success in our lifetime or even lose our life in the process, but we must take this path as it's the only right way.

The Resurrection Effect

        The Resurrection of Christ still fills the Christian today with hope that vanquishes all despair and with joy that dissolves all sadness.  

Joy of a Healed Soul

        As always, before we receive Communion at Mass, the priest says: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. And we all say: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. This morning, I felt great joy in asking the Lord to heal my soul because a healed soul is close to God, enjoying still greater intimacy with him.

At Thirst for God

        Last night after going to bed, I had the intense desire to pray to God for anything. Today's Response to Psalms 42 at Mass, verse 3 from the psalm, confirmed my feeling: At thirst is my soul for the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God?  

Why Faith Is Beautiful

        My first thought at Mass this morning was that the most beautiful aspect of my faith is believing in the Lord without having seen him. 

Unrealistic Living

        God is our most solid reality and there is no escape from that. Anytime you try not to face him, you're trying to avoid reality. If your heart is troubled for whatever reason, don't do anything to forget your trouble or get yourself distracted temporarily. The right thing is to turn to God right away and lay everything before him to get his guidance and help. Escaping from reality is wasting our precious, limited time on earth. Live realistically by living every moment with the Lord and in the Lord. 

On Being Well-Known

        I am a well-known person, well known to God, that is. Being my creator, he knows everything about me. He is the only one who understands me perfectly, and this gives me great comfort. Being love, he cares for me and watches over me, making me happy. To hide from such a God is to be the biggest fool in the entire universe.

For Our Sake

        Do you know that it's for our sake that God wants us to be saints?

Safe from Evil

        Communion experience. I felt absolutely safe in the Lord because I knew he would shield me from all evil. This does not mean that evil will vanish; it only means that evil can no longer touch my soul.   

Jealousy, a Deadly Sin

        This morning's first reading at Mass from Genesis 37 tells the story of Joseph and his brothers. Their father Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons; out of jealousy, the brothers plotted to kill Joseph. Indeed, jealousy can be a deadly sin, deadly to the those who are jealous, that is. Therefore, feel sorry for anyone who is jealous of you for whatever reason and pray hard for the person. For only God can change a jealous heart.

God Creates Joy

        Today I rejoice that Jesus has come and redeemed us, that he welcomes us to enter the most intimate union with him, and that he'll have the most beautiful dwelling places prepared in heaven for those who love him. How can I not feel happy? 

Incredible Meeting

        Communion experience. As I received the Holy Eucharist, it was the meeting of the infinite and the finite, the high and the lowly, the mighty and the weak, the holy and the guilty, the pure and the defiled, the perfect and the imperfect, the wholesome and the sick, the merciful and the one who needs mercy, the selfless one and the selfish one ... such an incredible meeting! 

Heaven Is Serious

        The Gospel reading at Mass came from Luke 16, which tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man died and landed in the netherworld, while Lazarus the poor man died and was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. I see quite a bit of the rich man in most of us. For example, he dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day ~ we might have enjoyed dressing and eating well at one time or another. After the rich man learned that there was a chasm permanently separating his side and Lazarus', he begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers at his father's house, lest they too end up in his place of torment. So there was kindness in him, as in most of us. Of course, his request was denied because Abraham told him that they already have Moses and the prophets to listen to. Well, we have Jesus, the Son of God, to listen to ~ but are we listening? We can be pretty nice people, but without love and paying God attention, we also risk landing in the netherworld.    

Heaven, an Enticing Place

        I've never been to heaven, but these few things I am sure will no longer exist in heaven: (1) the toiling necessary for making a living, (2) the burden imposed upon us by the physical body, and best of all, (3) evil. The list can go on and on. Without even mentioning the existence of one good thing, heaven already sounds most enticing. 

Network of Hearts

        First we let God change our hearts, then we are ready to change the hearts of others. I see our hearts forming a network for the Lord to use to reach the hearts of all his children. 

Choosing Sides Now

        Here's another simple view of mine, and I believe in it with all my heart. God will be victorious over evil in the end. Therefore, I choose sides right now, making God my ally, and my eternal future is assured. [I must admit that I did not see it this way before I knew the Lord well, so it's now the view from a mature believer.]