Death Has Lost

        Yearning for the Lord works wonders ~ it banishes any fear of death. Basically, death has lost all its power over the Christian.

Greatest Achievement

        What is the greatest achievement of mankind? The fact is that everything we think we have achieved is done by God through us, for without him we wouldn't even exist. Then the greatest achievement that involves us has to be our salvation through the sacrifice of God's own Son ~ made possible by the greatest love there is.

Moving On with God

        If you have done something well for God, rejoice that you have glorified him; but beware that you don't relish the experience too much lest your ego gets fed. We must focus upon God always and not dwell upon what has already passed. 

Freedom in God

        To be free in God, you must make sure that God would feel free in you. This means remaining completely open, empty, and passive to him.

Jesus Faithful in His Role

        On this Palm Sunday, the Gospel was read from Matthew 26 and 27. The long reading recounted the experience of Jesus from his betrayal by Judas through his burial. As Jesus carried out the Father's plan of salvation, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament, it was as if he was following a script, faithfully acting out his part. An ordinary human not knowing what's happening and the future would have reacted entirely differently. This is worth noticing.       

Weeding with God

        I enjoy weeding outdoors by hand around and among the plants. This morning after Mass, while the air was still cool, I started to weed some. When I saw some beautiful red flowers in bloom, I thought of the creative genius of God and appreciated the sense of beauty he had given me. Then I was surprised that a plant which seemed to have been killed by the frost last winter was still alive, for I saw new growths underneath all the dead leaves that formed the dense top. This was like the birth of the new person after the old self has died in Christ. Next I noticed that some weeds looked very much like the good plants among which they grew. I had to look carefully to pick them out. It reminded me of the Second Coming when Jesus would separate the goats from the sheep. Now I could feel the temperature rising and moved into a shaded area north of the house ~ I felt immediate relief and was refreshed. That's how I felt about God at times. After I finished weeding that area, it's time to go inside the house. 

God Most Desirable

        Communion thoughts. I desire all of God. I want to belong to him completely. Going all the way into him and with him in every way is the way to go, for any other way will be unsatisfactory.

Source of Clear Thinking

        Only God sees and understands everything clearly, for infinite mercy and perfect justice demand that. Muddy thinking is the cause of rebellion against God and all other chaos, tragedies, and miseries of the world. Union with God will enable us to see and understand all things clearly, thus bringing peace to both our heart and the world. 

Sign of Freedom

        The fact that you feel great joy in sharing the good news of Christ with others is proof that the truth has begun to set you free.

Model for Us

        In today's Gospel from John 8 at Mass, the Jews did not like what Jesus had said to them and picked up stones to throw at him, but he hid and left them. How would we have reacted in his place? What impresses me is that throughout Jesus' life on earth, love alone motivated and guided him in all that he did at all times. He is our ideal model.  

Love Worthy of Trust

        This morning's Communion antiphon (Romans 8.32): God did not spare his own son, but handed him over for us all; with him, he has given us all things. In other words, if God is willing to give his own son for us, how will he not also give us all things with him? Such love deserves our absolute trust in God. 

God and World Worlds Apart

        In today's Gospel reading from John 8 at morning Mass, Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him that the truth would set them free. They thought they were free because they had never been enslaved to anyone, but Jesus meant "free from becoming a slave of sin." In today's world, "free" also means having no financial burdens, no one giving you a hard time, and free to do whatever you wish and not worry about the consequence. To the world, to love is to desire or enjoy something that attracts, lures, or satisfies you sensually or intellectually, whereas to love for God is to lay down your life for your friends. Again, the world seeks external pleasures that satisfy mostly the senses, while God wants to give us internal joy that intoxicates the soul. 

How to Kill the Ego

        Simple ~ just starve it.

Standard of Love

        Jesus said, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15.13). All love is to be measured by this standard. Then the greatest lack of love has to be to abort one's own child for oneself.

Multiplication of the Lord

       Communion time thoughts. Jesus in his time multiplied loaves and fish to feed the multitude, satisfying their physical hunger. Now he multiplies himself in the Holy Eucharist to feed all of us who love him, satisfying our spiritual hunger.

We Are the Soil

        Today's Gospel acclamation at Mass: The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever. This makes us the soil. If we keep the word of God, the soil will be good and rich and we shall bear fruit and live. Otherwise, the soil will be poor and barren and we shall die.

Thread of Mercy

        I see God's mercy as a thread with each of us suspended by such a thread. Since God's mercy is infinite, this thread is so strong that it will want to hold us safe all our life. But sin weaken this thread. Therefore, if we keep sinning and do not repent, the thread will in time break and drop us into the abyss where we don't want to go.

Offering Up Suffering

        Offering up our suffering to God is seeking refuge and consolation in him. It's an excellent way of deepening our union with God and overcoming sorrow with joy.