Jesus' Challenging Claim

        In today's Gospel reading from John 6, what Jesus said to the crowds included this statement: "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day." He was making a huge claim. This saying challenges each of us to the core to believe that he either spoke the truth or didn't know what he's talking about. You decide.

Selfless Serving

        Sometimes I wonder if I have done anything important for God, then I realize that this thinking cannot have come from the Lord because it's still self-centered. What matters only is what's important to God, and whatever we do following his will is all he asks of us.

To Know God Is True

        Instead of looking at the many positive, wonderful things about Jesus and how he has changed so many lives for the better, nonbelievers, not knowing any truth, aim to discredit or dismiss him as if they know more than God. To know God, you must surrender to him first, then he'll let you know that he is true in every way. This is almost impossible for me to convey to anyone, but is the best witness I can possibly give.

Union the Straight Path

        In today's Gospel reading from John 6 at Mass, after Jesus had fed the five thousand men, the disciples saw him walking on the sea. The next day, the crowd went looking for Jesus and found him across the sea. Jesus said to them, "You are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." Jesus teaches us to seek the kingdom of God first and all other things will be given us besides (Matthew 6.33). To put all this into practice, seek union with him first, then everything of life will assume its proper importance. Union takes one straight to God, bypassing all the obstacles and pitfalls of the ordinary spiritual journey.

Relating to the Father

        Today's is the Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles. In the Gospel reading from John 14, Jesus said to Thomas, "If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus said to them, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show me the Father'?" Like Philip, we also want to know more, see more, and be assured more. The fact is that the Father is our creator ~ without him, we wouldn't be breathing now. Furthermore, nothing can happen without his permission and everything that happens to us is a calling from him to go closer to him. Therefore, never for a moment should we forget the Father's presence nor forget to relate ourselves, everything that happens to us, everything we do, to his love for us.

Fast Track to Holiness

        To improve our physical condition, we need to eat right and exercise. To improve our knowledge, we must study, read, and learn. To grow holier is a different matter because it involves God's doing. We initiate by prayer, reading the Gospel, doing penance, etc., but real changes can only be effected by God. In fact, the less we "struggle," the more God takes over. Hence, surrender and trust is the fastest way to holiness. 

Putting Free Will to Rest

        God gave us our free will to choose between good and evil, between obeying him and disobeying him. Once we decide to surrender to God, we put our free will to its best use. Now God's will and ours become one and we no longer need to exercise our free will anymore.

Superior Journey

        There are many seminars, workshops, conferences, etc., featuring upbeat, dynamic speakers who can encourage and inspire you or even set your heart on fire for God temporarily. This is all good, but nothing coming from outside of you can compare with what comes from within yourself. The superior journey is to seek union with God, then God will change you from the inside permanently with no more need for any outside boost.  

On Praying for Others

        We pray for loved ones who have died. If they are in purgatory, prayer and Mass offered can surely help. But the best time to pray for others is when they are still alive ~ taking preventive measure is always better than having to do the rescue later, if it's not already too late. Therefore, pray for your loved ones and all God's loved ones daily without ceasing for the greatest good.     

Easily Overlooked Warning

        This morning's Gospel reading at Mass came from John 3. He wrote: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God." I was struck by the last verse which I have italicized. It seems that not believing in Jesus as the Son of God is a serious sin, serious enough to be condemned. I can think of many who believe that they are basically good people, but do not take Jesus seriously and think nothing of it. They'd better read this verse and reconsider their position. 

Having God's Conscience

        I don't want to say that the Holy Spirit is God's conscience, for I may be treading on theological ground. But this I know: when one is filled with the Holy Spirit, God's conscience becomes his conscience.

All I Know

        In John 9, we read that Jesus opened the eyes of the man born blind. The Pharisees, disbelieving that he was blind, told him that Jesus was a sinner and kept questioning him. He then relied, "If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see." I like his response. Like the Pharisees the majority of the world do not believe in Christ and many even attack him and question his existence, but they do not affect me. All I know is that Jesus has set me free, filled my life with meaning, quenched my thirst, given me hope, joy, and peace, and shown me his love, beauty, and majesty! This is more than enough. To all those who disbelieve or discredit him: let Jesus open your eyes too.

Union Turns Life "Upside Down"

        Ordinarily, we find it difficult to remain holy as it's just too easy to sin. When you attain union with Christ, the reverse becomes true: remaining holy is now no work as God removes your desire to sin. 

God Our Transformer

        Today's the Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena. After receiving the Holy Eucharist, I saw positively that the Lord could cleanse and purify us, transforming us into temples of the Holy Spirit. It was a glorious feeling. St. Catherine, pray for us.

Who Christ Is to the World

        A lot of bad news made headlines today. For example, "Syria blasts kill dozens in Homs," "Seized Nigerian girls 'taken abroad,'" "Severe weather threatens eastern US." But to me one sad piece of news came from Palermo, Italy. A two-meter tall statue of Christ of the Abyss will be placed underwater off the coast of Sicily to attract divers. The mayor of Palermo hopes that the attraction will stimulate tourism and signal a "new step forward" for the city's growth. Using Christ as a bait to attract tourists so that the city can earn more money? If that's the sole motive, then the idea borders on being sacrilegious!  

Finding Happiness Anyway

        At Lourdes, the Blesses Mother promised Bernadette happiness not in this world, but in the other. It is true that Jesus never promised that if we followed him, we would become rich, famous, and have an easy life. On the contrary, we're to deny ourselves and take up the cross. But while still in the world we can always find freedom, peace, and joy in God by seeking union with him.   

To Be Your Own God Is...

to be your own slave.

Onward to Freedom!

        Here's another mental picture that came to my mind. The soul wants to rise to God, but it's weighed down by so many things like tethered weights, with serious addictions more like anchors. All such burdens are attachments. Anytime you cut one attachment, you feel a bit more freedom. If you surrender your all to God, you break through to the other side by cutting all your attachments to the world and the soul soars to God in complete freedom. Once you experience that, you'll never want to go back again. 

       Jesus had said more than once, "Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." This is what it's all about.