Thoughts on Envy

       Envy is not as bad as jealousy, but envying someone is still a sin. If you console yourself by thinking that you already have God that is better than anything the other person has, you are not really better off. But if you think that you already have God and there's truly nothing else you want, then you are OK.
        If you are envious of someone, chances are if you switch places with that person, you would look down on that person. Envy basically stems from the lack of humility.

Whatever You Do

         Whatever you do, make a point that no one knows about it, especially if you do something good. 

       Whatever you do, make a point that God knows about it, especially if you do something bad.        

Precious Moments of Life

        They are meaningful, memorable, fulfilling, and healing. These are the moments when and after you receive the Holy Eucharist. In them, God connects directly with the soul.

True Communication with God...

goes beyond words from the mouth and is always initiated by the heart.

Most Beautiful Faith

        There is a documentary out there titled "Hellbound?" with many pastors, ministers, authors of books, even an atheist, and others considered Christians joining in the debate about the existence and nature of hell. They all have strong views with much to say. It occurred to me the most beautiful faith is accepting Jesus with your whole being, with no questions to ask, and no curiosity about anything like whether hell exists or not. This is the childlike faith the Lord asks of us, the message of Divine Mercy, and what St. Teresa meant by "God alone suffices."

Important Questions

        After Mass this morning, still sitting in the pew, I noticed a beetle crawling on the concrete floor of the church at a considerable speed. I wondered if it knew where it's going and what made it change directions so often. This brought to my mind whether we know where we're going and what determines our path in our spiritual journey. Do we know better than a beetle?

Occupied by God

        When you are in union with God, you come to experience his love and beauty so that you stop judging others and lose interest in all things attractive to the world. It's equally correct to say that in union with God, your focus is always upon him so that there's no time for doing any ungodly thing.

Freedom Verified

        Accepting and believing in Jesus leads to the taking away of your sins and thus freedom, but it's in union with him that he verifies this freedom by letting you experience it.

Degrees of Knowing God

        If you know God in your mind only, it's superficial knowing. If you allow God to let you know him in your heart, then you have intimacy.

Being Alive in a New Way

        I attended the Pentecost Sunday Vigil Mass today. I was aware that the Holy Spirit dwells in me, keeping me alive in a new way. Alone, I merely stay alive now and shall die alone one day. With the indwelling Spirit, I am living in God and shall live with him forever. This is the big difference. 

Happy with Authority

        Spiritually, we need an authority to guide us. On our own, as many in the world are, it's easy to follow what we feel like or what everyone else is doing and not question our conscience, which most likely is already muddy or numb due to the lack of guidance. We basically become lost souls. I feel good that Christ and his Church has provided me with clear, authoritative teachings to guide me. The fact that they are hard for some to follow only bolsters their authenticity and truth. Of course, there are many others out there who claim that they have the truth and can guide us, but only Christ laid down his life for us and taught us to love even our enemies. Whoever has the greatest love is the authentic one to follow.

Taking Advantage of God

        I know a fellow Catholic who thinks small, does not trust others much, and always nitpicks or bargains in order to gain some advantage for himself. Most of you probably have run into that type. Once you find out what he is like, you just want to avoid dealing with him again if possible. My point is that God is the one we should take full advantage of, for he has the greatest riches and free gifts to give us. Suppose you want eternal happiness, go to him. How myopic it would is for a Christian to concentrate upon gaining the upper hand in small things and neglect turning to God to ask for what truly matters!  

Peter, Head of the Church

        Before Jesus left our world, he told Peter that he was going to build his church upon him and gave him the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16). In today's Gospel reading from John 21, the Resurrected Lord asked Peter to feed his lambs, tend his sheep, and feed his sheep ~ further confirmation that Peter had been appointed to head the church.  

Goal of Living

         Today is the Memorial of St. Boniface. This was what the Holy Spirit laid in my heart as I listened to Father M's homily given at morning Mass.

           Our goal of living should be to defend the Lord, his honor and his glory, and not to follow our own ways at all.

Reason for Rejoicing

        In today's Gospel from John 17 at morning Mass, Jesus prayed for those whom the Father had given him. I rejoice for I have also been chosen by the Father to be protected by Christ and made one with him. My name is already written in the book of heaven that awaits me. Christ will be my joy for all eternity.  

Our Mistaken Cognition

        Do you ever think it is normal that God exists forever with no beginning or end and is infinite in every way? We came along when he created us. Being finite, we mistakenly believe that we are the norm and find it hard to perceive (deal with) God. It's high time we wake up and reverse our cognition. Then we'll find it easy (natural) to submit ourselves to the normal God.  

Benefit from Failure

        If you feel you have failed God in some way, do not be discouraged. Express your sorrow to him and let your failure humble you even more.  

Planning the Journey

        As we age, we are aware of the continuous change in our physical appearance and health over the years. It struck me that we should be even more aware of the status of our soul. If we have not grown spiritually to become a more loving person over the span of all our past years, then we risk heading toward a spiritual death. Living the life after Christ enables us to leave the body at the end as the soul heads straight toward God.