Inspired Love

        God's love for us is pure; he simply loves us to the point of dying for us ~ that is his nature. Our love for him is a little different. We love him because we are amazed and awed by his great love and mercy, his perfection, his beauty ~ perhaps less so by his power. That we are able to love him also came from him in the first place. He loved us first and this love inspires us to love him back.

Connecting the World

        Watch this video on Eric Whitcare's virtual choir, a beautiful way of connecting people all around the world, using technology. This is refreshing when many lost, fanatical people today are mercilessly killing others to get their way.

 

Earthbound or Not?

        If the world is more interesting to you than God, then you are still earthbound and your soul not free. 

A Sober Overall Look

        The soul is invisible in the physical world and we live in this physical world with our soul only for so many years, a very brief time. After we die, the soul lives in the spiritual world where it belongs for all eternity. This overall picture should make us realized how awful we are in our lifetime on earth to mess up (1) our lives and the world through self-centeredness and (2) our own eternal destiny by ignoring God, our loving creator.  

Fooled by Ego

        Having a big ego is like clutching onto yourself for dear life, but you should know that only God, not you, can save you.

Rising Above Ourselves

        Learn to see the good in everyone, which could be the saving grace God looks for. This will help you not to judge others, and God will be lenient in judging you too. We must rise above ourselves.

Our Greatest Danger

        Being close-minded ~ ignoring the gospel and not looking beyond this life. 

Christ Our Confirmation

        We are all born with a conscience, which proves that there are good and evil, which proves that God must exist and be the ultimate good, which is love. Christ came and confirmed it all. 

Have Passion & Become Awesome

        This video featuring the Japanese yo-yo world champion Black is inspiring because his found his life's passion and truly gives an awesome performance here. We can also love God with passion and become awesome, to God, that is. 

Most Urgent Prayer

        The conversion and salvation of the entire world.

Mistaken Belief

        Today's Communion Antiphon at Mass, John 6.56: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Does it sound like Jesus was merely talking about eating his flesh and drinking his blood symbolically? Sadly, many Protestants believe so by glossing over John 6.

What Makes a Saint?

        Following Christ all the way without reservation.

Doubly Tragic

        I watched some short episodes on the Smithsonian History Channel. They were on World War II, sinking of the Titanic, the Great Train Robbery, etc. It made me realize how short-sighted mankind had been. As history repeats itself, we have not gained any foresight. We still keep on living as if there is no God, no eternity, but only ourselves and this life. It's doubly tragic we don't even realize that we are already "acting" in a tragedy.

Love Unconditional

        You know that God loves you, but know also that he loves the one you find it hard to forgive just as much as he loves you! This is why we should love even my enemies.

Most Special Moment

        Communion experience. Just God and I, alone together in union ~ it had to be the most intimate, private exclusive privileged moment of my life.               

Ultimate Level of Trust

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 11 at Mass, Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened.... Take my yoke upon you and learn from me... and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." Notice that Jesus does not promise to remove your burden, but will make sure that it will be light enough for you to carry as he walks with you. Normally, we do go to God for help and relief when we are burdened, but it's difficult to completely let ourselves go when we don't know how things are going to turn out. In theory, if we totally trust in the Lord and know that our soul is safe, we should feel completely at ease. This is possible only if we are detached to all our possessions and ourselves ~ it will be total abandonment, the ultimate level of trust. With God's help, we can rise to that level like the many saints. 

"Alone" with God

        Since God alone is perfect, let us imitate him alone. Since he alone is love, let us love him alone.

Better than Confession

        It's good to go to confession often enough to keep yourself pure and clean, but it's even better not to commit any sin that will make you go to confession.