The Spirit of Joy

        The Holy Spirit is that spirit. He refreshes us and renews us. He is most gentle, but powerful in his loving ways. He motivates us to love others. He's the one who makes us yearn for God and makes us hunger to hear God's words. At his discretion, he fills our hearts with great joy from time to time. 

Solitude

        People are so occupied in the world that they don't know what solitude is. They always have to have someone with them, to talk to, or just have music turned on when they are alone. Basically, they are shutting God out. In solitude you are alone, but this is also an excellent time to get in touch with God. The Lord is always present and has no hearing or visual problems. In fact, he is waiting for you to give him some attention all along. Anyone with half a heart should feel sorry that he's been so much neglected, ignored, shoved aside, and even rejected outright after he has sacrificed himself on the cross to save us. In solitude, you can turn to him, talk to him, bare anything in your heart, or even console him, and he will understand, heal you, and let you know that he loves you. All this may sound sentimental or even mushy, but it's all true. This is how approachable God is, for he is our Father (and brother). Therefore, cherish and relish your solitude.       

New Perspective of Ourselves

        On July 18, I posted about the yo-yo world champion Black. I thought that yo-yo was just a simple toy you let drop and try to reel back in. Then I saw Black's performance and my jaw dropped. Now, if you think that a ukulele is just a baby guitar you can't do much with, you should watch Jake Shimabukuro on YouTube. He has made the little instrument a virtuoso one, and his fantastic playing has earned him worldwide recognition. So here we have the yo-yo and the ukulele, both people didn't expect much from. Then a master or genius came along and totally changed our perspective. Since God is the greatest master of all and the creator of all geniuses, if we let him freely use us as his instruments, he will surely accomplish great, fantastic things through us. It's time to change our perspective of ourselves! 

Clarifying Our Vision

       Our No.1 goal in life should be to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. The list following clarifies our vision as we try to reach that goal.

         Highest wish ~ to love God

         Highest desire ~ to be with God forever

         Highest revelation ~ "God is love"

         Highest prayer ~ that all souls will be saved

         Highest calling ~ to become a saint 

         Highest state ~ union with God

         Highest satisfaction ~ knowing you're loved by God

         Highest recognition ~ being son or daughter of the Father 

         Highest destination ~ heaven

         Highest reward ~ eternal life in heaven

Want to Be a Saint?

        If God asks you this question and you answer no, it has to be either because (1) you don't believe you can be a saint, which is believing that God is not all-powerful or (2) you believe you are not worthy to be one ~ false modesty here. Either way, you cannot be justified.

         What if you answer yes? Now you must be careful because (1) if you do it to feed your ego, you've started out on the wrong foot and (2) if it's for God's glory, then you are OK.

To Become like Children

        In today's Gospel reading at Mass from Matthew 18, Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." I thought of how I trusted in my parents and grandparents when I was a child, knowing that they supported my living and guided me in all things. I felt good when they held me. I didn't have anything big to worry about and was carefree. Now that I am an adult and know that God is my Father, certainly I should trust in him more than I did in my earth parents. It is time for all adults to become like children again ~ to seek union with the Father and become saints ~ so that we may enter the kingdom of heaven.

Loneliness Cure

        Without God in your life, you can have millions of followers on social media, all the material things to keep you comfortable and occupied, and be known all over the world, and still be lonely. With God in your life, you can be alone anywhere and know that he is with you and waiting for you for even greater intimacy in heaven.

Quick Portrait of God

        Communion time thoughts on this Memorial of St. Clare. To be holy, one must have love first. Since God is love, he is all holy. It's this love that makes God great and the bedazzling holiness befits him perfectly. 

Surrender Quandary

        We find it hard to surrender completely to God because you get a little bit of that jumping-off-a-cliff feeling. Let's look at it this way. God is all-knowing, all-loving, and wise. If you avoid him to live your own "secret" life, do you believe that God wouldn't know? Do you think you can always make things happen the way you want when you are in control? But who's really in charge? To not surrender to God is to reject God as your caretaker ~ a disobedient act. It is also a foolish act because you falsely believe you can take better care of you than God can. It is also risky because without God's total guidance, you may get lost. 

One-Sided Reluctance

        Communion time thoughts. God is so approachable because he is ever ready to take us back, welcome us, embrace us, or unite with us through the Holy Eucharist. What holds us back are we, not God. We set up barriers whenever we do not want to approach him.  

God Is Weeping!

        God looks down upon the world today and weeps, for he sees the violent fighting and killings going on in Gaza, Syria, Libya, and elsewhere. All parties involved think that God is on their side and seek to destroy the other side in his name. Don't they all believe in the same God? There is only one true God, the one as revealed through Jesus Christ his Son. Whoever does not believe that our God loves all of us does not know him and is a false believer that has been mislead. What should we do who love God? Besides weeping along with him, let us seek union with him to counteract those who have made him cry. 

God Looking at Us

        I see God looking down on one of us. God's heart is filled with compassion, yet this creature has no idea. There is no joy or peace in him ~ he simply goes through the motion of living, performing trivial things aimlessly as if in a dream. The Father pities him even more. How he wish that this child of his would know that he is loved and be joyful! All he needs to do is turn to the Father and ask for mercy and help. Once he sees God to be the truth, everything becomes purposeful and real. 

Better Request

        It is better and more beneficial to ask God for courage and strength to endure the trials and tribulations of life than to ask him to spare you those tests. 

God Our Only Hope

        Only the true God can fundamentally change us on the inside because he's the one who created us. We can resolve to become a better person, but will not succeed well on our own. The change must be initiated at the spiritual level, affecting the soul. Without God, there would be no great saints. If you want to change the world, let him change you first. [Note: "True God" is the God who has revealed himself to be love.]

Vision Comes First

        Not many realize that vision is indispensable for survival. We must look beyond this life in order to survive in the next. Once that's settled, then we can settle down to live in the present in peace. 

God in Full Charge

        Today is the Memorial of St. Dominic. The Psalm response came from Deuteronomy 32.39: It is I who deals with death and give life. Indeed, we didn't plan our own birth and don't know when we'll die. Our life is only a brief interval between birth and death, so how can we say that we are in control of our life? God is and should be in charge all the way. In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 16, Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." This is precisely the counsel we need.      

Stopping Short

        People claim they believe in God, but when it comes to forgiving someone, they often won't do it and would even take revenge. In other words, they stop following Christ if someone crosses a line they've drawn. This is disbelieving that God can change you. Limiting God's love, mercy, and ability to accomplish anything is being rebellious, showing the lack of faith and trust in him. No lines should ever be drawn between you and God. 

Hearing God Speak

        God wants to speak to us, but we must be ready and willing to listen for his voice. Today's busy and hectic life prevents us from hearing God's gentle and quiet voice. We need to turn inward to hear him, for he speaks to the heart. If you'll remain still and open, you will find messages placed in your heart. Patience is required as God follows his own timetables, but waiting only makes hearing from him all the more sweeter.