Formula for Saving Ourselves

        Jesus' saying "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it" from my last post is in fact the formula for saving ourselves. It simply points out that living selfcenteredly is bad for you and living for God is the way to go. To live a fulfilled life, live for God ~ that's all there is to it.

Unforgettable Saying

        Jesus said, "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." This commanding saying of the Lord, recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, popped into my mind today. It is so striking that we must take it seriously! Again, it challenges us. Who else but God can say something like that? We must respect the Lord for telling it like it is and believe in him. 

Pinpoint Diagnosis

        Lack of inner peace in a soul is caused by the soul's rebellion against God.

Changing Labor into Joy

        Today is Labor Day in the US, a national holiday. Doing God's will is never labor, even if it involves hard physical or mental work. That's because you no longer do it to please yourself ~ whether you succeed or not is now in God's hands. By the way, this is the way to live a stress-free life, the way God has always intended for you.  

Worth Repeating

        God is always calling us. He is calling you in everything, happy or sad, large or small, that happens to you. See every such thing as an opportunity to be drawn closer to the Lord. Learn from every experience so that you continue to grow holier. Then you'll live a happy, rich, and fulfilled life.  

Getting Personal

        Communion time thoughts. As I received Holy Communion, I recalled John 6.56: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." How more personal can you get?     

Faith Essential

        The revelation "God is love" through Christ Jesus is the truth that has solved the mystery of human existence and provided us with the hope of living forever with God. Then with faith in Christ, we have everything. Conversely, without this faith, we have nothing. 

Just God and I

        Communion experience. It'd be easier for me to live without food than to live without the Holy Eucharist. After receiving him today, it's just "my God and I," alone together.

Going Through the Front Door

        All messages you hear from the pulpit advise us to love God or grow holier, but having good intentions and achieving results are two separate things. One can hear these messages a thousand times and still remain pretty much the same old person, which can be frustrating. In the world, people can often achieve what they desire through the back door, but I propose that you go boldly through the front door. "Going through the front door" is going straight to God to seek union with him. The fundamental change takes place after you enter him. Now, it's he changing you, no longer you trying hard to change yourself ~ an absolutely amazing and rewarding experience! [This in fact is the central message of this blog ~ I am stating it again after seeing all the frustrations in people.]

No Lazy Christians

        At Mass today the Gospel reading was the parable of the talents from Matthew 25. It was clear that God expects us to make good use of what he has given us to be fruitful. There is just no place for lazy Christians in his kingdom. Believing in the Lord, then sitting back to play it safe does not please him. A Christian needs to remain alive, awake, alert, and adventurous. A timid Christian is only as good as a dead one.  

Ultimate Living

        Union with God is letting God live in you while you are living. Receiving the Holy Eucharist, the most holy sacrament, is essential for reaching that ultimate level of intimacy with him. It's all about letting God love you and you loving him back.

Greatest Love

        Today, Matthew 25.40 came to my mind: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." Imagine ~ doing something for one of the least is the same as doing it for Christ the King! The Lord is truly selfless, marking his love for us as the greatest love. We have a revelation here!

God over Guns

        The big sad story in today's news is that a girl, nine, accidentally kills her shooting instructor while being shown how to use an Uzi submachine gun at a firing range in Arizona. It's a fact that so many citizens now own or carry guns for security reasons. It is my belief that if we trust in God foremost, he will not put us in situations where we'll need to use a gun. Without God for our protection, no weapon can keep us safe.

Predictable Journey

        If you have not surrendered to God yet, you are basically a fugitive fleeing from being captured by God. Then one day you realize that God wants you, not to restrict your freedom, but to release you in his love. You stop running and surrender. You get that you're-home feeling because you experience such great relief and joy! And you know that your journey will end in heaven.

An Ego Test

        Let's say you believe that you love God very much and find out everyone else you know loves God a thousand times more than you do ~ what would be your reaction? If you rejoice greatly, then congratulations, for you have passed the test!

Woe to Hypocrites

        Yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's Gospel readings at Mass are all drawn from Matthew 23, in which Jesus denunciated the scribes and Pharisees by calling out "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites" at least seven times. It's obvious that they offended God greatly. Hypocrisy is being phony. It is duplicity, deceiving God and treating him as if he is not all-knowing. Bad appearing to be good is even worse than bad being honestly bad. Ego is at the root of all this. At the same time, the wrath of Jesus shows that God is always honest, genuine, and selfless to us.

Let the Heart Hear & Think

        Today's Gospel acclamation at Mass, Hebrews 4.12: The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. Reflections and thoughts of the heart, not of the mind ~ interesting! You see, when God speaks to us, if we are not receptive, his word simply passes through the mind and never reaches the heart. Only when we are open can the word enter the heart to generate reflections and thoughts. Let the Lord speak to your heart always so that you may remain alert and vibrant spiritually. 

All for Jesus

        Like St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Joseph Marello, we can also do everything with love for Jesus. For example, when you wash dishes or take garbage out at home, you do the best possible job you can with joy, not for yourself, but for Jesus. Be like this in everything you do, big or small, and you'll be free and happy, since you no longer center upon yourself. Fact: the less you "care about" yourself, the more God is going to take care of you. Life now becomes purposeful.