I just read the latest news on Charlie Hebdo ~ the magazine has published a new issue depicting the Prophet Muhammad again, prompting fear of further attacks from extremists. All I can say is that there is a time to be defiant and a time not to, depending upon whether it glorifies God or not. Christians should at least remember Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in which one of the Beatitude reads: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Going with God
If abandonment to God means no barriers whatsoever between you and God, then loving others must not make exceptions. Going with God is exciting because it's going all the way (bobsledding with God?).
Sad State Observed
The result of not abandoning ourselves to God is the constant battling among the over 7 billion souls on earth with each one wanting to be a little god ~ a sad state of affairs.
Abandonment to God
When we came into the world, we were totally in God's hands. When we die, we put ourselves in his hands again. In the meantime, why don't we put ourselves in God's hands too by abandoning ourselves to him? Total abandonment removes all barriers between God and us, setting our spirit free. This is liberation of the highest order!
Is Jesus Your Shepherd?
Today's Gospel acclamation, John 10.27: My sheep hears my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me. Therefore, if you do not hear Jesus speaking to your heart, do not feel that he knows you, or do not follow him when you hear his voice, then you are not quite his sheep yet.
Don't Limit God
Since God is infinite in every way, ask for big things from him. Offhand, I beg him to save every single living soul in the world and make the size of my faith much bigger than that of a mustard seed (see Matthew 17.20 or Luke 17.6). Nothing is impossible with the Lord, so be bold and ask big.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
A Quantum Leap!
I heard verse 5a from Psalm 8 read at Mass this morning: What is man that you are mindful of him? I was alone in this vast universe, lost and helpless on this little planet Earth. Then Christ came to me and all things changed ~ now I coexist with God and will be one with him forever! What am I that he is mindful of me? It is love, of course. I can't call this my stroke of luck because God had wanted it and everyone else can have it too. But it is definitely the greatest cause for my rejoicing!
Decluttering the Mind
You waste you mind when you fantasize, entertain impure thoughts, get nosy about others' affairs, worry about many things, harbor ill feelings toward others, or get interested in things nonessential for you to know. One gift you receive in union with God is the decluttering of the mind ~ now only uplifting and loving thoughts fill the mind, enabling you to enjoy God in peace. A beautiful gift!
Is Life Fair?
If this is the only life we live, life is definitely unfair. But our life does not end with this one ~ the soul lives on and will end up in either heaven or hell forever. In this case, "how fair or unfair our brief life on earth is" is no longer relevant.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Taking Advantage of God's Proximity
At the mini-treat last Saturday I mentioned earlier, Father M talked about the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. We were made to see that if God were to live in our family, we would surely all be holy too. Then why not let the fact that God dwells within us after we receive Holy Communion at Mass make us holy as well?
Joy That Liberates Us
All the pleasures of the world you can derive from sex, food, alcohol, bodily comfort, material possessions, fame . . . cannot liberate us. In fact, once we are addicted to any of them, we become burdened and enslaved. But the good news is that once you experience God's love and are overwhelmed by his holiness, all the worldly pleasures lose their appeal and your new joy sets you free.
To Worship God Properly
God is to be worshiped, I think we all know that. But do you also know that to worship God properly requires surrendering ourselves to God completely?
To Be Receptive to Christ
I feel sorry for so many people who are so in this world as if they are going to be here forever. They create their own problems due to not knowing what life truly means. If you try to tell them about Christ, they just do not get it. This makes me realize that to be receptive to God, one must (1) realize that he is a sinner and (2) feel the need for God. If that time is not here yet, all you can do is sow a seed now and keep praying for the person.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Life Needs God
At church this morning, I learned that three youths of our community met their tragic deaths around 2 a.m. yesterday when a possibly drunk driver in a black vehicle with lights off going the wrong way hit their car on the freeway. This is as unexpected as being hit by a tsunami or a roadside bomb. Life can be here this moment and gone the next ~ all the more we need to place ourselves completely in God's hands. When you pray, I would appreciate very much that you remember them all, including the surviving hit driver who is now hospitalized.
Adoption Time
It is through the Holy Spirit that we cry out, "Abba, Father!" as adopted children of God (Romans 8, Galatians 4). Anytime you feel compassion toward someone, that's the Father wanting to connect with you. If you don't know him yet, this would be a perfect time to ask him to adopt you.
Honor Your Parents
Jesus repeatedly denounced the scribes and Pharisees by saying "Woe to you, you hypocrites." If your parents are still living, honor and love them. for neglecting them now and showing up at their funeral to say something nice about them is being hypocritical.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
The Nearness of God
I attended a mini-retreat this morning at a local seminary and we had Eucharistic adoration after Mass. Seeing the Eucharist displayed on the altar perhaps not more than 10 feet away, I was amazed that my God was so close to me that he even physically entered me earlier to become one with me!
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