In today's Gospel reading from Mark 6 at morning Mass, Jesus saw the vast crowd and his heart moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. Today's world is in the same situation, as vast numbers of its population drift through life not knowing where they are heading. God does not change: he is still moved with pity for us. If there is going to be any hope for our salvation, we must realize that we are the ones stubborn and rebellious, remaining blind and deaf to the Lord.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Friday, February 6, 2015
Best Friend
If you agree that how good a friend you have is measured by how well you and your friend know each other, then God absolutely has to be the best possible friend you can ever have, for he knows you through and through and you know that he is forever trustworthy and unchanging in loving you.
Feeling the Need for God
We do not feel the need for God because we live in a busy world ~ there are the numerous, necessary chores to perform just to stay alive and the myriad material, secular distractions surrounding us, vying for our attention. We even forget that everything is passing. Now, when you have a chance to be in solitude, forget all about the things that keep you busy and distracted and see yourself alone, existing in the vast space of the universe for the time being, which is reality. If you feel that life as such is empty, then you need God, who is ready to house you in a heavenly place for all eternity!
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Secret of Peace Stated
Another insight received during the Holy Hour. The secret of peace can be stated thus: Have no desire of your own; only follow the Lord.
Intimate Exchange
While kneeing before the Lord in the Holy Eucharist during the Holy Hour, I saw the perfect time to carry on an exchange with the Lord ~ I told him anything in my heart I felt like sharing and knew that he would tell me anything he would want me to know. We were like equals: I gave all of myself to the Lord while he gave all of himself to me ~ the intimacy wiped out all barriers between us. It was one of the most worthwhile hours you could possibly spend on earth.
*Key to Knowing the Lord
While walking in solitude to attend an evening Holy Hour at the local seminary, the Lord revealed to me that anyone who is pure will become his most intimate friend. So it's sin that prevents us from knowing him!
Appropriate Utterance
Today is the Memorial of St. Agatha. The optional Memorial Psalm Response was: Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit from Psalms 31. Before Jesus breathed his last on the cross, he cried out, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." After receiving Holy Communion, I felt that this utterance was also most appropriate for us to express our readiness to abandon ourselves to God.
A Prayer Request
Christians are currently being persecuted in various countries around the world. Read this report http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31124837 about the young Christian girl Asia Bibi facing the death sentence in Pakistan. Even though an earlier report had shown that the charge of blasphemy against her was framed, she is still not out of the woods yet. So I ask you to pray for the victim and her family. Moreover, pray also for the persecutors who usually need God's mercy even more. We include all because God loves us all.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Unbreakable Bond
Communion experience. I received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist and felt the strong bond between us ~ there is absolutely nothing that can break his love for me. I knew that he would always defend me.
More on Free Will
I went to morning Mass and heard today's Gospel reading from Mark 6. Jesus was not appreciated in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house. In fact, many who heard him teach in the synagogue took offense at him. Because of their lack of faith, Jesus wasn't able to perform any mighty deed. Despite the rejection he received, he did not force anyone to believe in him. This confirms what I said in the previous post about not forcing anyone's free will. Naturally, God does create circumstances in which we willingly change our hearts to follow him.
Thoughts on Free Will
There are some religions in the world that force others to believe in what they believe in. If you don't go along, you are in danger of being charged with blasphemy and put to death. This made me think why God gave us the free will in the first place. With free will, faith becomes meaningful. If we are forced to believe, then there is no real faith. When Jesus preached his good news, whether we believe in him or not is our choice ~ he never browbeat us. So I see free will as a God-given gift we should leave each individual to exercise freely. To control it is to go against what God has intended. This means that we are to evangelize by example and not by force.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Acquiring Perfection
Communion experience. Perfection entered me ~ the perfect time to let the Lord rub off on me.
Praying with Faith
The Lord made me see at Mass this morning that praying with faith is praying with the knowledge that he will answer your prayer, but without any concern about how he is going to answer it.
God's Omniscience
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 5 at Mass, a woman afflicted with hemorrhages came up behind Jesus in the crowd and touched his cloak, and was immediately cured. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my cloths?" But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?" What's clear to me is that God is aware of everything we do. Darkness is no place to hide ~ in the light of Christ, all is exposed. This is of great consolation to me, knowing that all wrongs will be corrected in the end, since God sees everything.
Longing for God Is...
the sign that his love has penetrated your heart so that you have fallen in love with him.
Our Beautiful Hope
In John 10.10, Jesus said, "I came so that they [his sheep] might have life and have it more abundantly." God is the source of life ~ he creates new life or makes old life new. Therefore, we can always begin afresh in God ~ this is the hope we possess, a hope his sheep greatly appreciate and rejoice in.
Number One Reality
We live in a real world. Not facing reality can only be considered cowardly or foolish. We all are going to die one day; our sins rob us of peace; we question the meaning of life . . . these are just some of the realities we all share. But the most important reality is that God our creator is love as revealed through Jesus the Son. Upon our return to him, we'll have to give an account of how we dealt with realities in this life. Acknowledging the reality of God sheds light on all other realities, enabling us to face them with courage and understanding.
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