In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6, Jesus makes it clear that we are not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them. Otherwise, we would be hypocrites! In other words, we shine as light for Christ, but hide ourselves in him. It is in aiming to please God alone that we please him.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Ash Wednesday Thoughts
Today Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. In the first reading from Joel at Mass, we heard the Lord asking us to return to him with our whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Then I saw how various government leaders around the world in order to remain in power had made decisions causing the death, injury, and displacement of millions of people. Closer to home, I lament that an old man is suing someone who had helped him much in the past purely out of jealousy. All these poor souls do not know God. We need to fast, weep, and mourn for ourselves, but let's not forget to do the same for all the foolish ones who seem not to know that they do not live forever and will face God after they die.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
How God Speaks to Us
God would rather we remain in union with him and be holy so that we'll always know and do his will than expect him to tell us every little thing we need to do. He doesn't want us to be his puppets. He wants to shape and form us so that when we listen to our conscience, we'll hear him speaking.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Ultimate Rest
Communion experience. I received the Lord and felt that I was enjoying the ultimate rest in him.
Why We Should Live
Journey to the Center of the Earth, the classic science fiction by Jules Vernes had been made into a movie several times. I saw the first 1959 version and remember the film to be quite exciting to watch. For me now, seeking union with God may be considered Journey to the Center of God, exciting in a different way. As we explore God in his infinite depth, the discovery is endless. To be in union with him is to be in paradise. He is the very reason we should live.
All or Nothing
God is ever present, so you may speak to him or hear him speak to you at any time. Seeing it this way, we have plenty of time. On the other hand, life is brief and it's easy to go through life without ever thinking about God. Looking at it thus, we don't have much time at all. It comes down to this: those who care about God will find and know him and those who do not, will miss and lose him entirely. As Jesus said, "To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
Mighty Declaration
Today's Gospel acclamation, John 14.6: I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. What a bold statement! How fitting it is for God to declare this!
Joy of Finding Christ
I still remember the time I almost "lost" my wife in Merida, Mexico. It's night time and we were driving around looking for a place to stay for the night. She looked in a travel guide, spotted a recommended hotel, followed the map (no GPS then) and guided me there as I drove. We got there, and since there's no parking allowed on the street, I told her to go check out the place while I drove around the block before returning. Well, driving to make four right turns in a row to get back didn't turn out to be simple, even though the blocks were all rectangular. I saw one-way streets I could not enter and back alleys I should skip. Finally, I right turned onto what appeared to be a decent street. Little did I expect that the street lead me to a huge market square filled with people. By the time I slowly emerged from the square after "plowing" through the crowds, I had no idea how far I had drifted from the hotel site. Now I didn't know how far I should drive after making each right turn and just kept spiraling away in rectangles. A last-ditch plan jumped into my mind ~ I would comb each street one by one horizontally and if necessary, vertically too, to cover the entire downtown area, even if it should take all night. Naturally, I started to pray. Then I saw the map on the vacant passenger seat next to me, picked it up and noticed a tiny pencil dot at one spot ~ could that be the mark my wife had made? I parked the car in front of a store still open even though I wasn't supposed to stop, jumped out the car, ran into the store with my map and kept pointing at that dot on the map in front of a store person, as I did not speak Spanish. After a while he understood my intention. He then located his store on the map and traced out the route on the map for me to take. The next hurdle was that the street signs were all in Spanish and difficult to see at night, so I made a list of symbols for myself. For example, R3 means that I turn right for 3 blocks, L5, left for 5 blocks, and so on. Following the list, driving and counting, the hotel finally came into view. You can imagine the joy I felt seeing my wife again who had been waiting on the dark side of the street for almost an hour! I am sharing this because the joy of finding Christ is even sweeter, for it delights the soul continually day after day.
God's Deep Peace
From Psalm 31.3-4, today's entrance antiphon at Mass: Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! This is why one in deep union with God always retains peace within the innermost core of the heart, despite ripples caused by any storm on its surface.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
With and Without God
Without God, a person does his best to find happiness on his own and finds none; he has lived an empty life. On the contrary, one who knows God finds joy and peace in the Lord. He understands that life comes with trials and troubles, but he knows that God will see him through all adversities. Here's one living a fulfilled life realistically, with the best yet to come!
Progressive Seeing
The more one knows God, the more he is horrified by the sins he sees in the world. He wonders how anyone can possibly be saved. Then God shows him that his mercy is greater than what any of us can possibly comprehend. We must trust in him.
Love, Not Tolerance
Heard on NPR this morning: Voltaire's 1763 manifesto on religious tolerance, Treatise on Tolerance, has become a bestseller in Paris soon after the Charles Hebdo tragedy. Personally, I don't think tolerance is good enough. If you want others to tolerate you on what you have to say, you really should ask yourself first if what you have to say shows tolerance of others or not. Then, do you expect others to tolerate you no matter what you say? We need a guideline here. I believe that the fundamental solution is to love as Jesus has shown us. With his selfless love, forgiveness is implicit. Only God who is love can give us true peace in this world.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Annoying Evil
Since one is always safe with God, the assaults coming from the evil one are like flies ~ annoying, but incapable of hurting us.
Overwhelming Beauty
In prayer after morning Mass, I desired to remain in the Lord forever as I sensed his great heavenly beauty!
Forever One
Communion experience. Love penetrated my heart and permeated my soul ~ how could I ever let my Lord go?
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