Embracing Suffering

        Communion experience. The Lord made me see that if I want to embrace him, I must embrace him as the one who suffers. It is in embracing the suffering he sends my way that I shall have peace. 

Facing the Lord

        One who is not ready to deal with his own conscience is afraid to look at himself. Essentially, he hides from God. But since the Lord sees and knows everything, that person is both a coward and a fool. Turning to and baring yourself to God is the first step in letting him clear up your conscience to set you free.

Clear, Straight Call

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 1 at Mass, Jesus came to Galilee to proclaim the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." This call is for everyone, coming straight from God! Do you hear him? Answer this call and you are on your way to heaven.

A Picture of Life in Water

        I had this image in my mind this morning at church before Mass began. I saw everyone in the world floating in one somewhat rough sea. Those who followed the Lord looked quite calm, knowing that they were safely attached to him by some strong cord and would be pulled out of the water one day. Other followers of weaker faith were attached to the Lord too, but they were not quite aware that the cord could get stronger or weaker, depending upon what they do in the water. The rest who did not follow the Lord seemed to enjoy the water the most ~ they frolicked, splashed water on others, and even tried to drown them. What's sad was that they did not know that if they continued to behave so, they'd be left in the sea struggling to stay afloat for all eternity.         

On Being Fearless

        Have no fear of anything that is false, for God is not with those who propagate falsehood. Fear the truth instead, but this fear is more respect than fear. Nevertheless, one who is one with the Lord becomes fearless because he knows that God is his Father and his soul will always be safe.

Understanding God

        As followers of Christ, we need to realize that God is constantly teaching us, shaping us, testing our faith, consoling us . . . with the sole purpose of drawing us into deep union with him. We need also know that God will always defend our soul against evil because we are his.

All Sins Are Sins

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 5, Jesus said, "I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." Since God is holy, before him we are all sinners. To think about whether I am a bigger or lesser sinner than someone else is pointless. That's why God asks us not to judge anyone, and the saints consider themselves to be most wretched before God. What's important is that we realize our own sinfulness and repent to the Lord, then all our sins are forgiven!

Pray as God Wished

        Today's Gospel Acclamation at Mass, based upon Ezekiel 33.11: I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live. Therefore, when we pray for the Lord's protection against attacks from an enemy, we must not judge him, but pray for his conversation. 

Joy of Learning

        Today's Response to Psalm 86 at morning Mass: Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. If you love the Lord, you would find his teaching a joy and want him to teach you every moment of your life.

Promise of Paradise

        Today's Communion experience. I felt as if I had heard what Jesus said to one of the two criminals who were crucified along with him, the one who realized that he had been condemned justly for his crime and asked Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom: Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise (Luke 23.43). 

Only Way to Live:

To live in Christ by surrendering to him, letting everything else go (if you want to be happy and free).        

Most Pleasing to God

        A contrite and humbled heart. (Today's response to Psalm 51 at Mass: A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.)

Living, a Process

        We are always going through a process. When we build a house, we get busy with construction. After it's done, we start to maintain or improve it ~ always something. In a way, things in life do not end; they merely change. Today's Gospel acclamation at Mass, Amos 5.14, reads: Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord will be with you. As we move along in the process, is God with us? This is the key question. Our process will lead us nowhere if we do not have God with us. 

Ignorant Living

        I woke up before 5 a.m. Got out of bed and looked out the bedroom window ~ it's still quite dark, but I could make out the trees and rocks with no problem. I knew that soon it would be daybreak. I saw clearly the passing of time and everything else. I would be gone too. Recently, a huge pine on the north side of my house toppled during a storm and badly damaged three other smaller pines as well on its way down. The scenery keeps changing. The last time I went back to the town where I attended college, I could hardly recognize that it's the same town. With wars and fighting going on in the Mideast and Ukraine, people and buildings are being erased from the surface of the earth daily. Yet so many people still go on behaving and acting as if they are going to live forever. Without realizing how transient everything is, especially the human life, they are far from realizing that they are sinners and need God for salvation.

A Union Experience

        Today's Communion experience. The Lord entered me. We melted into each other and melded into one.

Going Beyond Good Personal Relationship

        Of course, it feels good that you and the Lord are on good terms, but God is such a treasure, prize, and joy that you should go way beyond maintaining a good personal relationship with him. Enter his depth, explore to discover his beauty and perfection, and become one with him, then he'll be your most beloved for you to enjoy to your heart's content.  

Going Beyond Being Clear and Pure

        Of course, our conscience needs to be clear and our heart pure, but let's not stop short. We must diligently pray and help those in need and actively love everyone to spread the good news. If you surrender yourself to Christ, he will give you joy and zeal in living for him.     

Secret of Pleasing God

        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.