Breaking Free of the Maddening World

        The world seems to have locked itself in a perpetual vicious cycle with almost every nation and everyone wanting to do things its or his way, resulting in waging all forms of wars against each other ad infinitum. The only way to break free of this madness is to let Jesus (not any god who's not all love) save us. Here, saving us means making us not of the world, thereby getting us ready for heaven after this life. There is no other way, for there is only one true God.

Concentrated Living

        To learn to play a piano piece, you learn faster if you take on a small number of measures each time. Trying to swallow the whole piece at once always results in longer overall learning time. It works the same way in living the spiritual life. The truth is that we can only live in the present moment because the past is gone and the future is not here yet. Therefore, focus upon serving God, overcoming sufferings, putting your trust in God, and so on, every present moment you live. Projecting into the future can only weaken your present concentration. If you see or rest in God, you are seeing or resting in him now.

Love, Our Answer

        Since God is love, love is the solution to all our problems. Like Jesus we must love everyone, including our enemies, and love the cross sent our way. Let the love of God set us ablaze so that we may shine brilliantly in the world.

Wasting Time

        Communion time thought. Doing anything not for the sake of Christ, dying included, is a waste of time.

The Suffering Test

        In suffering, one sees the opportunity to trust in God even more, offering up his suffering and thanking the Lord for his mercy; another gets upset, worrying and complaining to or even cursing the Lord.  Suffering brings out the best and the worst in us. 

God Takes Care of Us

       The Lord told Jeremiah the prophet, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." In Matthew 25, Jesus said that on the day of the Judgment of the Nations, he would say to his chosen sheep, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." How can I not be elated upon hearing that God knew me before I was born and that he had prepared a place for me from the very beginning? Such great comfort! 

In Harmony with God

        Communion thoughts. The Holy Eucharist is the Lord himself perfecting us. Receiving him with reverence, love, and appreciation puts us in perfect harmony with him ~ a most beautiful thing.

Discerning God's Will

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 7 at morning Mass, Jesus said to his disciples, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." At the end, he added, "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you." This tells me clearly that I could ask the Lord to shield me from evil, but not to destroy my foes ~ praying for their conversion would be his intention.

Our Best Defense

        If we keep a clear conscience, the Lord is with us and we no longer need to be afraid of any attacks from evil enemies. Since our soul is safe in him, these attacks become more like annoying mosquitoes and flies around us.

Birds Behave Better

       http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31604026 ~ this link takes you to a happy, amazing story about the bond formed between a young Seattle girl and a horde of crows. Perhaps, dogs aside, crows are our best friend too. Viewed morally, these grateful crows in the story put a lot of us to shame. 

Time Running Out!

        There is just so much time we have on this earth. That time is running out is what we should be aware. When we face God, we will have to account for everything we did in our life. Did we glorify or offend the Lord? Not hurting anyone, just minding your own business, won't do you any good, for the sin of omission can be as serious as the sin of commission. Overall, you reap in this life and/or the next what you sow in this life.

Free Will Interference

A lot of Catholics are familiar with St. Gertrude's prayer for the souls in purgatory given her by our Lord. According to tradition. the Lord promised her that 1000 souls would be released from purgatory each time it is said devoutly. The prayer was extended to include living sinners as well. Here are the words: 

"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."

I am thinking that the reason this prayer is so effective in releasing souls from purgatory is that these souls are already heaven-bound and therefore no free will exists to interfere with our prayer request. In the case of praying for the living, the Lord will have to bring their free will in line for our prayer to be answered.

Why Limit Yourself?

        Why do you limit yourself to seeking pleasure and enjoying beauty on this earth only? Soon your life will be over. Instead, seek joy and enjoy beauty in God and you'll find them uplifting and more satisfying, continuing into eternity.   

Ultimate Living

        The truth is that God is love. The tragedy is that many do not know it through misguidance or misunderstanding. If God is love, then there's nothing for us to fear. The most enlightened life is to open yourself entirely to him, sharing all your feelings, thoughts, intentions, desires . . . everything that's in your heart ~ yes, in total union with him. This liberates your spirit. Using my favorite adjective again, I say, this is ultimate living.

Greatest Transformations

     (1) Incarnation ~ God assumed the human form in Jesus Christ to spread the good news of salvation among us.

      (2) Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor ~ Peter, James, and John witnessed this when Jesus' face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared to converse with the Lord.

     (3) Transubstantiation ~ the elements of bread and wine change into the body and blood of Christ when they are consecrated in the Eucharist during Mass.  

    (4) Our transformation by the Holy Spirit ~ the Lord wipes away all our sins, transforming us into new creatures holy and pure, fit to enter heaven.

Most Perfect Prayer

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6, Jesus taught his disciples to pray the Our Father. This is indeed the perfect prayer. It shows us how to approach God and what to ask from him. It teaches and shapes us. It defines our ideal relationship to the Lord. If we would just say this prayer with all our heart with persistence, it should turn us into holy saints in the end. 

Words over Bread

        Today's Gospel Acclamation from Matthew 4.4: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. We must regard the words that come from Jesus to be much more important than the bread we eat. The bread only sustains us temporarily, but the words of the Lord lead and guide us to eternal life.

Rock vs. Straw

        When you abandon yourself in God, he becomes your rock of refuge, your stronghold, and you are ready to face eternity. Those who hold onto whatever in the world for security are grasping at straws, literally or figuratively speaking.