Sometimes I wondered what's going to happen to the good people who do not know Christ and those who do not seem to get a fair shake in life, whom the world might brand as losers. After rereading Jesus' Beatitudes (Matthew 5.3-12) today, I knew that God would bless and take care of them.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Banishing Fear of Death
Once you see that life is continuous and living the right life in God enables you to glide smoothly from this life into the next, all fear of death is gone.
Connecting with God
Today being the first Friday of the month, there was Eucharistic Adoration at the church after Mass. I adored the Lord who entered me earlier and realized that the only way to connect with him already within me was to surrender myself to him.
No Turning Back
Today's Communion experience. My life is complete, fulfilled. Now I can go to the Father in peace, leaving everything behind to collect my treasures in heaven.
More Appropriate Question
When something bad happens to you, it's easy to question God why it should happen, especially if you believe that you've been a pretty good person. I can understand that. But the more appropriate question to ask is one for ourselves, not God: "Why do we offend the Lord who is holy?" That is: "Why do we make bad things happen to him?" After all, it is sin that causes almost all of our problems.
Beauty of Christianity
It strikes me today that Christianity is beautiful because it allows God who is love to envelop you so that you vanish in him for him to dwell in you.
Pressing Time
As you scan the shocking news headlines everyday, you can't help sensing that there is no time more pressing than now to choose God. Among all the bad news, Christ alone brings the good news, hope, and promise for a certainty. If you don't feel the urgency, you are living in a dream world.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Getting Things Done
Communion time thoughts. The priest offered the congregation the Lamb of God and we all responded by saying "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." I believe that when the Lord says the word or just wills, it's done. Be good, obedient, and faithful children and we can get the Father to say the right word to get a lot of things done.
Being Fair in Praying
The drug problem will persist if you only go after the dealers and not change the habits of the addicts. If you desire peace in the world, go beyond praying for those you love and pray for your enemies and all the evildoers too. This is applying offense and defense at the same time. Besides, we must be fair to all whom our Father loves.
Precious Conscience
If you possess a clear conscience, consider yourself most fortunate and blessed, for it is more precious than all the riches of the world.
Love and Life
If you have Love for God, then you have Life. These two L's are inextricably linked together.
Are You Listening?
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 8.19-31, we heard the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. This parable should be on everyone's must-read list, as the crystal-clear messages it carries are of paramount importance. Here's what Abraham said to the rich man suffering in the netherworld and asking for some relief from his torment, "My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours." The Jews had Moses and the prophets, but those who did not listen to them ended up in the place of torment. Now we have Jesus, the Son of God, shall we not listen to him either?
Judging as an Indicator
Jesus teaches us not to judge others. You can easily see those who judge and criticize others harshly are the ones who do not know the Lord well, whereas humility, obedience, and forgiveness mark the great saints of the Church.
The Gospel Test
Read the Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, assuming that Jesus was not God. I don't think you would be able to finish reading them, for it make no sense for an ordinary human to say and do what Jesus did as recorded. Read the books again, this time believing that he was the the Son of God, or God, then everything comes together and no puzzle is to left to solve.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
See It Right
First, realize that you cannot find true happiness in this life messed up by sin ~ this should preempt all your disappointments. Next, know that this life is not only imperfect, but also quickly passing. These realizations should help you see the need for a loving and dependable God. By living for him, you live for eternal happiness, not just for your rather brief, ordinary-to-miserable sojourn on earth.
Compelling Ave Maria
In my list of Good Sites, Blogs, Web Pages..., you'll find 4 Ave Maria music videos. The music is beautiful in each of them, but the one that moves me to tears every time I watch it is the one by Lorenc. I thought I would point this out. Loving God can be so beautiful!
Our Mission
Jesus is the light. Without him, there'll be only darkness. If we follow him, we must let his light shine as brightly as possible. This is our duty, our responsibility, our life goal, our mission. It's do-or-die. Why? Because it's liberating and a great joy!
*We Are Human
Anytime I experience mental agony, I tend to think that my trust in God must be weak. Today I realized that when Jesus underwent his Agony in the garden of Gethsemane, he certainly did not lack trust in the Father ~ he suffered simply because he was human. This came as a great consolation to me.
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