Are We Any Better?

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 4 at morning Mass, Jesus, like the prophets before him, was not accepted in his own native place. The people in the synagogue were furious at what he said, drove him out of town and were ready to hurl him headlong over the brow of the hill on which their town had been built. I thought of the many of us who are not necessarily angry at the Lord, but nevertheless are lukewarm or just do not care much about him ~ are they any better than those in the synagogue in his native place? 

God Our Only...

        Jesus is the only one we can fully trust. He is our only hope. He alone is our true rock and refuge. He is the only one who fully understands our plight and can save me from eternal damnation. He is the only one who can bring peace to our world if only we follow him. He is the only one who is infinitely merciful. He is the only one with the greatest possible love for us. He is the only one worth our adoration and praise. He is the only one who can transform us into holy saints. He is the only God Incarnate. He is our greatest treasure and miracle!                 

Story of a Jewish Catholic

        I record The Journey Home programs hosted by Marcus Grodi on EWTN. This morning I enjoyed watching Dr. Robin Pierucci, a Jewish Convert, telling her interesting, beautiful story.

(You might also enjoy watching Rosalind Moss on The Journey Home I posted in 2013: http://journeyofimperfectsaint.blogspot.com/2013/08/mother-miriam.html.)

Deep Journey

        Communion experience. It was a deep journey into the interior of the Lord in a short time.

Powerful Acts and Words

        I attended 5 p.m. Vigil Mass today. The Gospel reading from John 2 is powerful. Jesus drove those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers all out of the temple area. To those who sold doves he said, "Stop making my Father's house a marketplace." His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. Then the Jews asked him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." He was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this.

Welcoming Trial

        This morning in the church vestibule, for the first time I read this saying attributed to St. Augustine under the title "Trials and Suffering" taped on the CD and book rack. It reads: "Our pilgrimage on earth cannot be exempt from trial. We progress by means of trial. No one knows himself except through trial." I agree with everything here and the last sentence truly taught me. We can take advantage of trial by drawing ourselves closer to God. Through trial, we find out how strong our faith is and how much we trust in the Lord.

Most Beautiful Father

        Today's Gospel reading at Mass contained the Parable of the Lost Son, Luke 15.11-32. Like the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, this parable is also on my must-read list because it tells of the love of our Father for us so beautifully. You have to be insane or idiotic not to embrace such a loving Father! (Pardon my honest expression.)

Take Your Shower

        To be steeped in sin is like wallowing in mud. You may feel the pleasure, but you know that you are filthy. To have God forgive you and take away your sins is like getting washed in a nice, hot shower ~ you feel clean and invigorated afterwards. Know when to take your shower.

Making Yourself Happy

        There are two ways to make yourself happy, one true and one false. The true way is to make others happy, and you'll feel good about it. The false way is to ignore others' feelings to get your way, and you'll never taste inner peace.

*God's Judgment

        The Lord's judgment will always be just and remain the same. If you commit a more serious sin, it doesn't mean that he'll judge you more harshly. One thing that really works on our side: God's mercy ~ if we repent, our sins are forgiven. In conclusion, it's up to us to set the judgment we are going to receive at the end.

What's Good Will Be Well

        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.

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.

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.