How the Lord Spoke to Me

        It came to me that I should pray hard for God's mercy on the whole world and myself. During this Lent, I have been persecuted by an enemy and began to feel a tiny fraction of what the Lord must have felt as he underwent his agonies prior to his Crucifixion. Everything I heard at today's Mass was most edifying. 

        First, the entrance antiphon, Psalm 56.2, read: Have mercy on me, O God, for people assail me; they fight me all day long and oppose me. 

        In the first reading that followed from Daniel 13, we heard how two wicked, old judges falsely testified against Susanna and sentenced her to death and Daniel was able to unearth the truth and convict the two of perjury and save Susanna. 

       Next, the response to Psalm 23 was familiar: Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. 

        Now, the Gospel acclamation, based upon Ezekiel 33,11: I take not pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live. 

        Finally, the Gospel reading from John 8 was about the woman caught in adultery. When the scribes and the Pharisees, testing Jesus, asked him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" Jesus said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." In response, they went away one by one. Then Jesus asked the women, "Where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more." In fact, today's Communion antiphon was made up from these last two verses: Have no one condemned you, woman? No one, Lord. Neither shall I condemn you. From now on, sin no more. This is the powerful mercy of our God ~ beautiful beyond words! 

        After hearing all this, it's as if the Lord had spoken to me personally. I was right in knowing that I should pray for God's mercy in my case. 

Communion of Saints

        When I arrived at church for morning Mass a bit early today, only half a dozen or so parishioners were already present. Eventually, attendance grew to about 40. Among them, many had been humble and faithful servants of the Lord for a long time. I did not know all of them well, but it didn't matter. What I knew was that we were already one in Christ and one day we'd all be with the Lord in heaven. This is Communion of Saints. 

Amazing Intimacy

        After being a Catholic for over half a century, I am still amazed at how intimately I can get to know God. This is the Lord who has saved and renewed me; feeds me himself daily at Mass and dwells within me. It's a relationship only he can produce via his Son Jesus. There is no other religion through which you can get this close to God. Personally, I do not even consider Catholicism a religion because it's simply the truth.    

The Worst & Best in Us

        In both today's Reading 1 and Responsorial Psalm at morning Mass, we heard about the wicked and the just. Two people can appear to be equally OK, then in a test, one shows his worst and the other, his best. The wicked one might attack others with malice, while the just one seeks strength to endure and forgive in God. Naturally, the Lord already knows the hearts, so it would be wise for the wicked one to change his heart before he dies. 

On Seeking a Sign

        Sometimes I wish the Lord would make me feel something after I prayed to him. Then I remember he said (in Matthew) that only an evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign ~ so I know I should just remain faithful and not expect anything special from him. (Of course, should he decide to surprise me, that would be fine too.)

Complete Helplessness

        Today's Communion experience during the celebration I mentioned in the last post. I felt my complete helplessness without the Lord and total dependence upon him. 

Birth of Jesus Within Us

        Today I attended a special celebration of the Solemnity of St. Joseph at the local Mount St. Joseph Seminary. The Gospel reading at Mass from Matthew 1 tells how the birth of Jesus came about. I saw our spiritual transformation as the birth of the Lord in us. When he is born in us, we are born again too. Our new creature goes with the new Lord. And we should take care of the Lord in us as if he were a new born baby.  

Why us?

        Jesus came down from heaven to become precisely one of us because we are God's favorites and need salvation.  

The Christian Outlook

        For the Christian, it's the final victory that counts. Knowing that the Father has chosen you to return to him to be with him forever completely changes your outlook on life. Setbacks, sufferings, persecutions . . . all these things no longer affect you seriously. As long as there is God, the Christian sees hope ahead.

Inspired by Pianists

        I watch talented classical pianists performing on YouTube. With no technical difficulties and thorough knowledge of the composition, they are able to concentrate fully upon expressing the music when they play. What you hear is very beautiful. They are good examples for us to follow as Christians. By surrendering to and remaining in union with God, we can fully express the love of our God beautifully for all to enjoy. 

Sins as Firecrackers

        I see sins as firecrackers. People carelessly and rampantly set them off for their own pleasure everywhere. They alarm, injure, maim, or even kill others. The only one who can defuse them for good is the Lord our God.   

Life or Condemnation

        In today's Gospel reading, John 5.17-30, at Mass, Jesus makes it clear that we shall have either life or condemnation. This is such a critically important message that not listening to it could make the eternal difference! Because of it, we who believe in the Lord are obliged to spread the gospel to as many as possible.   

God Incredible

        It's overwhelming to think about how Jesus suffered so excruciatingly for us from the Last Supper to his Crucifixion. It's even more overwhelming to realize that God ever had the intention of sacrificing his only Son for our salvation! Our God is most incredible.  

Choices of Life

        Life comes down to two choices: (1) To be holy for God and (2) to seek happiness on your own in the world. 

Union with Perfection

       Yesterday's Communion experience. (I am posting it today because yesterday the modem broke down and I could not get online.) Receiving Christ in the Holy Eucharist was receiving Perfection into me. 

Our Clear Role

         In Luke 5.1-11, Simon Peter and his fishing partners had worked hard all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless, he obeyed when Jesus asked him to put out into deep water and lower the nets. And they caught such a great number of fish that their nets started tearing. I particularly like what Simon Peter did after he saw this ~ he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man" ~ for astonishment and fear had seized him and all those with him. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

          This reading brings me great consolation. It shows that the Lord knows us and everything that's going to happen to us. Our role is to trust and follow him faithfully.  

Back to the Basics

        In everything that happens to you in life, good or bad, see the opportunity to examine your personal relationship with God, improve it, and move on.

Mercy Requires Surrender

        In the first part of the Mass, we always ask God to have mercy on us in preparation for the Liturgy of the Word to begin. In praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, we repeatedly recite "Have mercy on us." It seems that if we truly mean it, we must surrender ourselves to God, for how can we ask for mercy if we don't even wish to submit ourselves to him?