The unique revelation of Christianity has to be what the Apostle John wrote in John 3.16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." Essentially, a doomed sinner can believe in Christ and end up being adopted by God as a son or daughter. Furthermore, through receiving the body and blood of Christ, one can even attain union with God in this life. Such is God's amazing transforming power.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
Hastening the Lord's Coming
Jesus is Lord! Do we live up to what we proclaim? If everyone is meek, humble, willing to serve, and full of compassion like the Lord, no question we'll have instant peace on earth. And there would be no point for him to delay his Second Coming anymore. Let's start making him truly our Lord in our life to hasten his coming.
Receiving Is Giving
Is it always better to give than to receive? Today the Lord made me see that the best way for us to give to him is to remain open and passive so that we may receive all that he has to give us. What he has for us are his word, teachings, graces, and a desire to be one with him ~ all for making us holy and perfect. It is lopsided love!
Simple Reasoning & Solution
The Resurrection of Jesus shows that there has to be life after death for us. It follows that there have to be heaven and hell for the soul to go to. And it only makes sense if heaven and hell are for all eternity. Then how can we have eternal life with God? Today's Gospel reading from John 6 at morning Mass provided an answer: Jesus told the crowd to work for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man would give them, by believing in him, the one God sent.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
God's Plan Unfolding
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 24 at Mass, the resurrected Lord appeared to his disciples and told them that everything written about him in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled. And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day." Jesus came and fulfilled the numerous prophecies concerning the promised Messiah. It is clear that God's plan can take millennia to unfold. But we can be certain that the unfolding is continuing and Jesus' Second Coming will be here in time.
Handling Sorrows
A Christian shares the same joys and the same sorrows with Christ. The sorrows all have to do with sin ~ he is sorry that both he and the world offend Christ. If someone offends him out of malice, he sees that person basically offending Christ. United with the Lord in his suffering, he offers all his sorrows up to him.
Hope Ever Present
Since a Christian can always have his sins forgiven when he repents to Christ, hope is ever present for him.
Ultimate Rest
Yesterday's Communion experience. I savored my ultimate rest in Jesus, my refuge, from whom I hold back nothing and to whom I let go of everything. How I wish that everyone would experience this rest.
Reason Christ Not Accepted
Jesus has redeemed us by his blood so that we might be delivered from sin and have eternal life. I don't recall hearing people directly objecting to this message, because I believe that they basically know that they are sinners. If they haven't accepted the message yet, it's because they are not ready to give up their sins yet.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Know Your Blessings
Everything that draws you closer to God, no matter how painful or distasteful, is a blessing from God. Cherish it.
God's Time
Everything is God's. So is time. Every second you spend is his time. Therefore, don't waste any of it and spend it for his glory, and your life will be beautiful in his sight.
Be Bold in God
We need to be bold in God and with God. After all, he is our loving Father. If you need help, ask him with all your heart. If you love him, don't hesitate to shout it out. Pussyfooting around him is just as bad as hiding from him.
Crying to Mary
The prayer Hail Holy Queen we say in concluding the Rosary contains these two lines: "To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears!" The other day after reading all the tragic news happening around the world, I finally felt those two lines as I cried to my Mother from my heart.
Jesus Beautifies
Communion time thought. We mind our physical appearance; but if we want our soul to look beautiful, Jesus is the one to go to.
Most Special Death
People die. Some die and we say "So what?" because we don't know a thing about them. Some we feel sorry for even if we don't know them. And we are grateful to those who have died for our country. Then Jesus has also died, moving many of us to the point of even willing to die for him in return! Apparently, his death has awakened us to God's love for us and our need for salvation. Therefore, the death of Jesus is unique, most special, earthshaking, even celebratory, because it greatly glorifies God.
For the Sake of His Name
In today's 1st reading from Acts 5 at morning Mass, a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin had the Apostles flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. The Apostles rejoiced that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. To suffer dishonor and feel worthy and even rejoice . . . I don't think any cause other than for the sake of the name of Jesus could possibly have made it happen. It only shows that God can truly win our heart and our soul.
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