Feeling "Lucky"

        Communion experience. I felt rich, full, and content because I have Christ. As Psalm 23 reads: "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack." I can honestly say that I am the luckiest person in the whole world. But, of course, there is no luck involved; it's all by God's mercy. 

Suffering for Christ

        The Crucifixion of Jesus teaches us to accept unavoidable sufferings that come our way. In doing so, we are united with the Lord and gain merit which we can offer to him for the salvation of souls. Seen this way, suffering is not only to be reconciled to, but also welcomed, for suffering for the sake of Christ does glorify God.

Hearing Jesus

        If you try hard to figure out what the Lord is saying to you, then you are too busy to hear him. The heart needs to remain still and receptive. When the message arrives, it's there, not even with a whisper. The Lord usually speaks to us this way to shape and form us so that we'll know what his will is and follow it.

Treating Jesus

        Today is the Feast of St. Mark. The Communion antiphon from Matthew 28.20 reads: Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, says the Lord. I believe in this, so I treat Jesus as my Lord and my God and as someone who is present with me (and in me) at all times, even if I do not see him. This is all real to me, since the Gospels show that Jesus as a man could only have existed as God.

Entering Jesus

        To have Jesus, you must enter him. And entering requires your willingness to surrender to him. The deeper you enter, the more beauty and perfection you discover and the greater are your joy and freedom. Now that you know what you'll miss if you remain on the outside, enter him so that he may be yours! Since God never looks down on us, when you let him possess you, you possess him.   

Another Wake-Up Call

        What's inevitable is that one day soon, we will see ourselves as God sees us. The wise thing is to ask him to help us see it now so that we can amend ourselves to avoid being shocked later.

Not a Fairy Tale

Fullest living is following Christ in everything and in every way, because he is Lord. When you surrender to him, you decide to go home to your Father, no longer a rebel on the run. Then after you get home, the Father and you live happily ever after.     

Must-Have for Your Defense

        The foremost defense you need against evil is a clear conscience. Whatever measure you take to defend yourself should be guided by this conscience. When the truth is on your side, rest assured that God will bless and protect you.  

Cause of Emotional Imbalance

        I see attachment to people (our own family members included), material goods, pets, or anything else in the world as the main cause of our emotional imbalance. Detachment is the only cure, and only God can administer that. Bond yourself to God alone and automatically you become free, as you lose your attachment to the world. This is what spiritual growth is all about. Remember that we are just passing through on our way home.

Helplessness Most Helpful

        If you want to get intimate with God, you must acknowledge your utter helplessness without him. If you choose to manage all things on your own, then you're essentially saying to the Lord that you do not need him. On the other hand, to seek union with the Lord is to express your desire to be inseparable from him. 

Don't Pass Up God's Mercy!

        So many lose their lives under tragic circumstances. Recently, an overloaded boat of Mediterranean migrants capsized and hundreds died. In today's news, a CIA drone strike against al-Qaeda in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan also killed the two hostages held, an American and an Italian. Not to mention those killed by terrorist suicide bombers. The point is that we are here now, but maybe gone the next moment. Therefore, it is imperative that we go to God, repent and make amends for our sins while we are still alive, for this window may close when you least expect it. To not do so is to reject God's greatest gift for us, his mercy! 

The World in Coma

        This is the world that does not see the light of Christ, thus not realizing that it's drowning in sin and heading toward condemnation. When you do not know Christ, you are in darkness and thereby do not see the severity of your sinful state. It's in the light of Christ that your true spiritual condition is revealed.        

Unique Christian Joy

        Today's Gospel acclamation at Mass, John 6.40, reads: Everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day, says the Lord. This is enough to make the Christian feel joyful. Many Christians don't realize that God wants to give us his joy! He wants us to be happy! If we live for Christ, this joy becomes our strength, overcoming all our sorrows. This gift from God is pure; it frees us, wipes out all self-pity and self-centeredness, and makes us compassionate toward others. After all, the Lord himself is our greatest joy. Enjoy him and we'll be joyful.

The Die-and-Live Sequence

        Today's Communion antiphon, Romans 6.8, reads: If we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Christ. First, Christ died for our sins, then he rose from the dead and lived again. Next, in response to his love, we died with him and lived in him. Later, we shall die and live with him forever. In sum, Jesus died once so that we may live forever!

Unique Christianity

        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.

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.