Ready to Follow Jesus?

        In Matthew 4, we read that as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Peter and Andrew casting a net into the sea. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men" and they at once left their nets and followed him. Then he saw the two brothers James and John in a boat with their father, mending their nets. He called them too and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. A good test for us to see how willingly we are to follow the Lord is to ask ourselves how we would respond should he ask us to leave the world to go to him. Would we hesitate or comply instantly?

Giving Up the World Easy

        To give up the world and embrace God ~ it just seems so hard to accomplish. The smart way is to embrace God first. Then once you find how attractive he is, the world just fades away without your having to detach yourself from it. It's a win-win situation to let the Lord do the work for you

Christ Our Only Hope

        Two most saddening incidents occurred. First, a 27-year-old Afghan woman named Farkhunda was brutally beaten to death near a shrine by a mob of men after being falsely accused of burning the Koran. Then in Pakistan, Sabeen Mehmud, a leading female human rights activist was targeted and killed in a drive-by shooting. Jesus must be shedding tears now while we should weep for ourselves. All the more I see the bright, shining light of Christ as our only hope, who alone wants to save us by dying for us, murderers included.

Growing in Faith and Trust

        Faith and trust do not miraculously increase; they are gained through experience. When you let the Lord draw you close to him, he uses every experience of yours, pleasant or painful, to help you grow in faith and trust. And you know it when it's happening. 

My Sins Removed

        Communion experience. Again, it was crystal clear to me that Jesus could take away the sins of the world and he was taking away mine.

Jesus Speaking Unequivocally

        It seems that what I read in the Gospels now takes on new meaning for me. In today's reading from John 10, Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father." Of course, I have read these verses or heard them read many times before, but today I heard them and just knew that it's unequivocally the Lord God speaking ~ there were no other possibilities. 

Hardened Hearts

        Horrible, terrible headlines! Two days ago, Chile's Calbuco volcano suddenly erupted, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people. Today, Nepal just had its deadliest earthquake in more than 80 years, killing already over 1,000. I see loud and clear that both are signs among numerous others that God wants us to turn to him. If you don't believe it, then you probably wouldn't believe that God is calling you even if you received a personal email from him. I suppose hardened hearts do not soften; they only break.

Making Salvation Easy

        God's mercy is constant and he has set the same rules for all ~ Jesus spelled out clearly in the Gospels how one can be saved. Therefore, how easy it's done would depend much upon that person's response. Sometimes though, it can turn out that salvation is harder than you think. Take the Protestant who believes that once saved, he is saved forever. Recall that Jesus warned that "not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 7.21). So we have simplistic thinking here. Now take the Catholic who thinks that he is a pretty decent person and should have no trouble getting into heaven, yet he does not see all his imperfections. This reminds of the Pharisee who thanked God, telling him how good he had been and ended up going home not justified by God (Luke 18). Respond to God's calling and never exalt yourself, then you should do OK.

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.