How Easy to Enter Heaven?

        If you believe that you are a great sinner and utterly need God's mercy to be saved, you will find entering heaven easier than you think, for nothing is impossible with God. On the other hand, if you believe that as a fairly decent person you pretty much deserve heaven, you may be shocked at finding entering heaven harder than you think, for whoever exalts himself will be humbled. Thus, being meek and humble before the Lord is essential for entering heaven.    

Safeguarding the Heart

        Today is The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, a glorious celebration! Although the church I attended just a block away was beautiful, the acoustics were on the reverberant side. As a result, the organ and the solo singer were overpowering and the reader with a foreign accent more difficult to understand. The easy thing is to blame all your negative experiences on the church, that Mass; but the Lord made me see that my focus must be on him alone who would soon enter me to become one with me, and not let anything else disturb me. That is, our heart is to be reserved for God alone and we should absolutely let nothing distract us from our primary focus upon the Lord. 

Security in Christ

        I always marvel at God's timing of things that happen to me. I'll be heading home the day after tomorrow and have not only recovered from my bad accidental fall, but also almost gotten over my cold. There is security in knowing that God makes things happen at the right time for him and you. And the greatest secure feeling is knowing that your soul is absolutely safe in him. Without Christ, I could enjoy the best health all my life and have things going well at all times, but not knowing where my soul will end up ~ this would be a worst nightmare.   

Fundamental Healing

        I have pretty much completely recovered from my recent fall, but am fighting a nasty cold. While taking it easy, I caught part of Dr. Phil, a popular TV show in the States. The doctor, a psychiatrist, attempts to resolve family problems on his show. While his approach might be effective, I can't help thinking that only God can fundamentally change us. Without him, all changes are only superficial. A fundamental change involves the change of the heart and only God, our creator, knows how to reach into that innermost part of us. It is in offering our heart to God that we are healed.

Our Biggest Challenge

        I have pointed out that with Jesus, it is all or nothing. That is, we must believe that he is either our God or no God at all ~ a simple true-or-false case. This is the biggest challenge all of us will ever have to face, for we shall be judged by our response to it.

How Real Is Jesus?

        This is a good question. If Jesus is our God and we absolutely worship and love him the most, then why is it that we never even think or talk about him much? We can go to Mass on Sunday and never say anything about him the rest of the week. If seems that if the Lord is truly real to us, we should be one with him at all times, aware of his holy presence every single moment, and do everything for his sake.           

Jesus Our King

        We all need a king, one to lead us, to protect us, to inspire us. There have been human kings, but they do not last and in most cases, people are better off without them. That leaves only one king that is perfect, and that is Jesus the Lord. He is all we need ~ gentle, wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, completely dependable, everlasting, and most of all, loving. You cannot ask for more.

False God Is Real!

        Satan is the false god that draws people to him by deceit. He basically fools people into thinking that there is nothing wrong with what he has to offer. For example, the TV commercials and sitcoms look innocent enough because the commercials are beautifully presented and the sitcoms amusing and entertaining. But those who know the true God can discern the subtle, underlying moral harm they do to the watchers. The recent overwhelming vote for same sex marriage in Ireland, a Catholic country, shows just how far the false god has mislead people around the world. Only those who stick close to the Lord will be able to stay on track and remain safe. The great tragedy is that people are not even aware that they are on the road leading to doomsday. What's coming will be more horrible than ever if people do not wake up and turn to the true God. It is our eternal souls that are at stake!

Heaven and Hell Considered

        You do not hear heaven and hell preached from the pulpit much anymore. I believe that hell is not brought up in order not to instill fear in the listeners. Nevertheless, it is a real place and heaven can always be mentioned at the same time for balance. After all, how can we separate God and the Evil One from heaven and hell? The world could certainly use a big dosage of healthy fear right now. I want to go to heaven because I love God, and avoid going to hell because it just goes against the will of God. Let's be realistic by thinking and talking about heaven and hell.

Jesus Is Right

        Once you know the Lord Jesus well, it does not mean that all your troubles will go away; it only means you now know how to deal with them (life) his way. Here is one thing that I truly appreciate: as I follow the Lord faithfully, he makes me see that all his teachings are correct, including those that are difficult for us to follow without him, thus drawing me ever closer to him.

Jesus, My Physician

        Still away from home, I attended the Vigil Mass of Pentecost Sunday at a local cathedral. After receiving Holy Communion, I felt that Jesus was the perfect physician I needed for an imperfect, sinful, sick, and weak soul like me.

What We Do or Not Do

        As I was praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary today, which are The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity, The Presentation, and The Finding of Jesus in the Temple, I realized that all these events are meaningful and significant because they were ordained by God in carrying out his plan. Now, how about the things we do? They may not be as meaningful, but whatever we do or not do does determine our destiny, as they affect our society and most of all God. Therefore, whatever we do, including wasting time by not doing anything, is significant.

Incredible Reality

        We are puny in the universe as finite and sinful creatures. After God chooses us, we become his adopted sons and daughters and heaven bound to inherit everything the Father has. This is the incredible reality that Christ has revealed to us ~ the power of love!

Going Through an Amusement Park

        The world is like an amusement park. This may be an old person's view, but I am old. When one first enters the world, all the rides and fun are found to be exciting because they are new. Seeking to gratify oneself becomes the prime goal. Gradually, fun and enjoyment wear thin, becoming even tiresome. As the time to exit the park approaches, one starts to wonder about the meaning of his whole trip through the park and what awaits him beyond if anything.  

Jesus for the Brave

        From today's Gospel reading, John 17.11b-19, we learn that (1) we who believe in Christ have been given to him by the Father so that we may be one with him as he and the Father are one, (2) Jesus protects and guards us so that we'll not be lost, (3) he wants us to share his joy completely, (4) the world will hate us for not belonging to it, (5) the Father will keep us from the Evil One, and (6) Jesus consecrates himself for us, so that we may be consecrated in truth. Note that he does not say that we won't suffer or be persecuted by the world.

For Fairness' Sake

        If we pray for the ones we love, those who are dearest to us, then to show that we are fair and love God, let's also pray for our worst enemies, those who are most despicable to us in the world. Then the world will be a better place.

On the Holy Spirit

        Today's Communion verse, John 14.26: The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of all I have told you, says the Lord. The Holy Spirit is not someone you see or hear, but the spirit that moves and shapes your heart almost imperceptibly until you know that he dwells in you. He is the great teacher, our advocate, and our protector.

God Who Died Once

        Today's entrance verse based upon Revelation 1.17-18: I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. Such awe-inspiring statements! What can I say but to believe in the Lord who died for me with my whole heart? (Today's Gospel reading John 17.1-11a, with Jesus praying as the Son of the Father, was also truly awesome.)