Small Matters Matter

        In Luke 16.10, Jesus said, "The person who is trustworthy in small matters is also trustworthy in great ones." How faithful we are in small matters measures our overall faithfulness. Serving the Lord faithfully could be as small as reciprocating a smile from someone. This is what the Little Way of St. Therese is about ~ following her way can transform anyone into a saint. When Jesus wants us to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect, we are not to neglect small matters. I am old enough to recall the popular hit song of the 50s "Little Things Mean a Lot" ~ perhaps adding "to God" at the end of the title would make it more memorable and more meaningful.

Abandoning Our Own Will

        As I drove the two-and-a-half mile distance home after Mass this morning, I saw the familiar scenery ~ the same houses, the same trees, the same road, etc. I knew that one day I wouldn't see them anymore. This made me think that whatever we do on earth following our own will, will all vanish, and only what we do according to God's will stores up permanent treasures in heaven seen by God.

Abandonment to Death

        Communion thoughts. Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. The entrance antiphon reads: These are the ones who, living in the flesh, planted the church with their blood; they drink the chalice of the Lord and became the friends of God. Both Apostles were martyred. To follow Christ, we must also die in one form or another. We die after surrendering to the Lord and are born again as friends of God ~ a joyful new birth following a most peaceful death.   

Abandonment to Peace

        My old computer had slowed to the point that I had to get a technician to transfer everything on it to another computer. It turned out that many important documents and email messages did not show up after the transfer ~ this alarmed me. Then I realized that a disturbed heart always causes one to sin. Besides, a fire could have destroyed everything I had or I could have died already. So I let all go by abandoning myself to God and remained in peace. The Lord rescued me again for another day.

Slipping Away from God

        Without God, everything that sounds good becomes OK, and this is what's happening to this generation. Living together without getting married is OK because the couple can find out if they can really live together. Trying out drugs is OK because you need to feel good. Abortion is fine because it eliminates unwanted children ~ besides, a woman has the right to do whatever she wants with her body. Legalizing gay marriage grants equality to all couples ~ that sounds good too. When we slip away from God, we lose our conscience and critical thinking and become our own gods. Only a rude awakening can now turn us around. 

On Remaining Holy

        I attended Vigil Mass today. Seeing how the world was offending the Lord, my human reaction was to want to punish the offenders in some way. But during Communion, the Lord said no to that ~ instead, he wanted me to become more like him.
       What Jesus did to me confirmed my experience that we sin when we let things bother us and as a result lose my inner peace. If we let nothing disturb us, we can remain holy. This is also saying that a sinner is always someone who has lost his peace.

Showing True Love

        If you truly love someone, you would be most concerned about the soul of that person.      

Time for Weeping

        Today's Gospel acclamation at Mass, Matthew 8.17: "Jesus took away our infirmities and bore our diseases" (as prophesied by Isaiah). Jesus must be our first victim soul, who suffered for our sins for our salvation. Seeing how uncaring and ungrateful the average sinner is today, it's most appropriate for us to pause and weep for them and ourselves. Seeking God's forgiveness is urgently our first order of business. 

No Jesus, No Peace

        In Jesus, there is only peace. There is no peace in the world, precisely because it does not embrace Jesus.

Fearing Ourselves

        We do not need to fear God, for he loves us and is waiting for us to show up in heaven. We don't need to fear the evil one either, for if we have God, he won't be able to touch us. What we need to fear are ourselves, for our eternal destiny is completely determined by whether we choose God or the evil one.

Perfect Teacher

        Anytime I sin, I realize how holy Jesus is ~ and I see him to be the perfect teacher to make us holy. 

To All Christians

        This morning's big headlines on BBC News: "Deadly attack on Tunisia beach," "US Supreme Court backs gay marriage," "Man decapitated in French attack," "Kuwait mosque hit by suicide blast," "Militants storm Somalia military base," "IS 'kills 120 civilians' in Kobane." More than enough bad news! The US Supreme Court got it wrong on the abortion issue and got it wrong again. Anytime you leave God out of consideration, you are bound to fall. The world does not know or does not want to know the true God anymore. In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 8, a leper approached Jesus, did him homage, and said, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." How many of us today have that kind of attitude? All Christians need to know that it's do-or-die time to submit themselves to Christ without reservation. We cannot serve both God and mammon. Rather than thinking about making money all the time, set your heart on entering heaven first by serving God with all your heart. There will be final judgment and we shall reap only what we now sow. Pray for the salvation and conversion of all souls unceasingly, for God depends upon those who love him.   

Belonging Wholly to God

        Communion experience. While Jesus was taking away my sins, I also asked him to take my heart and my soul as well. That's because sin can not remain in one who belongs wholly to God.

Authentic or False

        Today's Gospel acclamation, John 14.23, at Mass read: Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him. Suppose that Jesus was the Son of God, then he really meant what he said and you can accept that. Now suppose that an ordinary human had said it, you'll know immediately that the speaker must not know what he's talking about. Read the Gospels through and you'll find Jesus not only speaking always with authority, but also being consistently authentic throughout his earthly life.   

Not a Thorny Issue

        In 2 Corinthians 12.7, St. Paul mentioned that a thorn in the flesh was given him so that he might not become too elated. Even though he begged the Lord that it might leave him, the Lord said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." We do not know exactly what Paul's thorn was, but we all have thorns in our lives too ~ it could be someone or something that annoys us or one of our own sins. By remembering that Jesus was crowned with thorns on his way to Crucifixion, we can let our thorns help us walk along the Lord, who is still suffering today for our sins, and reach new spiritual heights.        

Not to Be Alone

        A parish friend is suffering from terminal cancer and does not have much time left to live. Many are praying for her, but it's all up to God. Again, I quote this saying attributed to Mother Teresa: "In the final analysis, it's between you and God." I do feel that each one of us is on his own with God. Family, friends, and all those who love you can only do so much. Only God who knows us intimately can do whatever he wants with us. We truly stand alone before God; but we can amend this situation in advance. Seek union with him now and you'll have God with you at all times.

Called to Go Home

        Entrance antiphon at Mass: A Man was sent from God, whose name was John. He came to testify to the light to prepare a people fit for the Lord. I came to realize that we are all called to be fit for God, not just a few of us. God wants to save us all, so do not count yourself out. Respond to his call with gratitude to become his chosen one and you are safely home. Or would you rather stray away and never return to your Father in heaven? He waits for us forever, but we have only one short lifetime to respond.

Most Personal God

        Today is the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. At the beginning of Mass, I felt like crying as I was deeply moved by the Lord's presence in my heart and in my life. He's been so good to me and is the only one who will be with me always. Later as Psalm 139 was read, my feelings were confirmed. I'll just quote the response here: I  praise you, for I am wonderfully made.