Love's Challenge

        From Matthew 25.40: Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers, you did it for me. It's not just "my brothers," but "the least of my brothers." It just shows that we are to love all with no exceptions. This is our challenge: to love unconditionally and non-discriminatorily. 

How Awake We Are

        If there were a scale indicating how awake we are, those who love and trust in God the most must appear at the very top end of the scale.   

Covering Forgiving Others

        In today's reading from Matthew 18 at Mass, Jesus used a parable to teach Peter to keep forgiving a brother who has sinned against him. The lesson is that we should forgive others as God forgives us. In essence, always treat others the way we expect God to treat us. The ultimate goal is then to save all souls by loving them because God loves us all. Mark 8.35, Jesus saying "Whoever loses his life for my sake and for the sake of the gospel will save it" ties in well.   

Communion Desire

        Communion experience. It sounds selfish, but it's not: I desired to absorb the Lord completely into my soul.

Be Open to God

        We are finite and powerless to raise ourselves, but if we remain open to God, he will stoop low to lift us up. To be closed to God is to banish ourselves altogether. So, be open to God to let him exalt you to great new heights! 

Reading the Gospels Right

        The Gospels are to be read as if you are reading them for the very first time. If you assume you already know them because you've heard them read many times before, then you'll miss seeing the wonders of the Lord's life and what he teaches. God remains forever new!

Perfect Relationship

        It's such a beautiful thing to go through life with Jesus ~ you share the same joys and sorrows, going through both happy and hard times together. Through thick and thin, you bond with your God and friend. There's nothing more perfect than beginning your intimate, eternal relationship with God right now on earth!   

Ultimate Rest

        Communion experience on this memorial of St. Claire. Receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist is the perfect time to abandon myself in him, for he enters me to be one with me! He has already died for me out of pure love ~ can you possibly imagine that he is now holding back in wanting to help me? No, that's impossible. I look forward to receiving my Lord, for in him I find true rest, fulfilling the purpose with which he has created me.

Heavely Joy vs Worldly Pleasure

        To know whether doing something is right or wrong, just see what would happen if everyone does it. To see if certain worldly pleasure is good for you or not, just see how you would feel if you get to "enjoy" it nonstop day after day. Take eating as an example. If I eat something enjoyable nonstop, sooner or later I would get sick of it and might even vomit it all out. Heavenly joy is totally different. More of it would delight and elate your spirit and make you want even more. Imagine how you would feel in heaven with God! This explains why worldly pleasures become distasteful to those who have experienced the joy of Christ. For those who do not know the Lord yet, detaching themselves from the world is virtually impossible. The only "easy" way for them is to know Christ, who is our liberator, first.

Following Jesus, the Only Way

        In the last verse of today's Gospel reading, Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be." To gain life, we are not able to lead ourselves since we do not know the way. Our only way is to follow Jesus, who alone can fulfill our desire for life. It's either Jesus or nothing for us.

Death Precedes Rebirth

        Today is the Feast of St. Lawrence. In the Gospel reading from John 12, Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." Before Mass began, I actually desired to die and rest in peace in the Holy Spirit. I sensed this to be necessary for resolving our destiny of ascent to God. It is death that provides rebirth.

Partnering With God

        Have the desire to serve the Lord and let him provide the means.

In Greater Intimacy

        In today's Gospel reading from John 6, Jesus declared, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever." Once you have received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist in a state of grace, you must keep yourself as pure as possible in order to make his dwelling in you as comfortable as possible. Then you can talk to him and consult him within in great intimacy.

The Genuine Christian

        In today's homily by Fr. M, he points out that people tend to act differently when they see that he has his collar on. We all act in a situation to make ourselves look good, but the Christian is to follow Jesus always. Therefore, he must always be his genuine self at all times ~ no acting ~ and being aware that God is present. 

The Effortless Way

        In today's second reading from Ephesians 4 at Mass, Paul spells out some new rules for the new life, "All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ." These rules would be most difficult to follow if you try to do it by your own effort. Again, the secret of success is to let God accomplish all things for you in you. Surrender and Trust is the effortless way.

Praising the Known God

        I got back home last night. On the way, I drove by what seemed to be a barn with the large words "Praise God" painted on its end wall. I don't believe this would mean much to anyone who doesn't personally know God. But since I already know Jesus, I already know God, and I praise him for allowing me to see that signage.  

Another Liberating Feeling

        What we would feel when we are able to override all self-serving desires to please God.

That Clean Feeling

        The other day when my heart was pure, I got that unbeatable, free, clean feeling, knowing that God was with me and in me. This verified the Beatitude of Jesus "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God." Indeed, this is how he had made us,