How God Answers Us

        "In today's Gospel reading from Luke 11, Jesus said to his disciples, "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find . . . ." The Lord is saying that when we ask, he hears and will definitely respond. He does not promise that we will receive exactly what we ask for, but whatever we receive will be good, as he later added: "What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?" Trust in God always to receive what's best for us.

Condition for Peace

        Today's entrance antiphon, Esther 4.17: Within your will, O Lord, all things are established and there is none that can resist your will. For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth, and all that is held within the circle of heaven; you are the Lord of all. Indeed, there will be no peace within or without us until we (1) acknowledge that the Lord has created all things, including us, and (2) submit ourselves to him unconditionally.

We Affect God

        Communion time thoughts. God hates sin, only because he loves the sinner. If we choose to remain in sin, he would feel great sorrow. On the other hand, if we want him to take away our sins, he would be overjoyed. It's our choice!

Highest Honor

        You may be honored by receiving honorary doctorates or the Nobel Prize, but no honor is higher than being called by God to serve him.

Most Moving Acts

 (1) Jesus laid down his own life for us.

 (2) Jesus gives his own flesh and blood for us to consume.

Our Advantage

        The disciples of Jesus in his days actually saw him, heard him, and touched him. We who follow him today do not see him, hear him, or get to touch him, but we do have an advantage: Jesus had said to Thomas who was not present when the Risen Lord first appeared to the other disciples, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." (John 20.29.)

God Our Fulfillment

        We lose inner peace because we live in a chaotic, imperfect world. I am thinking that even if for all my life I have perfect health and no financial worries, can do whatever I enjoy doing, and am loved by everyone, I still would not have true inner peace if I realize that I am mortal and do not know where I (or my soul) will go after death. It's clear to me that God is the missing piece of our life.

Goal of Life Made Simple

      God's desires that we simplify our lives by loving him alone and nothing else.

Goal of Prayer

        The primary and only goal of prayer is to glorify God, not to obtain what we wish for.       

New Existence in God

        Communion experience. Knowing Jesus begins our new existence in God; attaining union with him is reaching the pinnacle of that existence.

Happy With My God

        I am pondering over the act of suicide bombing which you practically hear about occurring daily somewhere in the world. As far as I know, the bomber believes that he or she is carrying out God's will by sacrificing his or her own life to kill others indiscriminately. It's impossible for me to comprehend that God would hate anyone to want them dead, as the God I know is the one who has died in our place to save us ~ a God full of love, compassion, and mercy, and who wishes us to always forgive others, never judging. You go figure. I am just completely satisfied with the God I know.  

Mary Over Martha

        Today's Gospel reading, Luke 10.38-42, is about the two sisters Martha and Mary. Jesus came to their home and Martha was anxious and worried about the serving, while Mary just sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Jesus made it clear that Mary had chosen the better part. Of course, we have to be Martha at times because it's necessary, but to be Mary is essential in order to serve the Lord well. In fact, choosing to be Mary turns our role as Martha into a joy.

Avoiding the Most Horrible

        Today's response to Psalm 130 at Mass read: If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? Indeed, it would be the most horrible thing that could ever happen to you to be so marked by the Lord! Then remember that he is infinitely merciful and he will never mark you if you let him take away your sins.

God Calling!

        I see God calling us at all times. Horrific crimes committed around the world (domestically, killings within the family are common), unprecedented natural disasters (South Carolina is currently experiencing catastrophic flooding after days of historic rains), personal tragedies, the emptiness of worldly living . . . all these are clear and loud signs telling us to turn and return to God. Suppose you live to 63 ~ you live almost 2 billion seconds. In any of those seconds, you have an infinite number of chances to turn to God. Waiting until Judgment Day will be too late.

Perilous World?

        Communion thoughts. The world is perilous only to those who do not know Jesus, for they can easily lose their way forever. For those who have Jesus, they are safe in a boat from all storms because the Lord is in the boat with them, sleeping peacefully (read Matthew 8.23-26).

Intuitive Knowledge

        The more I get to know Jesus, the less attractive the world becomes ~ I just know that God has made me in such a way as to make me want to return to him.

Intoxicating Love

        Communion experience. The Holy Eucharist intoxicated me with love, sweetening my soul.

Time for Giving

        I have my favorite charities and would like to leave them with part of what I possess after I die. Then I realize that this is not really being generous because it's as if I need everything of mine now and I am going to take care of myself first and others later when I don't need anything for myself anymore ~ this is putting my needs ahead of God's! Therefore, the time to help others is now if we can, not after we die.