Sin Can Help

       The only good thing about sin is that it can awaken us to God. All saints were sinners in their past. The Lord especially notices great sinners, for he greatly pities them. When they turn to him, the liberation can be most exhilarating. If it helps, know that there will be great celebration and rejoicing in heaven too. If you are a sinner, be the cause of joy for yourself and the whole heaven!

Second Coming Certain

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 13 at Mass, Jesus talks about end times and his Second Coming. He came to us 2,000 years ago. I intuitively know that he will come again to bring all things on earth to a close, for God's justice must reign. I cannot imagine that God will leave us hanging on our own forever. Besides, our planet earth is of limited size ~ are we to believe that it's meant to be our permanent home? Say we were placed upon a small planet only a mile in diameter, how long would we last with a growing population? The earth is a lot bigger, but it's still finite in size. So the question of Jesus' Second Coming is only a matter of when, not whether.

God Our Only Refuge

        Communion experience. France just suffered a horrific attack by ISIS. This morning's breaking news: (1) A local high school football player got shot and died. (2) A tourist bus crashed in a nearby big city and injured 20. (3) Further south, a "destructive device" was found outside a store parking lot and detonated by the local sheriff's department. These were just a few things I saw reported on TV. I realized that there is only one true refuge for us, and that is God.

Praying Persistently

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 18 at Mass, Jesus told his disciples about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. This to me "defines" our relationship with God. After all, God is our Father who knows only to love us. Therefore, we should feel free to tell him everything, ask for what we want from him, or even badger him. Great saints sometimes question, argue with, or complain to God. It all shows the great intimacy they have with the Father. As you know, to those closest to us we always feel free in expressing our honest feelings, but to strangers we usually hide them. And no one knows us better than God.

Out-of-the-World Living

        Every moment should be lived by us in prayer so as to remain in God at all times. Offer everything you do as a prayer to the Lord. Make him an integral part of your life and your existence. There is no life style more beautiful than being in union with God with the two becoming one. This is truly out-of-the-world, noble, exalted living.

Feeling Fortunate

        Communion experience. I felt that my love for Jesus is increasing and received great joy. I felt I was the most fortunate person in the whole universe. You can have the whole world, but I possess the creator of it! My existence is complete because I am back united with my creator, our loving Father. 

Happy Belonging

        Jesus belongs to me and also to all others who love him. We all don't seem to mind at all. I believe it's because we all belongs to him too.

Poignant Picture

        Today's Gospel reading at Mass continued from Luke 17. Jesus told his disciples that on the day the Son of Man is revealed, everyone will have to drop everything and leave everything behind. And I received the most poignant mental picture when the Lord said, "On that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left." I do not know whether being taken is good or bed; nevertheless, there will be permanent separation. If you want your loved ones to be with you for all eternity, do your utmost best to be a saint to them. This is showing that you truly love God and them. 

Our Perfect Path

        We may not actively commit sins, but not being holy is a sin of omission and we need to atone for that. The last several first readings at Mass all came from the book of Wisdom. They made me see that not seeking out God to know him is being unwise. Therefore, to get to know God and become holy is the perfect path for us.

Father Most Generous

        Communion experience. I'll always remember from the parable of the lost son what the father said to his older son, "My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours." I thought of the inexhaustible riches of our Father in heaven and that they can be all ours if we are already with him. The joy of living in Christ is indeed equally inexhaustible.

Being Challenged

        Today's Communion antiphon, Matthew 10.39: Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it in eternity. After you hear this said from Jesus, you must either follow or walk away from him ~ no other possible choice.

Believe and You'll Know

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 17, Jesus tells us that the coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed ~ no one can say, "Look, here it is," or, "There it is." I do not see the Lord, but I know that he dwells in me. Faith is required, then it is substantiated by God and the unknown becomes known. It's faith leading to knowledge.

All-Encompassing Approach

        Communion insight. Union with God takes care of loving God which takes care of how we ought to live.

God to Be Loved

        The fact that Jesus is most lovable made me see that God is most of all to be loved.

Testing Our Love

        It's easy to love God who is holy and much harder to love people who are imperfect, especially those who have done us wrong. But Jesus gave us the second greatest commandment: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Conclusion: We don't love God enough yet, if we do not love all our neighbors. That we are to see the Lord in everyone takes on a new meaning. 

Most Beautiful Way of Living

        Today's entrance antiphon at Mass, 1 Samuel 2.35: I shall raise up a faithful priest who will act in accord with my heart and my mind, says the Lord. It struck me that there's no more beautiful way of living than doing what God has in his heart and his mind.

Reminder

        If you know that God has chosen and called you, do not forget to thank him for it.

Be Set Ablaze

        Luke 12.49: I have come to light a fire on the earth, and how I wish the blaze were already ignited! The Holy Spirit is capable of setting our hearts ablaze. For the sake of our Lord and Savior, let it be done to you without delay! This fire will cleanse your soul, free you from sin, and lift your spirits to new heights.