Today is Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. God sent the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary to announce of her conception of Christ. The angel last added that nothing would be impossible for God. The fact that God can accomplish anything combined with the fact that he loves us is most comforting, since we now know that he would always take good care of us!
Monday, April 4, 2016
Our Call
God has personally come into the world as one of us to suffer and die in our place in order to save us ~ this is going all the way! It's now completely up to us whether we appreciate or cooperate with him.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Most Trusted Friend
Do you turn to God only when you are in trouble? Some do not even do that unless they are in a desperate situation. God is not just an emergency doctor. In fact, we need him every moment for our survival! Therefore, make him your most trusted friend. Tell him and consult him about everything and always ask for his opinion or help. You will never tire him, for he loves you. Let him complete your life.
Humble Invitation
Today's Gospel reading on this Divine Mercy Sunday from John 20 is about Thomas who told the other disciples who had seen the Lord that he would not believe unless he sees the mark of the nails in his hands and put his finger into the nailmarks and put his hand into his side. A week later when Thomas was present with the others, Jesus came and stood in their midst. He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Here is the Lord's invitation for all of us to believe. How can we possibly resist?
Indwelling Holy Spirit
How do you know that your are the temple of the Holy Spirit? Do not expect to feel anything physically, for the Holy Spirit, being Spirit, works on the heart. Feeling great love for God and your brothers and sisters is evidence that he dwells within you.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Our Enemy
Many people do not like Christians, so are they our enemies? No, since Jesus commands us to love everyone. So our only possible enemy is ourselves. It is the self that keeps us from loving others. It is our ego that keeps us from surrendering ourselves to God. Once we become one with God, we have no more enemy, since we have conquered ourselves.
Perfect Journey
Communion experience. I came from God since he created me. Now he made me whole before returning to him. What a satisfying perfect journey!
A Shortcoming
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus' final words to the Eleven were "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." It occurred to me that I don't even see Catholics on their own do the sign of the cross and say grace before eating meals in any public place. Prayer is strictly between God and us, no one else's business. Therefore, we should do the cross and say grace, whether others are present or not. If we cannot do that, how are we expected to proclaim the Gospel to any creature?
Reason to Believe
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 16, the risen Lord appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him. What if we were in their place, would we have believed? Perhaps our hearts are not even as hard as theirs. The fact that they finally believed after seeing Jesus themselves is reason enough for us to believe likewise.
Superior Way
After I woke up this morning all refreshed from a good night's rest, I was ready to engage in another day's activities and chores. And there will be another night and another day. This is similar to how after we confess and repent our sins to God, we are ready to serve him again all refreshed. This process also repeats itself. Then I thought of the superior way of attaining union with God and having he Lord take away all our tendencies to sin, thus breaking the cycle.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Adoration Time
On this First Friday of the month, as usual there was adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass. Here's the Lord exposed before us on the altar for us to adore and worship. I felt it's also judgment time with him looking at me, seeing everything in my heart. What a perfect time to seek his pardon, mercy, and cleansing! A time to abandon myself to him for union! Indeed, a perfect time to perfect our relationship with the Lord!
Christian Realism
The Christian sees all things as real. For him, God is real, evil is real, the Passion Jesus underwent for our salvation is real, that we'll be in paradise if we remain faithful followers is real .... The Christian lives by his faith, never seeking escape from reality.
The Eucharist Extolled
Today's Communion verse, John 21.22-23: Jesus said to his disciples: Come and eat. And he took bread and gave it to them, alleluia. Receiving the Holy Eucharist is the Lord's amazing, wonderful, beautiful, and loving way of making us one with him.
Being Alone Matters
Without God, you are definitely alone. The only time you'll be with him is when you face him at judgment time, and that will not be pleasant. On the contrary, with God you are never alone! As described in my last post, you life will be filled with beautiful moments.
Most Beautiful Moment
In today's Gospel reading from John 21 at Mass, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias after being raised from the dead. In their fishing boat, John finally recognized that it was Jesus standing on the shore talking to them and said to Peter, "It is the Lord." Immediately, Peter tucked in his garment, jumped into the sea, and swam toward Jesus. Recognizing that it's the Lord is one of the most beautiful moments of life. Seeing that Jesus has a hand in everything you do, knowing that he is healing you, hearing him speak to you, feeling his presence ... all these are most beautiful moments. Seek union with him and you will receive the grace of knowing that he is always with you.
Fighting the Spiritual Battle
In today's first reading from Acts 4, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted Peter and John, disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They laid hands on Peter and John and put them in custody. God vs. the evil one ~ the battle continues on to this day. We face the same enemy and have the same task to perform. Otherwise, there would be no need for the Lord to come again to separate the goats from the sheep. Recognize the reality of the situation so that we may fight on the side of God for his glory and ultimate triumph.
Time Standing Still
God exists for all eternity. For him there is neither beginning nor end. Therefore, time stands still with him. When I turn to God, I feel that time stands still too, as I am with the eternal Lord, forgetting all other things.
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