Always the Giver

        On the cross, Jesus gave himself for our salvation. At Communion time, Jesus gives himself again for our edification. 

To Be Aware Of

        It is through the death of Jesus that we can be reconciled to God and be lifted up to his level.

Our Perfect Model

        Jesus lived a completely selfless life. Not only do we need to believe him as our Savior, God also wants us to imitate him, for he is the perfect model. Get to know him and be inspired.

Trust in God's Mercy

        To believe that God cannot save you is a grave sin. If follows that trusting in his great mercy always is the way to salvation.

Different Views

        Communion thoughts. When you receive the Holy Eucharist, you simply feel that you are fulfilling the obligation of attending Mass or that the true body of Christ is entering you, calling for your submission to him for spiritual union.

Comforting Knowledge

        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!

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. 

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.  

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. 

Different Animal

        We are different from all other animals. God has intended that we look for him.

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.

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.