Getting Personal

        God is not some abstract concept, nor someone impersonal. Today's Communion verse, Romans 6.8: If we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Christ. To die with him, to praise him, to pray to him, to ask for favors from him, even to argue with or complain to him, and then to live with him is to form the strongest possible bond with him. It's this most intimate, personal relationship that make our life so fulfilling and rewarding. 

Care, yet Not Care

       There are many burdens in life. I am specifically thinking about some people who do not turn to God when the time for them to do so is urgent and now. I care about them, yet I shouldn't. This is what I mean. We care about others who affect the Lord and us. Yet there is only so much we can do. In fact, if we "care too much," we forget our goal of serving God and risk turning others off. Therefore, always remember that God is in control. Do the best you can and not be concerned about how things turn out as if you don't really care. This is trusting in God at its best.

         This morning's Gospel reading at Mass from John 14 echoed my feeling when I heard Jesus say to his disciples, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."

Contrasty Approaches

        In art, technology, and other fields, you must continue coming up with new creative ideas, innovations, and/or inventions, to stay ahead of the competitors. By contrast, in living a holy life, you surrender to the same God over and over again to foster spiritual growth.

Only Holy One

        Communion realization. God is the only one who can make us holy, for he alone is holy. 

Unique Sorrow

        In some religion, believers put to death anyone who does not accept their faith. In others, believers just do not much care one way or the other. In Christianity, believers feel great sorrow for those who reject Christ, for they love the Lord and know that he loves them. This is a sorrow only Christians experience.         

All Love

        From the example of Jesus, we see that God is pure love, incapable of feeling hatred. When we sin, he suffers great sorrow and pities us even more. 

On Glorifying God

        In today's Gospel reading from John 13, when Judas left the Last Supper, Jesus fully knew that he was going to betray him by handing him over. The Lord said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him." We see that every time we follow God's plan, we glorify him. Rejoice that we have the time of a whole lifetime to follow God! The tragic side is that there are those who rebel against the Lord their whole life ~ utter foolishness!

Sensible Choice

        All things came from God; therefore, we have nothing to give to him; therefore, just let him be our God and do whatever he wants with us.       

True Perfection

        Jesus wants us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. Since the Father loves all sinners who are imperfect, to be perfect we must at least completely tolerate all those who are imperfect. This is totally in line with the Lord's asking us to not judge and love our enemies.

*Questions and Answers

        If you do not believe in God (the God of Christ), you will never know the answers to many of the important questions of life. If you do believe in God, you have no more questions to ask, for Christ is the key to all the answers you need to know.

Nothing Lacking

        Communion experience. God has come to me! Psalm 23 feeling: "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack."

Reaching the Top

        In education, the more you advance, the more you become aware of your intellectual growth. In the early years when I photographed a lot, I thought I was pretty good. Later, after I had refined my vision, the early works appeared rather mediocre. It's the same in spiritual growth. Attaining union with God is like climbing a high mountain to get to the top where God dwells. As you ascend higher and higher, the view becomes more and more beautiful. Of course, the most magnificent view you'll see only after you get to the top. Therefore, aim high and never cease advancing. (Better advice. Take the fast track by surrendering to God and letting him take you to the top, eliminating all climbing.)

Learning from the Our Father

        The second half of the Our Father: "Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." I see that Jesus taught us to pray thus because he wants us to know (1) that we are to depend upon the Father for all things, (2) how the Father can forgive our trespasses and (3) that our Father is also the one to safeguard us spiritually.

No-Bypassing Reality

        In today's Gospel reading, John 14:1-6, Jesus must know exactly what he's talking about or he had to be delusional. In the last verse, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." If he was not delusional, then he must have spoken the truth. It follows that no one can possibly bypass him ~ something we must reckon with, the sooner the better. 

Most Happy Capture

        Let God capture you to be back in the bosom of your most beloved Father.

Seeking Fun

        The people of the world seek fun, excepting perhaps the refugees on the run and those living in poverty. In the USA, it's estimated that 80% of young Christian college adults lose their faith in the four years of attending college, as seeking fun becomes their priority. The entertainment industry invests in providing fun for the general public and profits richly. With so much fun to pursue, who can possibly feel his or her spiritual needs? On the cross, Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." I hear him praying the same now.    

Praying Unceasingly

        Communicating with God whether it's reciting a formal prayer, praising him in public or talking to him in private, or just thinking about or longing for him is prayer. Every time you pray (from the heart), you strengthen your relationship with God. Therefore, pray unceasingly, and you'll be richly rewarded.

Reason for Our Salvation

        Of course, God wants to save us from condemnation because he loves us. More specifically, he save us for wanting us to be holy as he is holy.