Talent, a Blessing?

        God gave us talent not to serve ourselves, make us rich and famous, or make us feel more important to him. No, he gave us talent so that we might glorify him alone. So many talented artists live for the art they have created instead of serving God, or think that they are above others less talented. In such cases, no blessing would be a blessing. 

Sad State of Our Nation

        In this country at this time, godlessness is the root cause of our problems. Political correctness is followed more closely than the teachings of God. In this secular world, if a saint were elected president, he wouldn't last a week. This is how sad the shape this country is in. I hope that Jesus' realistic statement that those who enter through the wide gate with the broad road that leads to destruction are many and those who find the narrow gate with the constricted road that leads to life are few in today's Gospel reading at Mass (see today's earlier post "Best Travel Plan") will at least shock our conscience a bit.

Inseparability

        Today's Communion experience. Receiving the Holy Eucharist confirms that Christ and I are inseparable from each other. Where he is, I'll be. 

Are We Foolish?

        Many of us plan for our security, our retirement, our near future . . . yet do not seem to be concerned about life eternal at all. Isn't here a great imbalance? Don't you also see the ironic contradiction? Have we lost our common sense? Are we asleep or afraid to face death? Jesus' question comes to my mind: "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" Basically, I think we are just being fools.

Best Travel Plan

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 7, Jesus spoke to his disciples, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." We need to stay sober and pay critical attention to these words of life. Our best policy is to find and follow Christ, then we won't need to be concerned about the width of the gate opening nor the condition of the road, nor where we'll end up. Follow Christ and go carefree ~ my slogan.

*Good Things, Bad Things

        In this life, we have both good and bad things happening to us. Beware that the good things you receive could be the reward you get for being a hypocrite (read Matthew 6) or for the actual good you've done. Anyway, reward received in this world means nothing if you can not get into heaven later. The bad things that happen to you now can actually be blessings if you accept them as part of your purgatory experience after death. I'd accept the bad now and receive the good later rather than the other way around.

State of Joy

        This morning's entrance verse at Mass from Psalm 24: The clean of hands and pure of heart shall climb the mountain of the Lord and stand in his holy place. To have clean hands and a pure heart is to never do anything filthy nor consider any thought sinful. A soul in such a state receives great joy, for its presence is welcomed by the Lord. 

Faith and Hope

        I have two joint injuries that have not healed for many months, but I do not feel down nor sorry for myself. I realize it's because I belief that God can still heal me. Whether he is going to heal me or not is another matter; it is keeping that hope alive that has sustained me. To have faith is to have hope. We often console or encourage others in unfortunate circumstances by telling them to keep up the faith or not to give up. These are not exactly empty remarks, because faith and hope in God do give us the strength and courage we need.

Sweet State of Union

        Psalm 27.4 of David ~ One thing I ask of the LORD; only this I seek: to dwell in the LORD's house all the days of my life. For me today, this is like asking to remain in union with Christ at all times. Indeed, to remain in such union is "home, sweet home" to those who belong to the Lord, for they would feel painfully uncomfortable the moment they "step outside the house." Only dwelling in heaven could be sweeter.

Who Is Jesus to You?

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 9, Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" They gave various answers. Then he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter replied, "The Christ of God." He told them, "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised." The he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Peter first recognized that Jesus was the Messiah from God, then Jesus spoke authentically as only God could. 

Sign of True God

        In today's second reading from Galatians 3 at Mass, Paul wrote: Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. I do not see another God-centered religion other than Christianity in which all members are treated equally as heirs of God ~ another sign that the God of Christ is the true God.

One Great Joy

        I love my God because every time after I have done something imperfectly or plain wrong, I can go back to him to have him show me how to get it right the next time. Such soul-searching and continuous learning is one great joy of knowing God for me.  

Our Business

        If someone makes another billion dollars, it's not our business. If someone becomes so popular that crowds madly follow him or her everywhere, it's not our business. If someone brings millions of people to Christ, it's not our business. Our business is to follow the will of God in everything we do. This should be something we can easily remember.

Happiness Criterion

        If we are happy in Christ, even though we no longer belong to the world, we still remain happy in the world. If we do not have Christ or are not happy in him, then we won't ever find happiness in the world, for he is our God and Savior. 

Utimate Rest

        Communion experience. My soul experienced the most peaceful rest in Christ. This is the rest you experience when you are completely at peace with God. In this spiritual state, both your mental and physical conditions remain unperturbed, God alone occupying the soul.    

Begging God

        Today's Entrance verse from Psalm 27: O Lord, hear my voice, for I have called to you; be my help. Do not abandon or forsake me. O God, my Savior! Here is David, crying out to and begging God, exhibiting an emotion we can all identify with. Of course, God only knows the human soul too well, plus that he will never abandon or forsake us. As a matter of fact, our Father receives great joy when his children ask for his help, telling him they need him, for he gets another chance to exercise his love.

More on Forgiving Others

        Communion experience. Here's the merciful Lord ready to forgive all my sins, how could I possibly not forgive anyone who had trespassed against me? Jesus only wants to give us peace. But when we disobey him, we lose our peace. Without peace, we do not hear him speak. Forgiving others, being a hard counsel to follow, makes a great start to regain our peace in God.

All About Forgiving Others

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6, Jesus taught his disciples to pray the Our Father, in which we are to ask the Father to forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. The Lord further added, "If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions." The promise and warning can't be any clearer. We know that to forgive our enemies or those we plain do not like is hard, but forgive we must. It helps to know that forgiving them doesn't mean that you are to become fast friends with them or even like them, although that would be nice. To forgive is to wish that God will also save them. If he comes to you and asks you if he should save them, your ready answer should be a resounding yes, since you want to always please him. If God equates whatever we do for one of our least brothers to doing it for him, then surely holding a grudge against anyone would be the same as holding one against him. I've learned that to be at odds with God ever so slightly can deprive us of inner peace ~ thank God for having made us this way. Only complete obedience to God will ensure our own salvation.