I have already tasted the freedom, peace, and joy of Christ. Today he added another ingredient: sweetness. Every word from him is sweet to the ear. And it's as if everything about him has a fragrance to it too. Such is the power of God.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Formula for Freedom
I thought I would stop blogging after my last post, then I attended Vigil Mass because I must leave home early tomorrow, and the Lord fed me with more thoughts. In the Gospel reading from Luke 9, Jesus said to one who would follow him, but wanted to say farewell to his family at home first, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God." I immediately saw the formula for attaining freedom, which is following Jesus single-mindedly and single-heartedly, abandoning everything of the past and of the present. When we leave his world, we'll have to do this anyway to be free, so why not start now when you decide to follow Jesus?
Preparing for the Inevitable
Last Wednesday, I posted about a friend who suffered two strokes. She is still found to lose blood somehow, requiring constant blood transfusion. Another friend is receiving stents for his two clogged arteries in his chest. This morning after Mass, I went to get some bread at the local market and met a fellow parishioner there who will undergo surgery on July 13 to get enough blood to circulate to his lower body. We shall all get to some stage like that as we age. I've already found out how one problem joint can prevent me from doing the many things so simple I never gave a thought about doing them before. All of you, young or old, who still have good health, think about how you would handle yourself when you become weakened or disabled in some way in the future. Will you be happy or unhappy? This is the time to prepare for that. Even more importantly, prepare for your transition to the next life now.
[Note: For the next week and a half or so, mostly likely I won't be able to blog. Please check back around July 8 or 9. God be with you always.]
At the Lord's Table
Communion experience. I received exactly what the Apostle did at the Last Supper!
Obligation to Jesus
The only "justified" reason for not accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior is believing that he is not God. If you cannot be sure, then you are obligated to accept and believe in him. Delaying your decision only adds urgency to making it.
Division for a Reason
In Luke 12, Jesus said to his disciples, "Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." Indeed, Jesus is the most compelling controversial figure in the history of mankind. You have to be either for him or against him, precisely because he is true God and because true evil does exist.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Answering Jesus' Call
Communion experience. Receiving the Holy Eucharist reverently is answering Jesus' call to union with him.
Another Union Benefit
Not in union with God, the heart and mind dart every which way, driven by the ego. In union with God, both the heart and mind settle down, remaining in peace with the will of God.
Challenge of Lifetime
A lot of people believe in God, but they do not want to get close to him. This is being illogical. It's like you don't mind going to heaven, but you don't wish to see God. I believe the reason is that they still fear that God would take away their freedom, not realizing that they cannot be truly free without God taking away their sins first. This is the challenge each of us must meet and prevail in our lifetime, for our eternal life is at stake.
All in God's Hands
I never thought I would end up living where I am living now because I had the idea of settling in certain places. I also thought I'd pursue one career, but ended up with an entirely different one. I didn't know early in my life that later I would almost drown in a lake, fall from a tree, be sent twice to an emergency care unit in an ambulance and get well again. I had not expected that after living beyond the average life expectancy of men, God still called me to spread the message of union with him. I am most happy to end my life on such a high note and know this time that I shall end up being with our Father.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Most Wonderful Blessing
Communion experience. The presence of the Holy Eucharist in the Church marks the presence of Christ at the center of the Church he had established. I felt so full spiritually after receiving this Most Holy Sacrament this morning that my heart almost wanted to burst ~ there is no more wonderful blessing a mortal can receive!
Making God Notice you
In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 7, Jesus said to his disciples, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.'" The statement I italicized is what you never want to hear from the Lord. Do the will of God so that you may be known to him.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Union, the Fast Track
I still remember reading the many great spiritual classics and biographies of the saints and their own writings in the past. So much of what I read inspired and taught me. In many of the volumes, I yellow-highlighted all the lines that spoke to my heart. I also attended many spiritual conferences and retreats. My heart was on fire after each time, getting more excited about the Lord than ever. But things have changed. Ever since I started seeking union with God, got to know the Lord intimately, and came to experience his beauty and holiness, all the spiritual books, conference messages, talks by some of the best speakers, etc., no longer uplift me, for all second-hand information loses its flavor when you now learn directly from the Lord himself. Besides, you already have the Lord to yourself ~ you no longer need anything to help you get there.
Seeking Consolation
Communion experience. Concern about the condition of the world and what might happen in my own country after the presidential election placed a heavy burden on my heart and I rejoiced that I could turn to Christ to seek consolation, for he is the only one who can give me hope and joy.
Shortsighted Living
The news came that a dear friend of ours has suffered two strokes in a row, but is now recovering. Life is fragile and hanging by a thread. We know that thread is going to break one day, but somewhat we are not impressed as long as it's not happening to us yet. Meanwhile we hang on to things that are even less dependable than a thread. What gives? If we do not pay close attention to all the obvious indicators about the transitoriness of life, how are we going to prepare ourselves for living the eternal life?
Heavenly Relationship
Do you know that God becomes the closest, dearest, most intimate friend to anyone who receives him reverently in the Holy Eucharist. This is a relationship made in heaven, a truly awesome achievement brought about by God!
Classifying God's People
People either accept or reject Jesus and are either good or bad, roughly speaking. So the four possible categories are (1) good people accepting Jesus, (2) bad people accepting Jesus, (3) good people rejecting Jesus, and (4) bad people rejecting Jesus. Obviously, you should want to belong in the first and not the last category. How about the middle two? I see that a bad person accepting Jesus can easily be saved if he would just repent of his sins and ask for God's forgiveness. But a good person rejecting Jesus risks being rejected by him before the Father, as the Gospel tells us. Naturally, the Lord alone knows why he is not being accepted. Nevertheless, knowingly rejecting Christ will definitely have serious consequences.
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