The Thread Difference

        Our life hangs precariously by a thread, but faith in Jesus makes that thread unbreakable and we get pulled up to him in heaven when our time is up. Without Jesus, we could drop deep into the unfathomable darkness below when the thread snaps.

Up to the Unbeliever

        Matthew 10.34: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword." Jesus is the cause of division, as there is a chasm between those who follow him and those who do not. Only the unbeliever can eliminate that separation by turning himself to God.

       Speaking of changing oneself, fundamental change must come from within the heart. We have no power to change anyone fundamentally except through God. To initiate the change, the person involved must again turn to God to ask for it himself.

Losing Jealousy

        Do you know that once you possess Jesus, you are no longer jealous of anyone? 

Inexhaustible God

        Know that God is infinitely rich and deep that we can never possibly exhaust him in anyway. Therefore, confidently ask him for all that you need to be perfect, as he is perfect. Be ambitious and greedy!

Going to the Extreme

        Going to the extreme on your own is always ego-oriented and wrong. Only in loving God is going to the extreme completely justified.

Leaving No Legacy Happily

        We normally think about what legacy we are going to leave behind after we are gone. I thought of all the material things I possess, some of which important to me at one time or another. For example, I was interested in piano music and had acquired a sizable collection of CDs. I am still interested in taking photographs and have now accumulated many quite beautiful personal prints of my works. So what am I going to do with them? I quickly realized that I should not be concerned about what's going to happen to them at all. Knowing that I am returning to the Father who will make me happier than ever, there is no point in ever wanting to look back on anything that's not mine in the first place and will surely pass in time? You know well that eternal joy will easily make one forget all his past.

To Each His Own 😞

        I attended Vigil Mass at my church today. Communion experience. I knew that Jesus was going to take away my sins and be one with me, thus exalting me to the highest possible status as a human being. There's no more desire to be fulfilled. How I wish that everyone would experience peace this way. But whenever I tell others about it, they are happy for me and would congratulate me. It's thanks, but no thanks. They still go their own way, preferring to find peace their way. 

We Need Mercy

        Again, horrific, terroristic tragedy struck the French people, this time in Nice. Whom should we blame? The Lord showed me that all of us who had not loved him and our neighbors perfectly bore some responsibility in allowing such an evil event to happen. For the salvation of all of us, victims and enemies included, let's beg Christ for his mercy as we are all sinners. 

Jesus, Our Anchor

        In this life and world, things come and go so that there is not a thing you can count on. Jesus alone is safe with us. He is our anchor for all eternity.

Mercy vs Sacrifice

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 12, Jesus points out to the Pharisees that God desires mercy, not sacrifice. Temple sacrifices are easy to perform. Even if you sacrifice yourself in some way for the sake of pleasing God, it is negative and inferior to loving others for his glory. One who loves exclusively for God's sake can forget about suffering for him. Mercy covers it all.

Christ and Classical Music

        Not many people appreciate classical music. It actually turns many people off. To understand it, you must first show an interest in and then listen to it attentively, letting it sink in. In time you will sense its beauty, be moved by it and become a classical music lover. The best, more abstract classical music can deeply touch one's soul. I bring this up because I see that people pretty much treat Christ like classical music. 

Baptism of the Lord

        I have mentioned that while in Los Angeles recently, I attended Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angles, on July 3 precisely. There I saw many wall tapestries designed by the renowned California artist John Nava. The one titled Baptism of the Lord moved me very much. Here's God incarnated, humble and meek, still asking John the Baptist to baptize him, even though he didn't need it. How can we not adore such a magnificent, magnanimous Lord? You may see the image on this page: http://www.johnnava.com/COLA/bap3.html.

A Blessed State

        To be humble is to regard yourself as (not believe that you are) the least of all your brothers and sisters before the Lord. This is not only most pleasing to him, but also enables you, stripped of ego, to get in touch with your true self. You now remain freely in God, being completely selfless and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Calling for All

        Union with God is a calling for everyone. To think that you must be a saint first to attain union is placing the cart before the horse, for sainthood is the result of being in union with God. It is unthinkable that the Lord would say to anyone that he or she can never be a saint, for he can turn a stone into a saint if he so wishes. Since to be one with him is precisely his most ardent desire for us, he shall answer our prayer to achieve that without delay!  

Jesus, the Burden Lifter

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me . . . and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." Jesus was speaking the truth. His yoke becomes easy and your burden, light, that's because when you go to him for rest, he will make everything easy for you. Seeking union with him is the ultimate route. It's a choice between letting the Lord lighten your burden or carrying it all by yourself.

Top Priority

        Most parents love their children very much. They normally give them more attention than to their own parents. But it's "Honor your father and mother" that's one of the Ten Commandments. Without parents, no one would exist. Without our Father in heaven, none of us would be here. Therefore, "Honor our Father in heaven" should be our #1 priority. 

Better Believers

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus praised the Father for having hidden things from the wise and the learned and revealed them to the childlike. In general, it is harder for a Ph.D. to believe in God than a less educated person. The Ph.D. would think that he has the knowledge, the analytic power, and the know-how to find answers on his own, while the not-so-learned one is ready to trust in anyone who promises to help him. The wise and learned will do fine in research or finding facts, but their approach will not work in looking for God. The childlike are no doubt the better believers. We can and should learn from them.  

Eternal Punishment Is Real

        Today's Gospel reading came from Matthew 11. Jesus reproached the towns Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, for he had done mighty deeds in the midst of the their townspeople and they had not repented. Thus, they would be judged severely on the day of judgment. Eternal punishment is real as eternal life is. If you live casually, believing that somehow everything will end OK, you are living in fantasy. If Jesus does not shake you up, you are pretty much a goner. Not all religions are the same, for there can be only one whole truth. Is there no point in Jesus' Incarnation? He was quite specific about how we should follow him to gain eternal life. The time to be realistic is now, before our span on earth expires. Not knowing how brief that span is only adds to the urgency.