Actually, God is simple and straight and we are the complicated ones. He has laid out the simple and straightforward plan for us to go to him in heaven, yet we make it labyrinthine because we do not listen nor obey. What a sad bunch we are!
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Ready for Leave
Communion experience. Since Jesus and I were already in each other, I was ready to go to him body and soul, leaving everything behind.
Miracle on the Altar
Today at Sunday morning Mass, I realized that every time I attend Mass, the most wonderful miracle takes place on the altar when the consecrated bread and wine transform into the body and blood of Christ. I do not witness the change, but Jesus blesses those who do not see and still believe (John 20.29).
Empty Love
Love for God not translated into loving action is no true love, for we are judged by the fruit we produce.
*To Be a Fool
In the parable of the rich fool, the rich man planned to store up all his grain and other goods and then rest, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him,"You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?" To live as if you are going to live forever in this world is to be the greatest of all fools. It doesn't matter if someone calls you a fool, but don't ever let God do it, for he is always right.
Perfect Loving Father
Today's Gospel reading from Luke 15 included the Parable of the Lost (Prodigal) Son. For me and many others, this is the most beautiful and moving parable of Jesus, for it portrays the love of God for all of us so clearly as only someone who truly knows God intimately or is God himself can. Read and meditate upon the story to find out what a perfect loving Father we have and rejoice!
We Are VIPs
You hear "God loves us" said so often that it helps to see that it's really saying that "We are loved by one no less than God" so that we are important, valuable, and precious to one no less than God.
Flood Control by Us
The love of God flows like a flood and our heart is the floodgate. The trouble with most of us is that we do not open wide that gate to let God's love flood us.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Fighting Satan
Satan is an expert fisherman who tosses out bait to lure and snare human souls. If you take the bait, he will haul you in and you are in for a struggle. The loss of inner peace indicates that you have trespassed against the Lord. The proper action to take when you first sense the temptation is to nip it in the bud by running away to God immediately ~ never fight a temptation head-on. Once you are back in God, Satan no longer sees you. Remain in God always and Satan ceases to exist.
Making Jesus Our Foundation
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, Jesus talked about the two foundations. He said to the crowds, "Someone who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed." The lesson is clearly that we cannot have "all listen and no action"; we must do what the Lord commands to build a strong, firm foundation.
*Reality Check on Life
The people of the world either do not know God, or believe in him falsely, or know about the true God (the God of Abraham and the God who is Christ). Among those who know about him, many get to know him personally. It's fair to say that those who claim that they know him are at various stages of rebellion against God, for few become totally obedient. As long as one is not in complete union with God yet, he is, strictly speaking, still a rebel. Dare we say that life is all about whether we submit to God or not?
Friday, September 9, 2016
*Why Do We Make It Hard?
God has already loved us. So if we let him love us, we and God become one. It's all so very simple.
We Are No Judge
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, Jesus taught his disciples to notice and remove the wooden beam in their own eye first before attempting to remove the splinter in their brother's eye. Of course, the lesson here is that we are not to judge others. We are not even to judge sinners, yet there are many who still question or blame God, who is all holy, for various things. Sinners must realize their own state and their need for salvation or they are doomed.
Most Rewarding Experience
Our transformation by God into a new creature in union with him has to be the most refreshing, joyful, and rewarding experience we can ever have in this life, for it is all brought about by God.
The Jesus Effect
Why are so many Christians happy and eager to tell others about Jesus? I may feel happy after finding a good job or winning a free vacation, but there is no urge for me to tell others about it. My conclusion is that Christ has actually changed many of his followers into more loving and selfless persons.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
*Demanding Love
Jesus' greatest commandment for us is to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. Why? It's because he loves us so much that his joy will not be complete unless we love him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. Obviously, if God doesn't love us so much, he wouldn't mind how much we love him either.
Simple, Straight, and Clear
Communion thoughts. Today is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Communion verse was based upon Isaiah 7.14 and Matthew 1.21: Behold, the Virgin will bear a son who will save his people from their sins. I have a simple mind and see clearly that I am a sinner in need of salvation, and Jesus is exactly whom I need. There's nothing more to elaborate.
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