In today's first reading from Ephesians 4, Paul advises us to live as children of light. The response that followed to Psalm 1 reads: Behave like God as his very dear children. What a high calling for us ~ to be obedient to God as his beloved children solely to please him! We are to heed his advice to be perfect as he is by imitating him. This behooves us to seek union with God, for it is through union that he can make all happen to fulfill his desire. The Lord has called, and the Lord can and will surely make it happen.
Monday, October 24, 2016
My Only Consolation and Joy
This morning, I felt that turning and praying to the Lord God is now my only consolation in this dark world. The Lord God is the only true joy we have. The entrance antiphon at Mass came from Psalm 105: Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face. This two verses echoed my feeling and what I was trying to do.
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Tapping God's Riches
Attended Vigil Mass at church. I realized that Jesus has riches inexhaustible that we can turn to him to seek and ask for them to our heart's content. God will give us whatever we need to magnify his glory. Let's take advantage of that with maximum trust.
Power of the Eucharist
Communion thought. If you have been attending Mass faithfully, believing that the Holy Eucharist is truly the body and blood of the Lord, and receiving this Blessed Sacrament for years, you should already be a saint by now.
No Better Feeling
We obey our parents at home, our teachers at school, or our boss at work; and feel good after we carry out what we're told to do, as if a burden has been lifted from our shoulders. Obedience to God is different because it involves the heart as well as the soul. Obeying God is obeying the one who can remove our sins, make us whole, and lead us to eternal bliss. That is why I can say that there is no better feeling than knowing that you and God are on good terms.
Sins Over Suffering
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 13, Jesus made it clear that there is no direct relationship between suffering or mishaps and sinfulness. That is, one who suffers much is no indication that he is more guilty (or holier for that matter). The important thing, he said, is that we repent in order not to perish. Which is saying that the soul is so much more important than the body and that taking care of sins should come before taking care of physical suffering.
Using Free Will Wisely
Satan is far and hidden, yet it's so easy for us to fall into his traps and be enslaved by him. God is immediate and ready, yet it's hard for us to submit to him to be delivered into total freedom. Realizing our sinful state and need for salvation can go a long way in heading ourselves in the right direction. Remember that God has given us the free will; use it to make wise choices only.
Friday, October 21, 2016
A Metaphor
Communion experience. I saw Jesus as a mighty current and we are all in it. If you are obedient to him, he keeps you afloat and you flow downstream securely and effortlessly to where he is heading. To rebel against him is to swim upstream against the mighty current on your own, resulting ultimately in fatigue and death.
Beware!
To allow abortion is to play God, the creator of all human life, thus placing your will over his.
On Changing Oneself
Some Christians say they cannot change themselves in any way, proclaiming that God has made them that way. They are right because no one can fundamentally change oneself. The real reason here is that they really don't want to change. If you truly want to change yourself for the better, just ask God for help, since nothing is impossible with him. To not do so is to not believe that God has any power over you, which is a sin. The secret of complete transformation is to abandon yourself in God to let him do the work, removing your personal struggle. What a beautiful way to soar, yet how hard it is to let yourself go!
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Doing More for God
Communion communication. I asked the Lord how I could do more for him. I heard him say, "Abide in me." My response: "Yes, Lord, I am yours." (We cannot do enough for God if we are outside of him.)
Awesome Responsibility
We are supposed to love God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our strength, and with all our mind. Accompanying this calling is the awesome responsibility to be holy. We must always do good and shun evil, instead of frolicking through life as is so easily done. Much is expected from those who have received much. And our reward will be great in heaven.
Connected With God
This morning I felt an intimate connection with God before Mass began. The entrance antiphon from Psalm 17 "To you I call; for you will surely heed me, O God; turn your ear to me; hear my words. Guard me as the apple of your eye; in the shadow of your wings protect me" depicted my feeling. Yes, God is immediate, here, now, ever present, and longing to connect with our hearts.
Godlessness!
I watched the presidential debate yesterday. To my horror, Clinton, who is pro-abortion, was OK with aborting an unborn baby at any stage of its development, even to the day before it's born! How godless can you get? The video "Timely Message" I just posted is now more important than ever for Catholics to watch and hear.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Christ Indwelling
Communion experience. When I saw the consecrated host raised by the priest, I saw Christ himself, who should enter me shortly. I had no choice but to want to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect.
More to the Point
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus asked his disciples to remain faithful, vigilant, and be prepared, for "the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect." We are familiar with the saying "Live each day as if if it were your last." Now, more to the point, it should be "Live each day as if it were your judgment day."
Of the World or Not
If you believe that Christ is your Savior, do you belong to him or still to the world? In John 17.16, Jesus prayed to the Father for all those he had given him that they do not belong to the world any more than he does. We are not free to embrace God completely so long as we are still partly of the world.
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