*To All Strangers and Aliens

        Today is the Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas. In the first reading from Hebrews 11, Paul wrote how the descendants of Abraham in seeking a better homeland, a heavenly one, acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth. Now, all of us did appear on earth at one time or another, so we are in that sense strangers and aliens here too. Besides, we who follow Christ definitely know that life on earth is just a stopover on our way back to the Father. Happy journey to all strangers and aliens!   

Life Is Winning

        Today, Vice President Mike Pence became the first sitting vice president to address the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C.  Listen to him and cheer!

*Solving Problem the Right Way

        I think that we all agree that running away from a problem does not solve it and that only by facing it can we hope to find the solution. The same goes for the problem of running away from God. It's only by facing God that you get to understand and correct it. 

*Receiving Life

        Communion experience. Certainly, without God, there would be no life. So today, I received Christ the life, the life eternal, the source of all life, the creator of life. What a momentous moment!

*Unique Cross

        If you love Jesus and see that some of your most loved ones do not even believe in him, you suffer the agony the Lord experiences himself whenever he sees a chasm existing between him and any of his children. How painful it is to be rejected by your own for whose sins you have died! This is a unique cross that we who love the Lord must bear. Our choice is to remain in sorrow or place our faith and hope even more in the Lord. I chose the latter and was rewarded with joy outweighing sorrow. 

God My Rest

        There are so many things, unsettled, disturbing, that rattle the peace of our minds. At the start of Mass this morning, I knew I was coming to rest my whole body and soul in God, who alone can provide me with his peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4.7).

*Settling Eternal Destiny First

        Right now, a friend of my son is in danger of losing his life at a medical center. One of my church friends just underwent surgery on his leg. I called a cousin of mine in New York and no one answered the phone. The last time it happened not long ago was when she was taken into a hospital for an emergency operation, so I hope that it's not the same thing again this time. Obviously, I am already an old person, but that's not the point. The point I want to make is "Believe in God now!" Put aside planning your dream vacation, buying a new house for your family, finding ways of investing your money to make more money, etc., and settle your eternal destiny first! Don't wait until the last moments of your life – do it when you are still young and healthy! Make the most important decision first before considering any other decisions. Closing pointer: Put God ahead of you to know the way; put yourself ahead of God to be lost.

*Creator Power

        Communion thoughts. Receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist stands as a landmark in my daily journey. It was of great consolation to realize that since the Lord God created me, he surely can correct, reshape, and transform me into a new creature that's pleasing to him. It's the power of the creator at the disposal of his creature!

When Do We Sin?

        We sin only when we lose sight of the Lord. (Seek union with God to be in his sight always.)        

*Playing God

      In this country, we have the left (liberals) and the right (conservatives) going against each other on so many issues. Both sides are guilty of distorting the truth and creating fake news. If the left plays God without believing in him much, the right plays God while claiming that they believe in him.

        Recently, Pope Francis had an interview with a Spanish newspaper on the day of Trump's inauguration and was asked what he thought about Trump. He said that he wanted to wait to see how he acts, what he does, before forming an opinion. Toward the end of the interview, the Holy Father added that the rise of any populist figure could be a cause for concern, citing Hitler as an example. He is making a point, but the moment I read that, I was quite certain that the right would seize upon this "undiplomatic slip" and accuse him of comparing Trump with Hitler. Sure enough, one popular Christian (non-Catholic) network on the right in a YouTube video called for all Catholics to leave their church and find Christianity elsewhere. This saddened me and almost made me laugh at the same time, for so many Protestants are ignorant of the fact that Catholics do not leave the Church just because the Pope or a bishop or their pastor is someone they don't like or is a sinner – the faithful remain with the Church because it was established and given to them by Christ to be guardian of the whole truth. Unlike Protestants, Catholics do not shop around for a church or denomination until they find one that appeals to them. Also, Protestants in general are not required to belong to any church and can even start a church of their own. By the way, I read one page of the comments on that video – the vile words and foulmouthed expressions used by the commentators were shocking in condemning the Holy Father and the Catholic Church. I just hope that they are not representative of the majority of the people of this country. What that presenter of the video did and caused was exactly what the Pope was concerned about. 

       For all Christians who wish to spread any kind of message in public, remember these two sayings. (1) When the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery to Jesus and were ready to stone her, Jesus said, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." (2) I say, "If you cause anyone to hate more and love less, that could not have been prompted by the Holy Spirit."

Going Beyond Minimalism

      Two guys, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known as "The Minimalists" are becoming increasingly popular. There is a documentary made about their Minimalism, which you can watch on YouTube. In it, they point out that the problem with society is compulsory consumption, which is acquiring things because that's what we are supposed to do. In their own words, they explain that Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life's excess in favor of focusing on what's important, so you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom.  

          This message is catching on with the public. I am posting it because I want to share a superior way that cures the problem at the fundamental level. Naturally, God is involved. Submit yourself to God completely and become detached to all things except the Lord himself. Then even if you are surrounded by material things, you enjoy your freedom. Besides, doing it for God's sake and not your own adds purpose and joy to your existence.

Communion Effect

        Communion experience. The Lord made me aware that after receiving him, he had made me a better person. All the Communion experiences can certainly create a cumulative effect. Praise be to God!

Eternity Is Timeless

        Time is not something you can see passing, not a clock ticking away . . . it is an abstract concept not easy to grasp. All I can say is that things happen in a certain order in time. Anyway, here is an awareness that makes me forget all about time for the time being: it is the knowledge that I'll be with God in heaven for all eternity. It must be that in eternity, time becomes obsolete.

Sign of Spiritual Progress

        We all have things we'd like very much to get done. But if you are OK with it in case you can't accomplish any or all of them in time or at all, then congratulations, for you are no longer being enslaved by them! 

*The Ideal God

        Wouldn't it be nice to have a God who is omnipotent so that nothing is impossible with him and also omniscient so that he personally knows about you and fully understands you? Wouldn't it be nice if he also loves you to death and wants to lead you to paradise to enjoy eternal life with him? To make that possible, with your consent he can and would even take away your sins. Such an extraordinary God turns out to be none other than the God of Christ, for he alone fits the bill. Now the good news – he is wide open to accepting new candidates to be heirs in his kingdom.

*Are You Bearing Fruit?

        Today's Communion antiphon based upon what Jesus said in John 15.16: It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. You bear fruit only when you do God's will. Know that the fruit you bear becomes the treasure you store up in heaven. Alas, most inhabitants of the world are fully occupied with doing only what they will to do. [I admit there are those who are intent on doing God's will, but are unfortunately misguided, for their work miss the true marks of doing his will, which are love and humility.] To not bear fruit is to waste your lifetime. If it dawns on you to repent in the last minutes of your life, you might still squeeze through the narrow gate to heaven, but taking such a chance is being foolish to the extreme. Of course, should you deliberately plan it that way, you'd be shut out for sure, for trying to fool God makes you the biggest fool of all time.

*Doing God's Will Smartly

        Think of God's will as a flowing river. Doing God's will is get in that water and float along smoothly and effortlessly with it. If you do not resist or panic, it will be easy and a joy. Again, God can make all you think is impossible possible. The secret is trust. Letting God do all the hard work for you is being truly smart (or wise if you prefer). 

Key Relationship

        Today is the Memorial of St. Francis de Sales. In the Gospel reading from Mark 3, the mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they asked for him through the crowd gathered around him. He said to them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" Looking around at those seated in the circle he said,  "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." Jesus made a big point as God speaking. All of us are equal before God as his children – and it's not how we relate to each other but how we relate to God that matters.