We all tend to believe in what we hope to be true and disbelieve what we hope to be false. When Dr. Scott Hahn and many other Protestant ministers first found that the Catholic Church might be the original church Jesus had established upon Peter, they all wished that it wasn't true and hoped hard that some learned Protestants would prove that they were right. When none were able to, they all converted and came home. A current example is given by those who support Trump and those who are against him. The former believe in everything that Trump does, while the latter bash whatever he does. When it comes to accepting Christ, those who hope that he is not the truth for whatever reason just avoid confronting him. So the Lord does not stand a chance if we do not start out being neutral. To be objective and openminded is absolutely necessary in seeking the truth, for otherwise you cut off any possible benefits you might receive, treating yourself unfairly from the very beginning.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Truth Sets Us Free
Communion experience. I received God! He set me free that nothing on earth could entwine my heart anymore.
*Love's Top Concern
The news of the deaths of so many people unknown to us around the globe, well-known personalities, and our personal friends and acquaintances hits us right and left continuously. In general, you hear about when and how they died, at what age, etc., but where did the souls go? We may not know, but it must be our concern. After all, the soul is the most important part of our being. If you love God, you must make saving souls your top priority.
On Chasing After Jesus
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 6, a vast crowd from all the towns went after Jesus, even rushing to the place where they knew he and the Apostles would show up. Maybe they were impressed by the miracles they had witnessed him perform. We chase after Jesus too. Perhaps not for curiosity or entertainment, but for more selfish reasons. At some point, we must think about giving part of ourselves to him if we ever wish to develop a meaningful relationship with him (see my last post). The breakthrough is reached when you give all of yourself to him ~ this sets you free from the past, putting you on the course to union with him.
*Greatest Relationship
God has already given us his own Son! To create any kind of relationship with him, there has to be mutual giving. And the greatest possible relationship is achieved by giving yourself entirely to him, and your cup will overflow.
Friday, February 3, 2017
True Freedom
Communion experience. When you are united with Jesus, all barriers between you and God vanish and you see others as Jesus sees them.
*Gruesome Realities
Today's Gospel reading from Mark 6 told about the death of John the Baptist. Briefly, King Herod at his own birthday banquet was so delighted by the performance of a dance by his own daughter that he swore he would grant her whatever she asks of him. She asked her mother Herodias what she should ask for. Herodias replied with "the head of John the Baptist," since she harbored a grudge against him and wanted him dead. The girl made the request and Herod was forced to keep his oath made before all the guests and ordered the beheading. It was a gruesome story. My thoughts turned to the killing and dismembering of the unborn in our abortion mills. These are equally gruesome acts, performed on a massive scale. (For a true horror story, read about Kermit Gosnell online. This former abortion-provider, having been convicted of killing infants that were born alive had been sentenced to life imprisonment. But it's the Supreme Court which legalized abortion in the first place. To rule legally that terminating the life of an infant outside the womb is wrong, but doing it inside the womb is OK, is ironic and done without any kind of conscience or even common sense.) Lord, please rescue us!
Thursday, February 2, 2017
**Freedom Is Yours!
The more you focus upon Jesus, the more you are free! This is true because Jesus was the one who took all our sins, placed them upon himself, and died for our salvation. If he could do all that, certainly he can free you from any kind of bondage. As a matter of fact, he has already freed you – you only need to realize it!
*Live-Die-Live-Die-Live*
We first came into the world to live. Then we find Christ and die in him. We are reborn and begin to live a new life in him. We die again and leave the world. Finally, we live with Christ in heaven for all eternity. Have you gone beyond the first stage?
***Union Is . . .
you and God doing the same thing to each other ~ you love him and he loves you; you trust him and he trusts you; you agree with him and he agrees with you; you listen to him and he listens to you; you serve him and he serves you; you exalt him and he exalts you . . . you dwell in him and he dwells in you.
**Living by Heart
If you can live for God by the heart alone without engaging the mind, then you have penetrated the heart of God.
*Recognizing the Fact
Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The Response from Psalm 24: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!" It is pure joy to hear "It is the Lord!" We should recognize this in all things that happen to us and at all times, and God will bless us abundantly.
*Most Beautiful Disposition
If you love Jesus, the best possible disposition for you to assume is to put your trust in him and not be concerned about how he is going to guide you nor what he is going to say to your heart, just letting him love you. To trust is to have faith, and nothing pleases the Lord more than having great faith in him.
*How God Shapes Us
When we submit ourselves to God, we do not become his slaves or puppets. In fact, we get liberated from ourselves! This is what all who are not with Christ yet need to know. Each of us is a unique being created by God of individuality with a particular disposition, so the Lord leads and shapes each of us in the way that suits and would benefit us spiritually the most. The result is that we become like myriad flowers, looking all different, but equally beautiful before God.
*Index of Spiritual Needs
If you ever felt that life was empty and that you needed something to fill that void – even for a brief moment, it's God calling you, letting you know that you need him!
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
*Be Reckless and Greedy
Reckless: follow Jesus single-mindedly with no regard to what people think of you. Greedy: ask Jesus for everything you can possibly have to make you holy and perfect. And you will be rewarded.
Original Sin Realized
The BBC's series on Planet Earth narrated by Sir David Attenborough is excellent, for it presents astounding footages on the various features of the earth such as mountains, caves, deserts, jungles, etc., with their amazing wildlife. It is nature at its best. While watching one episode, I saw how "unnatural" humans were, as if they shouldn't even belong on earth. We are the creatures that have turned our world into a mess, causing vast destruction of our environment and mass suffering among fellow humans. It was clear to me that the cause of it all was our rebellion against God, and the reality of original sin dawned on me. [Good news: The series Planet Earth II has come out.]
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