*Living the Free Way

       On January 27, I mentioned in a post that a friend of my son was in danger of losing his life at a medical center. Yesterday he passed away. He was only 57 and his death was thought to be caused by a flu virus. As I have said, all of us are just passing through. Therefore, we should live a detached life. This does not mean that we do not enjoy life anymore; it only means that we enjoy life in the proper, free manner. See yourself as one journeying through earth back to God your creator. Along the way, there are many things that are not sinful to enjoy, but you move on, no lingering, just enjoying them along the way. This is living in freedom, with the sole aim of returning to God to enjoy him alone for all eternity. Getting attached to earthly enjoyment can totally thwart you from attaining your greatest possible enjoyment. 

Faith Necessary

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 7, a Greek woman begged Jesus to drive an unclean spirit out of her daughter. Jesus tested her faith and she passed, and the demon went out of the daughter. Our faith is important to us, for it is needed for God to save us. Faith is basically obedience to God and a strong, unswerving, unwavering faith is a beautiful thing. God looks at our heart, but tests our faith. With a clean heart and a solid faith, we are well equipped for returning to God. 

Getting Back to Our Creator

        Reading 1 at Mass had started with the story of creation from Genesis. Today we heard the creation of the woman. It seems that if you believe that God has made you, you would instinctively want to find and get to know him as a child would his/her natural parents. But often the distractions of the world deaden that instinct. Know that this instinct, apart from the conscience, is God-given. Anyway, also know that God is ready and eager to get reacquainted with us, for he had know us from the very beginning. 

Appreciating Jesus

        Looking back, I see knowing Jesus as the greatest awakening of my life, a spiritual breakthrough. I did not realize this at the beginning, but the more I got to know the Lord, the more this became clear to me. And I anticipate that he will keep amazing me even a lot more! Without him, I would be lost in a lost world. With him, everything has turned "topsy-turvy" in the most beautiful, glorious way.

*What to Watch Out For

        Many older folks fall and are never the same again afterwards. Even if no bones are broken, recovery could take a long time. What they (myself included) should do to always be aware of the steps they take, the surface they walk on, and the surroundings. If it is dark, turn on the light or don't go there if you can't see. And don't be rushed by anything. Patience and calmness are needed. But for all of us, there is more to watch out for. We should be aware that we do not sin in thoughts, words, and deeds. Sinning is much more serious than falling physically. While the latter affects us only in this life, the former determines our existence for all eternity. 

*Christian One-Liners

        Christians have been sharing these one-liners via email. They are well written and some of them even make you chuckle. 

• Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
• Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers. 
• It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
• The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close... & fleas!
• When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.
• Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever.
• Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
• We're called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
• God himself doesn't propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
• Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
• Peace starts with a smile.
• Be ye fishers of men. You catch 'em – He'll clean 'em.
• Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
• Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.
• Forbidden fruits create many jams.
• God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
• God loves everyone, but probably prefers 'fruits of the spirit' over 'religious nuts.'
• God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
• He who angers you, controls you!
• If God is your copilot, swap seats!
• The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
• The will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.
• We don't change the message, the message changes us.
• You can tell how big a person is by what it take to discourage him/her.
• The best mathematical equation: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given. 😇

*More Than Touching the Cloak

        Communion thoughts. In today's Gospel reading from Mark 6, wherever the people heard Jesus was, they brought in the sick and begged him that the sick might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed. Recall that in Matthew 9, the woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touch the tassel on his cloak and said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured," and she was cured for her faith. Now, receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist is much more than touching the tassel on his cloak. Surely, if you believe and say to yourself, "If only I can receive the Blessed Sacrament, my soul shall be healed," receive it and you soul will be healed.

To Live in God or the World

        We must choose to live in God or not. To not live in God is easy, you simply live in the world. Only by following Christ can you live beyond the influence of the world. God always uplifts us by taking away our sins, while the world continually weighs us down with more sins. If you are weary of living in the world, it's time to turn to Christ who calls all who labor and are burdened to go to him and he will give you rest (Matthew 11.28).

Hearing the Lord

        As I woke up very early in the quiet of this morning, I acutely heard ringing in my ears ~ perhaps it's age-related. My thought was that I wouldn't mind losing my hearing, but one thing I do not ever want to lose is hearing the voice of the Lord. By that I don't mean actually hearing his voice audibly ~ I only mean that I hear it in my heart. By the way, one sign that your heart hears his voice is the possession of an extremely sharp (sensitive) conscience. 

Most Perfect Union

        Communion experience. The Holy Eucharist is absolutely essential in attaining the most perfect union with God.

Human Wisdom, an Oxymoron

        In today's 2nd reading from 1 Corinthians 2 at Mass, Paul advised his brothers and sisters to rest their faith not on human wisdom but on the power of God. Later we find in 1 Corinthians 3.19: "The Wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God." The fact that our world is in such disarray by believing in its own wisdom is indisputable proof that Paul was right. Bluntly put, when we think we don't need God to guide us, we are doomed. Only by humbly acknowledging our total dependence upon him shall we be lifted out of our wretched condition. Our best wisdom is to know that we are foolish without God.

Be Fair to Truth and Yourself

        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. 

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.

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!