Taking God Seriously

        Some of my regular readers must already know that I like piano music from reading my posts. I still attempt to play the piano, but with my weaker memory and bent finger joints, it has become quite a challenge (struggle). Anyway, I think of how a professional pianist would intensely prepare himself before going on stage to be sure that the audience will be moved by his performance. The pianist must practice hard to learn the music thoroughly beforehand and focus upon expressing himself and overcoming stage fear at the same time whiling performing. Then I think of how we approach God. Do we take it seriously? Do we have enough faith in the Lord? Do we pour out our hearts with the intention of moving his? Surely, pleasing God is a lot more important than pleasing an audience.

Holy and Happy

        One becomes holy when he completely dwells in the house of the Lord. And one is truly happy when he is completely happy in the Lord.

***Why Did Jesus Die?

        This is Episode 3 of the Alpha series, titled "Why Did Jesus Die?" You should watch it. If you have trouble forgiving others, definitely watch it. To forgive is to not judge – these two go hand in hand. So we should always forgive and never judge.

 

Getting Rid of Jealousy

        If you hear about someone you know who has gotten ahead of you say in wealth, popularity, or social standing, how do you feel interiorly? If your neighbor wins millions of dollars in a lottery, you congratulate him, but how do you really feel in your heart? If you still have a tinge of jealousy, then you are not completely happy with God yet. Jealousy is sneaky. Like ego, it can be deep-seated. Only God can remove it completely from you. Ask him to do that, so that you may enjoy peace.  

Discerning God's Thoughts and Ways

        This morning I realize that when we think that something is good, beautiful, or cool, God might think otherwise. Indeed, God's thoughts and ways are high above ours. For instance, some of those whom we regard as great heroes or leaders of the past might not even have made it to heaven. Therefore, whenever we are tempted to do anything, we must be sure that we won't go against God's will. It's a vigilance we need to practice in walking with the Lord.  

One Lifetime, One Eternal Destiny

        God is the fountain of life. How does he give us life? He creates us, sustain us while we are on earth, and gives us eternal life in heaven if we believe in him. How can we possibly brush aside this most wonderful offer and promise? If we destroy life such as that of the unborn on earth, we destroy our own eternal life. After we die, we'll have no more power to alter our course. We have only one limited lifetime to set our eternal destiny.

Our Nation's Horrendous Blemish

        Today is Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children (45th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade). Abortion has been the black, soiled stain on the soul of this nation. The infamous Holocaust, ethnic cleansing that took place in Asia and Africa, mass slaughtering of civilians by various invading nations in past wars, killings done by terrorists in the name of their caliph . . . are horrible enough, but the destruction of lives that are totally defenseless and innocent has to take the cake! Abortion directly violates God's Commandment "You shall not kill." It wipes out life which the Lord God has created! We cannot possibly follow Christ and support abortion at the same time.  

**All About Us*

        March for Life begins this weekend nationwide. After morning Mass today, a bunch of us started pounding dozens of white crosses into the ground in front of the church to commemorate the aborted unborn. After all the crosses were up, while driving home I felt the great sorrow that the Lord feels for this horrendous sin our nation commits against him. In that moment, the Lord made me see that we are basically creatures with a good heart, but because of the original sin we inherited, we become sinners when we are subject to temptation. All we need to do is to have God shield us from all temptations for us to remain sinless. Of course, given our free will, we must want to ask the Lord to protect us, which means that we must yield ourselves to him first. This is at the crux of the whole matter. 

*Preparation for Departure

        It is not a good feeling to know that you are not ready to die yet. It shows that you are still tied to the world and yourself and that you are not spiritually free. The Lord is not going to drag you into heaven if you are reluctant to go there. Therefore, voluntarily detach yourself from the world and yourself so that you may freely soar to God when he calls you. It might turn out to be quite a battle, but it's a battle you must win and you can absolutely win with God's help. Think of it as preparing for taking the happiest trip you'll ever have, which, of course, is true.

***Unbelievable Intimacy

        Communion experience. Each time I attend Mass to receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist, I am dining at his table with him serving me, giving me himself to consume as nourishment and the promise of eternal life. It's unbelievable and unbeatable intimacy and union!  

***Know God Now!*

        Jesus makes it amply clear in the Gospels that if we see him, we have seen the Father, that if we know him, then we know the Father, and that he and the Father are one. Therefore, know Christ and you don't need to ask where God is or who he is anymore. We now learn from the Lord directly!

***Going Directly to God***

         You believe in God and want to do your very best, that is, to give 100% of your effort, to serve him; but you will not get far if you do not surrender yourself to God completely first. This is something people do not realize (or do not want to face). I am repeating the same message I have said before in various ways because it is important. If you want to go extreme with the Lord, then set aside your concern, you own effort, yourself, and go directly to him to receive power directly from him. I am making it as directly as possible to you again.

**Out of Your Mind for Christ

        Today's Gospel at Mass consisted of just two verses from Mark: Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." I can understand that because one time when I showed my great enthusiasm in Christ, one of my relatives also thought that I was out of my mind (although he didn't seize me). I suppose that if you seem to have gone overboard for something others do not understand, you look abnormal or odd to them. At one time I did visit a nearby prison regularly to assist a deacon in his prison ministry and a nonChristian friend of mine just couldn't understand why I should spend my time doing that. Decades back, when I first read about Mother Teresa who had gone to India to devote her life to serving the dying and the poor, I almost thought that she was out of her mind. Well, know Jesus and you'll understand everything.

Praying in accord with God's Will

        I mentioned yesterday in a post that sometimes the Lord has his plan and what we pray for may not happen if it does not accord with his plan. But praying for the salvation of those you love is totally in accord with his will, as our salvation is his foremost desire. Therefore, do not be discouraged. Persist in praying for them and believe that the Lord will answer your prayer as you wish.

Ultimate Contentment

        Communion experience. I knew I had found my rest, good for all eternity. 

**Ultimate Acceptance

        This morning I got the news that a dear friend, a fellow parishioner, passed away at a hospital. She had heart surgery and was placed under intensive care. For the last two weeks or so, she remained practically unconscious and had to be sustained by machine. Many of us had been praying so hard for her recovery and healing, until this morning. The news hit us hard. What can I make of it? There is no doubt that God hears us, but he has his plan and knows what's best for us. We sometimes can sway him, but not this time. Did our praying efforts prolong our friend's agony? I doubt it. We can pray for what we desire, but ultimately, it comes down to accepting God's will. What we need to do before our time is up is to ask for what we wish, but always seek his will. We are not free until we abandon ourselves totally to God. Another reminder for us.

**How We Hurt the Lord*

        Again, on this Friday I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Jesus was hurt so much by those who falsely accused, scourged, ridiculed, insulted, and crucified him. Do you know that every time we sin, even though we do not hurt him physically, we likewise cause pain and agony to his heart? What basically hurt the Lord the most are ingratitude, not taking him seriously, hardened hearts, and disobedience. 

***Our Ideal Journey

        I see God as a wonderland for us to lose ourselves in, as it's an infinite space to explore, discover, and enjoy. Ideally, we should be aware of the Lord's dwelling in us and our dwelling in him and let the Holy Spirit initiate all our actions. Then everything will come forth from us naturally, following God's will. Of course, as humans, we always fall short. We fall asleep even as we pray or our thoughts wander even during Mass. Again, intention counts. I don't like to say that we should "strive" to be perfect, because the effective and right approach is to rest in the Lord even more, giving him the freedom to mold and shape us. This is taking advantage of the fact that nothing is impossible with him. Following Christ is truly exciting and relaxing at the same time. It's a unique journey.