Understanding Unhappiness

        Not to get into the details, I had been unhappy about something I had been doing for someone, for it did restrict my freedom. So I asked the Lord about this at morning Mass and he made me see quickly that it was a case of helping someone and creating some inconvenience for myself. And I was OK with that. The lesson is that understanding what your unhappiness is all about can help you see that your unhappiness may be unjustified.  

**Gateway to Freedom*

        I know that when Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me," we can find it hard to accept. When I first heard it, I asked myself: Does that mean that I cannot do what I want to do anymore? and that I would be burdened down and perhaps even head toward martyrdom? Of course, I overreacted as a sinful human. Now that I know the Lord well, I can say that all the fear and concern were unnecessary. He has made everything easy and a joy, and made me see that this is precisely the way to spiritual freedom, leading to eternal life. Truth: Christ is the gateway to eternal freedom!

***Union for God Alone

        We can achieve union with God through his mercy. With saints, we can only be in communion, for they are fellow creatures and have no power over our souls. The most intimate union is reserved for God alone. Revere and cherish the Holy Eucharist.

Destructive Living

        God's mercy is infinite – if you submit yourself to him, you are saved. What is tragic is that people live with no or little regard for his mercy. They live the way they want to live, and this is living destructively. For they not only risk losing eternal salvation, they destroy their own peace and physical health in the process. The good news is that God can always turn us around if we let him. 

*How God Operates

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 4, Jesus calmed a storm at sea. His disciples with him in the boat were filled with great awe when they saw even wind and sea obey him. Here is the difference between God and us. When we try to tame something, we try to figure out a way to do it, thinking in terms of a method, a plan, technology, the laws of physics and other sciences, etc. whereas God merely wishes and it is accomplished. Our thoughts dash around in uncertainty, while the Lord knows everything and does all without effort. Understanding this can helps us trust in God even more readily. 

The Only One I Need

        Communion experience. The primary point of attending Mass is to receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. And the primary goal of receiving him is to attain union with him. I love the Lord because he's the one who can perfect me. He is truly the only one I need!

**Experiencing the Lord

        If you want to experience the Lord, ask and you'll have it. When I questioned the Lord about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in me, I received the gift of tears. When I prayed for Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Holy Scriptures became alive, and I felt exhilarated for months. I open my heart wide to the Lord and he deposits his voice messages directly in my heart. Yes, ask for zeal, ask for fire, and they will be yours too. Living in the Lord is living, while living in the world is drifting at best.

*Specially Blessed

        Before Christ came into the world, there were the Jewish people who had always believed in their one God and other peoples who did not know God or believed in other gods and idols. I know that since God can see what's in our heart, he must have judged each one of those souls justly. Nevertheless, I feel blessed that I came into the world after Christ. Now, I know all about God, his love, and how to get saved. Of course, we'll still be judged by our heart. 

*Best Policy for Living

       When a loved one of ours departs from this world, we easily lose our peace if we are not sure if he or she is going to heaven. For that matter, numerous other things get us upset. This points to our need to trust in and attach ourselves to God alone.

***Who Is Your Family?

        At morning Mass today, I knew that my "true" family are God and all his saints and angels in heaven. My family on earth is merely a temporary one I need for my existence on earth and to which I would belong only briefly. If you don't believe in God, you'll be absolutely left alone after you die. Think about it. 

**God Makes Things Easy

        Communion experience. God first enters us to be one with us, then he makes everything easy for us. What a terrific blessing! 

Power of God

        Today is Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle. Paul, the most notorious persecutor of those who followed Jesus, heard Jesus calling him, changed his heart, and became an Apostle. Here's the last person you would expect to convert. To me also, Jesus is indeed the Son of God. 

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.