*More on Either You or God*

        A beloved good friend just passed away and the church is getting ready to hold her funeral tomorrow. This got me thinking that we all live a relatively short life, so does how things go in our life really matter that much? We can want things go our way or God's way. To get to the point, we can choose to serve either ourselves or God. What's so beautiful about serving God is we get liberated from it! If you choose to serve yourself always, I don't have to tell you that you won't die happy, let alone how you would feel in your afterlife.  

*Either You or God

        Submitting yourself to God is the key to peace and freedom. You cannot serve yourself and God at the same time! Very clear.

**How Well You Know Your Savior

        In the Gospel reading from Luke 2, When Joseph and Mary brought in the child Jesus to the temple for his presentation, Simeon, a devout and righteous man in the Holy Spirit, took the child into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant die in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation." This brings up the question if we are ready to die in peace. We do not see our Savior, but certainly we can get to know him well. This is the test: If you are not ready to leave this life yet, you certainly do not know him well yet.

Rejoicing in the Lord!

        Today is Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The Response came from Psalm 24: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord. Anytime we recognize that it is the Lord, our heart should leap with joy. For it the Lord who loves us, who has redeemed us from sin, who wants to us to return to him in heaven, who is sustaining our life at this moment, who yearns to be one with us, who wishes to free us by forgiving my sins to make us clean, who can give us peace and joy, and so on and on. Let us recognize our amazing Lord and rejoice in him with great thanksgiving.

*In Each Other

      It is most helpful to be aware that Jesus dwells in your heart, serving as your personal guide. But it is equally helpful to be aware that you dwell in him, serving as your protector. Nevertheless, to be in each other is to be one in union, with benefits galore. 

R.I.P. Now

       Communion experience. R.I.P. is the abbreviation for "rest in peace," usually found on gravestones or in obituaries. But why wait until you are dead to rest in peace? Why not start resting in the Lord now? After receiving Holy Communion, I experienced profound peace when I rested in Christ.

Freedom awaits Us!

        This morning at Mass after the consecration of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, we all said the memorial acclamation: "Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free." I realized that God had already set us free! The door for leaving our prison is wide open. So do we want to remain where we are or step right out into freedom?

More on Union With God

        A sinner seeking union with God is analogous to a patient with a tumor seeking surgery. A sinner who prays hard and resolves not to sin again on his own is analogous to the tumor patient who eats right and rests enough, hoping that the tumor will go away. The sinner who seeks union with God to resolve his problem with sin is analogous to the tumor patient who goes to the surgeon to get his tumor removed. For the sinner it is a case of how much he chooses to depend upon himself or God.  

Asking for Authority

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 6, the mission of the Twelve began. Jesus sent them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. It struck me that we could ask the Lord to give us authority while serving him. With authority we can more effectively spread the good news and witness for him with great courage and confidence.

**Eureka Moment*

        Deciding to follow Jesus is only the beginning of a new exciting journey. It is in seeking union with him that the most exciting part of the journey begins. That is because you find out that the Lord can actually transform you step by step into a new creature, taking away your desire to sin and your struggle to become holy. You finally stop rebelling against him to let him do all the work to form you. It's a eureka moment, although it could take a while to get there, depending upon how readily you submit yourself to him. (Seeking union with God is the same as opening yourself up to God, putting all your trust in God, or abandoning yourself in God.)

**Union or Rebellion

        If you are not in complete union with God yet, part of you still wants to do things just for yourself. Only when you are in complete union with God, you want to do things for God and yourself, for now the two wills are one.

Enjoying the World Freely

        After you get to know God as well as possible, you are ready to enjoy the world freely (without attachment). 

**Proof Jesus Is God

        Any of us mortals does not have a clue as to whether we can or will come back to earth again after we die. In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly mentions his own coming again. This also proves to me that Jesus is indeed God.

**Never Lead God

       When we rush ahead of the Holy Spirit, we lose peace. Therefore, always follow God in all things patiently to let him accomplish his will in his time.

**Learning From God

        Romans 8.28: All things work for good for those who love God. I can elaborate to say that all things that happen to those who love God are lessons from the Lord to teach them to become like him.

Are You His Sheep?

        In John 10.27, Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me." The sheep always hear the shepherd's voice and follow him without hesitation. If Jesus is your shepherd, you would respond the same way. If you are still reluctant to follow him, then you are not quite his sheep yet.

**Learning to Be Humble*

        Today, very few of us are willing to listen to others, for we are so used to exalting ourselves and not wanting anyone to tell us what to do. Again, the Lord made me see clearly that all the disorder and unrest of the world and in us are caused by our lack of humility. Even as we grow spiritually, we tend to think less of those who are less advanced, and we are back to the lack of humility. The cure we need must come from God. Surrender to him completely so that we can become like him, and we'll be humble like him. 

Anticipating Death

       When you are young, you don't think about death, even though you know well that it is inevitable. It is being farsighted and realistic to prepare for anything that's inevitable in coming. Therefore, it is wise to be ready early for facing your eventual death.