Be Rich Soil for God's Word

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus explains the parable of the sower – the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word of the kingdom and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. How much we bear fruit for the Lord is directly proportional to how much we surrender ourselves to him to let him do the work through us.

Our Creator Acknowledged

        Coming home after Mass, I drove by a house what had a selling-fresh-eggs sign up front by the road. I thought of the perfect shape of an egg and was amazed that it was formed inside a chicken and came out so naturally. No matter how advanced our technology may be today, I don't believe we can easily reproduce a shell like that which is smooth and without a joint. This pointed clearly to the existence of God, the creator of all things and life. And we are special creatures with an everlasting soul, created in the image of our creator. We were made to understand good and evil, and have been shown the way to return to him in heaven. I should say that, thanks to our creator and Father, all things work out well for us.

*Growing Rich in God!

        Communion experience. In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus said to his disciples, "To Anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away." After receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, I felt that he was going to continue pouring heavenly riches into me. Unlike earthly riches that are burdensome, heavenly riches free and uplift the spirit.

Our Critical Test

      Christ has come and is now our crucial test. If we accept him, we'll have eternal life. If we don't, we'd be lost and wandering forever.      

*Rejoicing in Tears*

        Today is the Feast of St. James, Apostle. The response to readings from Psalm 126 at Mass: Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. It is such a beautiful verse, for it expresses my feelings toward Jesus. My heart weeps whenever I see how sins cause my Lord great sorrow, but at the same time I also experience the joy of knowing that I am in intimate solidarity with him.

***Feeling Free in God*

        Communion experience. I feel so good knowing that my Lord and God knows all my desires, my wishes, my thoughts, my problems, my secrets, my strengths, my weaknesses . . . all about me inside out! So good feeling free in the Lord, knowing that he is purifying and healing my soul to his heart's content!

Preparing for Meeting God

        Our demise is imminent. As we age, we must get ready for that day, the day of return to our creator. If you already belong to Christ and follow him faithfully, you'll know exactly where you are going and how you'll be received. No big preparation will be needed. If not, look into Jesus, for there can be only one truth. All religions may point to God, but only Christianity leads you to him.

**Becoming Related to Christ

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 12, Jesus spoke about his true family. With his mother and his brothers waiting to speak to him, he said to the crowds, "Who is my mother? Who is my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother."
        Here we see Jesus speaking as God. He sees all of us as God's children and reveals to us how we can belong to his true family. 

New Life After Death

        Communion thought at Vigil Mass, Saturday. With so many earthlings so alive in the world, but dead to God, I rejoiced that it was the perfect time for me to die in Christ after receiving him so that I might start living a new life in him.

Our Conscience, God's Gift

       [I haven't blogged the last 4 days because I left for Los Angles to visit my second son and his family. It was a good fruitful trip.] 

         Normally, we think, say, or do whatever comes to us, but there are times deep down we sense that what comes out is not from God, is in fact sinful. If our conscience is somewhat dull or even muddy, we just let it go and rather feel OK about it. But we will not enjoy inner peace. Knowing God well sharpens our conscience. By keeping it crystal clear, we can live a holy life enjoying inner peace.

Rely Upon the Lord Now

        In John 21, when Jesus signified by what kind of death Peter would glorify God, he said to him, "When you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do no want to go." It is true that when we grow old, we'll have to depend upon others to do various things for us. But the Lord is always present and will be the only one left at the end able to help us. The time to start relying upon him is now, not after we've grown old or when we are dying.

**Precious Childlike Joy

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus praised the Father for having hidden many things from the wise and the learned and having revealed them to the childlike. We can remember our childhood joy when we were free to play most of the time with not a thing to worry about, having our parents taking care of everything for us. If we become childlike to God, we shall experience such carefree joy. And that joy shall make us forget about wanting to sin again.

Way to Attain Union With God

        The Lord says in John 6.56: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. This is proof to me that receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist is the way to attain union with him.

Soul's Ultimate Achievement

        Letting God truly be your Lord (being in union with God).       

*Are We Bullheaded?

         It is Jesus who can make us see the truth, think right, see right, and act right. He is the exact guide and teacher mankind needs. And he'll even reward anyone with everlasting life who follows and learns from him. Yet, so few of us take him seriously. What's going on? Think about it.    

Key to Salvation

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus reproached the towns that were not repentant, Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, and warned that they would suffer consequences on the day of judgment. Why is it so hard for so many to repent? To be saved, one must realize that (1) he is a sinner, (2) hell exists, and (3) God loves him and wishes to save him. Then it's time to repent. If one's mind is clear and heart willing, he can accomplish all these things in a few seconds. Putting off repenting is putting the soul at great risk. 

*Life Without Christ

      Your future is certain when you know Christ and follow him. Otherwise, your life is a cliffhanger, for you do now know how it's going to end. I could also say that life without Christ is like hanging off a cliff – you may fall off it if you are not careful. Maybe you think that you are being brave, but I'd rather choose to go with Christ to be wise.  

**This Holy Feeling*

        I do not mean it to be feeling that I am holy. I mean it to be aware that the Holy Lord dwells within me, that he loves me, and that I belong to him entirely. It is such an awesome and beautiful feeling.