**Best Way to Pray*

        Most Catholics are not used to praying spontaneously. They normally read or recite prayers already formed or learned, and there is a plethora of them for practically every occasion and every need. Since I was a convert from Protestantism and also involved with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement at one time, I feel a lot freer praying via my own words. I don't like to read others' prayers because (1) they are not my thoughts and may not impact me much, (2) they are often wordy and too general, while I prefer to be more specific and to the point, (3) sometimes when I read one, I have to figure out what is being said, making it impossible to focus upon the Lord at the same time. I believe God loves to hear what comes straight from our hearts the most and it doesn't even have to be said in words. If you only want to recite one prayer, it would be the Lord's Prayer, for it is fundamental and all-encompassing. Don't get me wrong – all other prayers are good. But when we ask God for this and for that, soon we lose track of what we ask for. Here is what I feel to be the simple, proper, and most expedient way to pray. You go to the Lord and open yourself to him, and he will see everything in your heart . . . all your needs spiritual or otherwise. Let him then transform you to make you holy. In short, seek to attain union with God is the best way to pray and to fulfill your spiritual aspirations.

***Being One With God

        God is everywhere, which means he can be in us too. You really cannot picture God in any physical way, since he is spirit. But you certainly can become so intimate with the Lord to know that he and you are in union as one, completely inseparable from each other in spirit! Now, he is immediate and always present. Where? How? It no longer matters.

**More Horrible Than Herod

        In Matthew 2, we read about the massacre of the innocents. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem to look for the newborn Messiah, king of the Jews. King Herod heard about this and was greatly troubled. So he called the magi secretly and sent them to Bethlehem to search for the child. After the magi found the infant Jesus with Mary his mother and did him homage, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. So they departed for their country by another way. When Herod realized that he had been deceived, he became furious and ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under. Of course, it was an atrocious deed done by Herod. But this crime becomes insignificant when you compare it to the millions and millions of innocent unborn babies being aborted nonstop in our nation alone over many decades and still now. Herod alone ordered the killing, while we have a vast number of people supporting abortion, resulting in its legalization by the Supreme Court of this nation! Who are the greater sinners? God will certainly reveal this in the end.

*Minding Our Own Business

        This means that we do not judge others and make sure that we are blameless before the Lord. We cannot do great good if we are not holy. Yes, we care about our own souls foremost. We respect the free will of everyone else's and care about their souls by loving and praying for them. After all, it always comes down to being between each one of us and God in the end.

**God Making You What You're Not!

       Do you wish that you can be bold in witnessing for the Lord? Do you wish to be on fire to serve him? Do you wish that you can be what you cannot achieve in becoming holy? Do you wish that you can do whatever God wants you to do? If all your answers are yes, then you are more than halfway there, for nothing is impossible with God. Just let him change your thinking so that you may see as he sees. Trust in him that he'll make all your wishes come true in time. Do not struggle on your own, but focus upon his power and expectations of you. Then he shall surprise you by accomplishing everything through you. And you'll experience the true freedom and joy in glorifying him. Bottom line: God knows all about you and can make you the best possible you for him and you!

Only Lord

        Communion experience. Christ is the only Lord and we need to listen to what he tells us to do. 

Lost Souls' Predicament

        Like kids who only want to have fun playing games, not knowing what they play could harm or even kill them, lost souls do what they feel like doing, not knowing what they do could make them lose their soul.

Roles We Play

           In today's Gospel reading, John 12.1-11, we find various kinds of characters we see in our present days. Jesus went to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him. 

            (1) Lazarus' sister, Martha, dutifully served the dinner, doing the work.

          (2) Lazarus' other sister, Mary, wanting to give Jesus the best, anointed the feet of Jesus with a liter of costly fragrant oil made from genuine aromatic nard and dried them with her hair.

          (3) The disciple, Judas the Iscariot, who was a hypocrite and used to steal the contributions from the money bag he held asked why the costly oil was not sold for 300 days' wages and given to the poor.

           (4) A large crowd found out Jesus was there and came, not only because of him, but also because they were curious about Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead.

         (5) Meanwhile, the chief priests were plotting to kill Lazarus too, for many Jews had turned away and believed in Jesus because of him.

            Everybody was busy doing his or her thing.

**Simple Truth

        God is the same yesterday, today, and forever besides being holy and perfect, so he cannot change to suit us. We are the ones who must bend or yield to God, for we are not all holy nor perfect. This is all it takes to bring peace to ourselves and hence the world. Recognize and accept this simple truth and you are set free. 

Jesus Most Endearing!

       Today's Response from Psalm 22: My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? These were also the last words uttered by Jesus in agony on the cross. It showed his human side. He was like us, except that he was perfect and without sin. Suffering so much for our sake – this is what makes me love him so much.

Do We Welcome Our Lord?

        Today is Palm Sunday. The reading at the procession with palms came from Luke 19. Jesus proceeded on his journey to Jerusalem, riding on a colt. As he rode along, people welcomed him by spreading their cloaks on the road. His multitude of disciples praised God aloud with joy. They proclaimed: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest." The Lord should be welcomed by us all into our hearts – this is what he deserves. There will be no peace and joy for us until we treat our Lord and King right.

**Letting the Past Go*

        If today you are happy in Christ, let go of all your past sorrows, for it was through those sorrows that you are lead to this day. If you are already in heaven, would you still brood over your unhappy times on earth? I don't think so. Always look forward to meeting your beloved Lord ahead.

How Alert Your Conscience

        With Easter approaching, we'll again see many who normally do not attend mass showing up at Easter Masses. So I see how we Catholics possess consciences at various levels of alertness. We have those who (1) attend Mass only to ease their conscience, (2) attend Mass regularly, but do not go to confession, (3) attend Mass faithfully and take confession seriously. Again, we must not judge anyone, but pray for everyone.

Do You Realize That . . .

if we address Jesus as Lord but do not obey him in all things, we are being hypocritical? 

**God Does It All for Me!

        Communion experience. Jesus died for all of us to save us, so he did die for me personally to save me. During consecration, when the Lord transformed the bread and wine into his own flesh and blood, I also knew that he did it personally for my sake. 

*Evil Ever Present

        In today's Gospel reading from John 11, the chief priests, the Pharisees, and the Sanhedrin conspired to kill Jesus. Today, just like in the days of Christ we have a political party conspiring to topple the duly elected leader from another political party. Of course, our leader is no Christ, but when you sin against anyone, you sin directly against the Lord God. For all evildoers and hypocrites, we must pray for their souls first, as only God can fundamentally change them.

**Hearing Directly From God

        Before Christ came into the world, the Lord God spoke directly to the prophets. Now, once we get to know Christ most intimately (as in union), the Lord God speaks directly to our hearts too. (This further strengthens our relationship with God. Indeed, to anyone who has, more will be given.)

*Joyful Living

        Live your life aimed at pleasing the heavenly Father and he will fill you with great joy!