***Know God 1st, Then Enjoy the World

        This world we live in is like a big amusement park. It is filled with attractions to get your attention, to appeal to your senses. Some people can't even live without listening to loud music at all times. Materialism, consumerism, commercialism dominate our lives. We learn to get ahead of others, so I doubt many people would understand what humility is. We have a world of "egomaniacs" looking for amusement for themselves. I am not even mentioning the seedy side of life. Anyway, the world is full of shallow people who do not even know themselves. To acquire depth, we need to take time out to look into ourselves to learn what we are first. This is getting in touch with our own soul so that we can get to know God, who can only be known at this level. Immersing in this world cuts us off from ever knowing God and that makes a great tragedy! So here's another of my wakeup calls: Know God first, then enjoy the world in freedom.

**Ultimate Challenge

        We are all more of less adventurous in different ways. We want to challenge ourselves physically and mentally. Traveling to explore new places and studying for a higher degree are common choices, but some would want to scale Mt. Everest, sail solo across an ocean, or even perform daredevil feats at the risk of losing their lives. May I challenge each of you to place your trust in God entirely? Nor only you won't put your life at extra risk, the unique excitement you receive on this adventure will be long-lasting and spiritually refreshing, remembered by God forever.

Feeling Good in Freedom

        When we do something well, we feel good. Watch a musician who has performed well, a student who has successfully passed an exam, a scientist who has made a great discovery, or an athlete who has broken a record. I myself had always felt good after finishing building a piece of furniture in my younger days and am still happy today whenever I am able to capture a nice image with my smartphone. Then there is the happiness and satisfaction you experience after God has entered your life and succeeded in transforming you in many ways. So how does this "feeling good" differ from all the others? Well, when you are on your own, feeling good is short-lived and feeds your ego each time, while the good feeling given to you by God is long-lasting and actually frees you from your ego. Therefore, know God first and you'll enjoy all good feelings in freedom.

*Fear of Death No More

        Do you ever joke about your own death? If you know you are returning to God, you lose all your fear of death and don't care about how much longer you live anymore. This is part of how God sets you free. To die or not is no longer of concern. Now, joke about your own death all you want.

To Be Weak in God to Be Strong

        If you feel that you are weak in any respect, rely upon God even more. Then you become strong in him and you'll be able to overcome all your weaknesses. The Lord loves to help those who humbly acknowledge their weaknesses and seek his help. 

**Our Greatest Relief!

        Today is Holy Thursday and no morning Mass was offered. Realizing this last night before I went to bed, I felt relieved that I could just go to sleep and wake up the next morning anytime I want to. Of course, I am not saying that I don't like attending Mass – I am merely saying that anytime some restriction is removed, we just feel relieved. Then I thought of our greatest relief. When we get to know the Lord intimately and become one with him, we and God become inseparable, meaning that nothing can prevent us from going to heaven anymore. What a great relief! With Christ, things can only get better. 

**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.