In today's Gospel reading from John 12, Jesus said, "Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observer them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak." I left out only the last verse. I feel that we must absolutely pay serious attention to whatever Jesus says, for he speaks the truth as God. There is none other like him. He is our most credibly incredible God.
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Saints Praying with Me
I had the chance to visit St. Antony's Chapel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, yesterday. It is the biggest reliquary outside of Vatican, containing over 5000 relics. Here's the website. I prayed to all the saints there to intercede for my intentions. As I prayed after Mass at my own church back home this morning, I felt that I was completely moved the Holy Spirit, for my thoughts did not wander in the least. And I did feel that those thousands of saints I prayed to were all praying with and for me. Indescribable peaceful feeling.
*Nothing More to Say
Communion experience. God has chosen me, called me. I now belong to him totally and am being taken care of by him for all eternity. What can I say but feeling gratitude and joy?
**Most Essential Joy
It would be most horrible to think that God does not love you nor want to save you. The God of Christ is our Savior, period. He wants to save our soul and desires us to live with him in paradise after we die. He cannot promise our happiness in this world, but he can promise joy in him – this is a big distinction. Happiness in the world does not guarantee eternal happiness, but joy in the Lord does. Have vision and patience and you will be rewarded with nothing short of God himself for all eternity.
Spreading the Gospel As Jesus Did
Christ has given us solid promises authoritatively. It is only a person with weak faith who would hope what Christ has promised will come true. Like the Lord, we can also spread authoritatively the messages he had already proclaimed with authority. The Holy Spirit is an emboldening spirit.
A Disciple's Perks
I resumed going to morning Mass today, which is the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle. The Gospel reading was taken from John 15. Jesus first said to his disciples, "Remain in my love." I thought of resting in his love, letting it envelop and saturate my whole being so that his love would not only protect me from evil but also guide and motivate me in everything I do – it was certainly a beautiful image. Then later Jesus said, "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last." Again, I was impressed by the fact that Christ had chosen me! Of course, he definitely had noticed me and given me my mission. Here's another cause for rejoicing.
**All Can Be Happy in God!
Some people are happy that I have found happiness in Christ and leave me at that; they congratulate me for being so lucky. Why should God say to some that you can be happy in me and to others that you cannot be so happy in me? That's just not possible? He can make all of us happy in him as much as we'll let him – this is the truth! When people say it's not for me, they are already shutting the door in God's face, not realizing that God can make you happy to your heart's content if you give him free rein! God is for all, not just for a selected few! It's nonsense to think that someone is created to be able to receive more happiness from God. Remember that God cares for each of us equally.
If You Want to Be Famous,
skip the world but serve God faithfully and you'll be well known to all in heaven for all eternity.
***How Wonderful Is God?
We experience God differently. But God remains wonderful forever and how wonderful he is depends upon how much you open up to him (how much you are willing to let him into your heart). To those who shares everything openly with the Lord, he becomes absolutely wonderful beyond words!
*To Love with God's Love
To love others is the Christian way of life. You don't have to like the people you love; you simply know that God wants you to love them blindly, not being dictated by any personal feelings. It's God's unconditional pure love.
***Call to Arms
Enjoying God aside, this is no time for complacency. We must put on the armor of God to fight evil in every way on every front and at all levels. There is no time to lose. Pray unceasingly from the depth of your heart, for the survival of many souls are at stakes. It's a fight for God's glory!
**Enjoying God on Earth
God is most enjoyable when you experience the oneness with him in solitude. No words need to be said; you and God simply remain in deep communion with each other, knowing that nothing in the world can possibly lessen this intimacy. It's pre-experiencing a bit of heaven on earth.
***Eternal Union or Separation
In the Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus said: "I give my sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand." This shows that those who belong to the Lord are already being separated from those outside the fold. If the latter does not become his sheep, that separation will become a chasm impossible to cross forever – a thought too horrible to contemplate.
**Making the Right Choice
In the first reading from Acts 13 last Sunday at Mass, we heard that the Gentiles who were destined for eternal life came to accept the word of God. Are you destined for eternal life? Accept the word of God and you can be so destined too. Rejecting it is to condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life (verse 46). God offers us choices. Are we being smart or stupid? Know that if things do not work out, God is not the one to blame. We cannot avoid being imperfect, but we can definitely avoid being stupid.
**Most Beautiful Process
Peter denied Jesus 3 times, but he loved Jesus, and the Lord forgave him. This is a most beautiful process that can happen to us: we sin, we love the Lord, and we are forgiven.
Love and Trust, Inseparable
You cannot love a God in whom you have no trust, and you cannot trust in a God for whom you have no love. Therefore, to love God and to trust in him are the same.
To Live Gloriously or Miserably
(1) We do good, believe in the God of Christ, and are heaven bound – this is living the glorious life!
(2) We do evil with no faith in the God of Christ and find the pleasures of the world never truly satisfying, not realizing that they are the only reward we are going to receive – this is leading a most miserable existence.
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