*You Matter to God

        You matter a lot to God.  Everything you do matters to him, because it affects you whom he loves.

**We Have Heard from God!

        From John 15.15, today's Communion antiphon: I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father, says the Lord to his disciples. Since we have heard from Jesus, we have heard from the Father. In short, we have heard from God, everything we need to know. Time to rejoice and celebrate!

Brief Guide to Living the Christian Life

        Today we celebrated the Memorial of St. Barnabas, Apostle. The Gospel reading was Matthew 10.7-13 on Jesus' commissioning of the Twelve. Rather than quoting the verses, I'll just summarize by saying that Jesus instructed the Apostles to (1) proclaim the Kingdom of heaven at hand, (2) do the works of mercy, (3) travel light, not taking any money nor supplies, and (4) look for a worthy person and stay there, letting their peace come upon the house. Verse 14 was not in the reading, and it reads: "Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words – go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet."

         These instructions also make a good guide for us. That is, we should (1) spread the good news of salvation every chance we have, (2) love all our neighbors, (3) be detached from material things, and (4) based upon verse 14, let God, not us, take care of those who would not follow him – this may seem heartless on our part, but we must place our trust in God the most.

**On Accepting Oneself

       It is important to know and accept who you are and what you are. Never compare yourself with anyone else and imitate the Lord Jesus only. To ensure your own happiness, reconcile yourself to yourself and to God first. Whether you are strong or weak, it is not relevant, for God often choose the weak to make strong. He can use you as you are and mold you into the right one to serve him according to his will.

**Our Most Satisfying Bond

        Shuan Hern Lee of Australia, age 16, just won the First Prize at the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition in Dallas, Texas. Both his parents are pianists. Their dedicated support of their talented son over the years has contributed to his success. You can see the close, loving relationship between the young pianist and his father in this old video made when he was 8. I post this video to show how common interest in something like music can strengthen the bond between a parent and his child. Of course, the greatest bond between two people is formed when both love God equally and share this love with each other. This goes beyond family relationship and any affinity at the physical, emotional, or intellectual level. Short of finding such an ideal person to bond with, we really only need to seek union with God to enjoy the most satisfying bond we can ever have!

**God Our Only Candidate . . .*

        Communion time thoughts. To become one with someone, that person has to be God. For it is impossible to attain union with anyone else, as no two persons can be completely compatible. I suppose if both of them are in union with God, then it follows that they are in union with each other too. But still your firsthand union with God would be more perfect. Union with God is possible because God is able to transform you to make you compatible with him. By the same token, I can say that God is the only one who can truly be our soulmate.

**Praying for Ourselves First

        We pray to God constantly for our government leaders, the Holy Father and our bishops, our own communities, world peace, those who are sick or need help, etc. Yet what is lacking and needed is asking God to draw us close to him to make us holy. Perhaps it's because looking at problems around us is so much easier than looking at ourselves. Yet peace in the world must start with each one of us, for if we all become holy, there will be peace within and also without us. So let us pray for ourselves first before praying for others. Otherwise, we may appear to be somewhat hypocritical.

***Most Loving Spirit

        Communion experience. Evil spirits take full possession of one's faculties and will, but the Holy Spirit simply unites with us in God's love. This is the Spirit in whom I can live and die at the same time, for he forever renews me.

***Glory Be to the Holy Spirit!

        On this Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to us who follow the Lord. The Spirit is gentle and meek, yet most powerful, for he can do anything without us, and make us anew if we open up to him. He is our greatest teacher, revealing God's ways and thoughts to us. Being receptive is the key to experiencing him. Then you will know that he truly dwells within you, guiding you every single moment. It's in submitting to the Spirit that you get to taste the sweet peace of the Lord and the joy of heaven. By the way, he is instrumental in bringing about our union with God. Glory be to the Holy Spirit, our constant companion!

**Two Big Words

        The Gospels show that Jesus said to all his disciples: "Follow me." "Three Little Words" was a very popular song that came out in 1930 and those words are "I love you." Here Jesus' two words can absolutely change our lives! It'll be too long to list all the benefits you get, but I'll just say that following Jesus will, in the abstract, set you free, and in the concrete, lead you straight to heaven.

How God Relates to Us

        Today's Gospel reading came from John 21. John referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. He's also the one who reclined upon Jesus' chest during the Last Supper. I know that Jesus loves me also and can consider myself as a disciple whom Jesus blesses abundantly. It would be interesting to consider how the Lord specifically relates himself to every one of us.  

**Greatest Revelation*

        Aside from putting God's plan of salvation into effect, Jesus came into the world to demonstrate how great his love is for us. That God can love us so much has to be our greatest revelation!

Readied for Restoration

        During the liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass, we all pray the Lord's Prayer before the breaking of the bread. This morning when I prayed that from my heart, I felt that God reset everything about me that had been misshapen or was out of place, my mental attitudes included. Then I was ready to receive the Lord in the Eucharist to be healed and made whole.

***Means to Holiness

        Tell someone to be holy and he wouldn't know what to do. Tell him to seek union with God and he will be holy.

Following Whom You Love

        In today's Gospel reading from John 21, Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" Peter's answer was yes each time. And Jesus said to him, "Follow me." So, if we love Jesus, we must follow him. If we don't follow him, then we really do not love him. 

**The One to Turn To

        He is the God of Christ. Here's why. He created us. He knows us and loves us. He can heal our soul. No one else can save us from sin. All things are possible with him. Let's face it: without him, we are basically alone, helpless, and lost.

**Only One to Live For

        Without God, we look for whatever we can live for. In the worst cases, we become addicted to impure worldly pleasures. Then there are those who live for the work they happen to enjoy. Artists live for their arts such as painting and music. In all cases, when their life is over, there'll be nothing left for them to live for. If they had tasted God, they would have found that he's the one to live for, as the joy of knowing God intimately, far above the level of any temporary satisfaction you can find in the world, is the ultimate fulfillment beyond our understanding. When your life is over, you'll still have God to enjoy forever. This is how he has made us, so don't fight it.

Big Load off My Shoulder

       At the breaking of the bread today, as usual I heard the priest proclaim: "Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world . . ." I was hit by the realization that this huge problem of mine has been solved by God – the problem of what to do with my sins.