**Facing Problems in Life

        I thought my wife was on her way to full recovery after the kidney stone surgery, but suddenly she developed a fever with violent chills and had to be rushed to emergency. It appears to have been caused by an infection of the kidney. She's still having her urine tested and I'll know more about the exact treatment to be administered to her tomorrow. How do you handle things like that? I believe that whatever we do, we should do it for the sake of God. This way, however things turn out, we'll know it's his will. Of course, we are free to intercede, possibly affecting the outcome. But ultimately, we must accept the will of God. I don't know of a more appropriate way. Your prayers for her would be appreciated.

To Win with God

        Anyone who is in union with God knows that the Lord always works things out. Therefore, he does not get anxious nor ever reach the point of not knowing what to do. Getting ahead of God is playing the losing game. To win, you always follow God's lead.

*Guadalupe Confirms Revelation

        Today is Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Reading 1 came from Revelation 11. We heard read: "A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth." Immediately, the 1531 image of Our Lady of Guadalupe came to my mind. It shows the Blessed Mother having sun rays emanating behind her, the moon under her feet, and a black girdle around her waist signifying that she was with child. There are other signs in the image not that obvious, but what I could see confirms what St. John wrote in Revelation – pretty amazing.

**Falling in Love with God

        Falling in love with God is different from falling in love with any other human being. All love starts with a sense of attraction, usually physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual. With God, the attraction is spiritual, then you discover that he, being your creator, can actually transform your heart and heal your soul to make you experience freedom, peace, and joy. Now you can't help but fall in love with him who is actually your most beloved Father. 

*Need for Praying Together

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 18, Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." It shows the importance of praying together. Most churches hold Bible study sessions, but lack a prayer group. Praying together will certainly draw you closer to God more effectively. By the way, Catholics should learn to pray spontaneously and not always read prayers written by someone else. After all, only you can express what is exactly in your heart.

**Fire and Water

        Today is Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, an incredible priest who showed his love for God at Auschwitz. May he inspire us to be as selfless and obedient to God as he was. The response to readings from Psalm 66 at Mass: Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire! God is not only fire, but also water. He is fire because he burns away our impurities and inflames our heart with zeal to serve him. He is water because he quenches our thirst and refreshes our soul. The Lord is good for us!

***To Live Passionately in Christ

        Benjamin Zander, the English musician, is currently the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. He gives interpretation classes to young musicians. I am impressed that he can make them play more passionately to liven up the music. Here is one video you'll enjoy watching if you like classical music. Of the ten violin sonatas Beethoven wrote, the "Spring" (No. 5) and the "Kreutzer" (No. 9) are best known. They are masterpieces for sure. Here the violinist and the pianists succeed in playing the first movement of the "Spring" as one. The music is filled with joy. My thoughts turn to  what we can do too: Living passionately in union with Christ as one to be filled with joy.

***Worth Dying For

        Communion experience. Unfortunately, all new churches built nowadays no longer provide altar rails and we simply receive Holy Communion standing and in the hand. But more importantly, how do we receive the Lord in our heart? Today I knew that I received the one worth dying for and who will raise me on the last day! 

Making It Easy for the Lord

         In Matthew 8, a centurion appealed to Jesus to help his paralyzed servant. When the Lord was ready to go and cure him, the centurion said to Jesus, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." Now at Mass we respond the same way before receiving Holy Communion by putting ourselves in the servant's place. Today I thought I wouldn't even need the Lord to say the word – I only need him to will it and I shall be healed.

*Be True Christians

        In John 1, Jesus saw Nathanael (Bartholomew) coming toward him and said of him, "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him." "No duplicity" – I love hearing that! In Matthew 5, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one." Therefore, let us be complete honest to God and to ourselves. Be genuine. Phoniness is from the evil one. Aim to please God alone, not anyone else. Then we'll be true Christians and sleep better too.

Hanging by a Thread

        Life on earth for all of us will end one day, as physical death is imminent. It's as if we are all hanging by a thread, a thread that can break at any time. What happens to us after that thread breaks is what we should be concerned about. The good news is that if you know Christ, that thread will never break and will in fact be used by him to pull you up heavenward to him in the end.

***Failings of the Church

      I came across this video by Brian Holdsworth today and his message resonates with me. If it's true that only 1/3 of Catholics believes in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, then the Church has failed miserably in teaching her members. This belief in the Real Presence is at the core of being Catholic. If a Catholic does not hold this belief, I don't think he should consider himself to be a Catholic. By the way, when all the submarine Catholics show up only at Easter and Christmas Masses, why don't the individual churches make it clear that Christ is truly present in the Holy Eucharist and that one should not receive the sacrament if he has not been attending Mass regularly?
     Brian also mentions the lack of reverence at most Masses and I agree with him too. We should worship the Lord as if we were at the Last Supper. Anything that distracts us from focusing on the Lord is out of order. I personally freak out a little bit when I receive the Holy Eucharist and see fingernails painted black or dark red holding forth the consecrated white host for me to receive. That's why I always chose to receive the Lord from the priest if possible. Also, music that sounds more like pop music is another distraction. I still remember the time a high school student was allowed to play the drum with the band and I got jumpy when I knew that a predictable big drumbeat was coming. There are many other things I can touch on. Anyway, believing in the Eucharist and showing proper reverence at Mass are of primary importance in making you a true Catholic.

***Lukewarm Catholicism

        Today's brand new video from Fr. Mark Goring. A great warning for us!

*Most Pleasing Prayer to God

        "Lord, make me holy for your sake."        

*God's Great Love

         I love the Father for loving not just me, but also everyone else equally. 

**Trusting in God with Our Burdens

        Communion experience. My heart had been weighed down spiritually by a number of heavy burdens, so I sought refuge in my Lord, as he was the only one who understood and could console me. This lead to complete abandonment in him. I see that God desires that all of us do this when we are burdened. Trusting in the Lord with all our burdens pleases him who loves us. 

***Fantastic God!

        Our God is our Lord, our creator, our master, our teacher, our counselor, our comforter, our healer, our father, our brother, our friend, our server, our confidant, and our soulmate! Whom else would you ever need?

Straight Path to Heaven

        In today's Gospel reading, Jesus also said, "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be." It's obvious that following Jesus will lead you straight to heaven. Attain union with the Lord now and your destination is assured.