In today's Gospel reading from Mark 16, the Resurrected Lord appeared to the eleven and commissioned them to go into the world to proclaim the gospel to every creature. He said to them, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." I am struck by the severity of the second half of this saying. It it is true, the majority of us today will be condemned. Perhaps this is justified because God's mercy is so great. But as long as we do believe, we won't have an issue. This is good enough for me.
Saturday, January 25, 2020
*Conversion Needed for All
Today is the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle. As you know, Paul started out as a leading persecutor of those who followed Jesus. And he was converted by tho Lord in a most dramatic way. What a blessing! Our conversions may not be so dramatic, but every conversion is a great blessing. How you are converted matters less; it's whether you are converted or not. Cradle Catholics need to experience an interior conversion too if they are to serve the Lord effectively. Our highest goal should be to attain union with God to complete the ultimate conversion.
*God Needs Our Response
Paul writes in Galatians 2.20, "I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me." We must all be aware that the Lord loves us and has given up his own life on earth for us! We are very special and must respond to him in some way if we are humane at all.
**Smart Realization
Do whatever you want to do, but just do not offend our Lord God. For if you do, you just condemn yourself.
Friday, January 24, 2020
Allegiance-Switching Time
Communion experience. It's time to let the world go and focus upon storing up treasures in heaven in whatever remaining time left in this life. The sooner the better for all of us to realize this.
*Being Open to God a Must
God has a plan for each one of us, whether you know it or not. To learn about his plan, we must be open to him, for we can do nothing without him (John 15.5). There is a role for us to play in life, and to play it right, we must let God direct us. Today's Communion antiphon, John 15.16: It was not you who chose me, says the Lord, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last. To let the Lord choose us to go and bear fruit, again, we need to open ourselves to him.
*Starting with God First
If we can relate to God perfectly, we'll be able to relate to everyone and everything in the world perfectly too. If not, we mess up our lives. It's that simple. Start with God first to get everything else right, for he who made us knows us best. Let him be your teacher or better yet, your soulmate, then you'll live the most rewarding life on earth.
***How to Know God in a Nutshell***
The God of Christ is always open to us. If we do not feel his presence or hear his voice, that's because we are not not completely open to him! We are the ones to blame! If you are truly open to him, 100%, you will know him to be the Lord and the truth with absolute certainty, for he is the one revealing everything to you. Then you are set free forever!
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Biggest Blessing of Each Day
Communion experience. I felt so happy and blessed that I was called to the Lord's supper daily. Quoting from Psalms 23.5, You set a table before me; my cup overflows.
*Stop Being a Fool
If Christ is real to you, then you should live as if he is present with you at all times. So if you are still not completely open to him, not willing to let him know everything about you, then you are still running away from him. This is fooling yourself, thinking that you can fool him. Again, seek union with the Lord first so that you'll be wise and not be foolish ever.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
**Tip on Making Spiritual Progress
When we first search for Christ, we need to use our head to learn as much as possible about him. Once we are intellectually convinced that he is the one worthy to be believed in, it's time to make the leap of faith and accept him as Lord and Savior. From this point on, we don't need to intellectualize anymore; we should just try to believe in him without question. Now, to make the most rapid spiritual progress, we need to switch from head to heart completely. It is the heart that can move the Lord's heart and capture him. Union with him would be impossible if you don't offer him your heart.
***On Our Way to Meeting God
We may not hear a clock ticktocking or a drum beating in the background, but as sure as the sun will set, we are marching on our way to meet God, our maker and judge. Consider that to be an interview and it will be the most critical interview of your whole existence. Have you thought about the kind of questions you might be asked? What may you want to say to him? It's best to think about and prepare for all this as early as possible. If you put it off until the last minute, you may not have any time left at all. I am dead serious (while I am still alive).
**God Making Your Life Easy (clarified)*
I have always said that the fast track to making your life easy is to let God do all the work for you. Of course, I am not saying that you sit back and do nothing. What I mean is that you now submit yourself completely to God, trust him with everything, and let him guide you in all that you do. While resting in him, you'll find everything super easy to perform with no anxiety nor stress. It becomes God doing his work through you. By the way, this is how you become holy too.
*Trembling Before God
Communion experience. Sometimes we cry out of joy or because we are sorrowful. We also tremble out of fear or when we feel overwhelmed and most grateful. Today after receiving Holy Communion, I trembled, feeling the latter way. So awesome that the perfect, infinite Lord should unite with the most imperfect, finite me. It's all real and miraculous!
Getting Along with God
Today I feel that pleading for mercy from God is most appropriate for us to approach him. It shows that we need him to save us from death and that we are completely at his mercy. Of course, we also know that he loves us and that he shall save us when we submit ourselves to him. All works out well.
***Most Precious Blood of Jesus!
The thought came to me during Mass. The Lord shed his own blood to save us! It is a monumental deal!
That's why for us, his blood is so precious. We even get to drink it during the liturgy of the Eucharist. You can't help feeling good that the Lord God should love us so much!
**Love to Be Our Weapon
In today's first reading from 1 Samuel 17, we heard how David challenged Goliath. In those days, the Israelites went up against their enemies by fighting them physically with weapons. But Jesus had come and revealed himself to be love, demonstrating to us that we are to fight our enemies spiritually with love always. Love to be our weapon—a revolutionary idea, but ultimately the right solution. In the Gospel reading from Mark 1, Jesus cured a man with a withered hand on the sabbath. Again, he let love override the established rule and proceeded to do good by restoring the man's hand. Follow Jesus and you follow love.
***Prayer to End Abortion
Today is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. At Mass we all recited this prayer to end abortion by Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life. Please join us by saying this prayer or any of your own. God bless you.
Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion,
Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son.
I am ready to do my part in ending abortion.
Today I commit myself
Never to be silent,
Never to be passive,
Never to be forgetful of the unborn.
I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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