Outside of China, Italy has been most affected by the coronavirus. The current lockdown has made Rome look like an abandoned city. During this Lenten season, I feel that the Lord is calling all Church leaders, beginning with the Holy Father, to publicly renounce their sins to inspire the whole Church to follow suit. If they can humble themselves like this, the Lord shall surely bless them and the whole Church abundantly. This is the way to avoid divine chastisement. For reinforcement, watch Fr. Goring's new video "Pachamama & Coronavirus" below.
Friday, March 13, 2020
***He Is Our Life!
I have stopped attending daily Mass for the time being, as coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the county I live in. This morning at home, as I was gazing upon an image of my Lord being baptized by John the Baptist, I saw so clearly that Christ is the life. In John 14.6, Jesus did say (to Thomas) "I am the way and the truth and the life." Indeed, the world without him is dying, but those who possess him have and will have life eternal without a shadow of a doubt!
Thursday, March 12, 2020
***If You Don't Listen to God . . .*
Also from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man, suffering torment in hell, begs Abraham to send Lazarus to his father's house where his five brothers lives to warn them, lest they too end up in the place of torment. But Abraham replies, "The have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them." He says, "Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent." Then Abraham says, "If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead." Now, consider us. Jesus, the Son of God, the Lord himself, greater than Moses and all the prophets, had come, and many of us still do not listen to him! What is going to happen to them? I can only pray for them and leave the answer to God.
*Keeping Peace in Troubled Times
Today's Gospel reading is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16. As you know, the rich man dresses in purple garments and fine linen and dines sumptuously each day. And lying at his door is Lazarus, the poor man, covered with sores, who would gladly eat the scraps that fall from the rich man's table. When the poor man dies, he is carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also dies and is sent to the netherworld where he suffers torment in flames. Between him and Lazarus, a great chasm exists to prevent anyone from crossing to the other side. At this critical time when the world is fighting to rein in the coronavirus, it is good to be reminded that after we die, we'll end up in either heaven or hell. As long as we are sure that we are headed for heaven, we can remain in peace.
Trust Only in the One Who Knows You
Excerpts from Jeremiah 17, today's first reading: Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the LORD. The man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD, is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: it fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit. I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart, to reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds. Therefore, trust only in God, not in other human beings or even yourself, for only he is trustworthy. Also, God will be the one to reward (or punish) us, for only he knows our minds and hearts.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
**Comforting to Know Our Mission
From today's Gospel reading from Matthew 20, Jesus said to his disciples, "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." The Lord knew his mission and had no fear of death. What then is our mission? Well, clearly we are to serve the Lord God without fear of losing our lives. This is good to know as we are facing the threat of possibly losing our lives to the coronavirus.
**Fool's Choice
Whether we face any crisis such as the coronavirus or not, we should always turn to the Lord, repent of our sins, and put ourselves in his hands. Those who choose to live only for themselves are doomed. There will be no reward from God after they die. What fools they must be to choose this life which will be over in the blink of an eye over all eternity.
***Urgent Time to Turn to God
Yesterday I posted "Reacting to the Coronavirus." Today Fr. Goring's video "New York Needs to Repent" echos my thoughts. It's time to turn to God and repent, more urgent than ever. To ignore God is heading toward eternal death. Only the Lord of Christ can lead us to eternal life.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
*Our One Teacher, Father, and Master
In today's Gospel reading from Matthew, Jesus said to the crowds and the disciples, "Do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Christ." This tells me that God is our most important teacher, father, and master. And we must learn from him first, obey him first, and go to him for help first.
***Reacting to the Coronavirus
Is the spread of the coronavirus a chastisement from God? Maybe, considering how rebellious our generation has been against him. I do believe that God is always trying to get our attention to turn to him and to follow him. If we continue ignoring him, we give him no choice but to shake us a bit to wake us up. If we would all realize our sins, get on our knees, repent, and beg for his mercy, he will surely wipe out this terrible virus instead of letting it wipe us out. Rebellion against God cuts off his mercy; only repentance can open up the way to receiving it again.
Monday, March 9, 2020
**Where Is Your Faith?
A great video from Fr. Goring to watch, as many are worried about the coronavirus. In Matthew 8, Jesus and his disciples were in a boat and Jesus fell asleep. A violent storm came up suddenly so that the boat was being swamped by waves. The disciples got scared. They went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?" Then he got up, rebuke the wind and the sea, and there was great calm. Let's not ever hear the Lord say to us, "O you of little faith." We are to wield our faith always!
*Doing All Things with God
Today's Gospel reading came from Luke 6. In the first verse, Jesus said to his disciples, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." This set the tone for what's to follow. He wanted them to stop judging, stop condemning, forgive, and give. It is a high calling for all of us. Whatever the Lord asks of us is possible if we are with him, for nothing is impossible for him.
*Be Merciful, as Your Heavenly Father Is
Today's Response to Psalm 79: Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins. Indeed, if the Lord marks iniquities, who can stand? (Psalm 130.3.) Fortunately, the Lord will deal with us according to his mercy, for he is merciful. Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect, says the Lord. Surely, if we can be as merciful as our heavenly Father is, we are on our way to becoming perfect.
**Instant Relief
This morning I went to Mass. I had an utmost urgent petition on my heart, so I begged the Lord hard to hear me. Then I heard the Lord's calm voice from within my heart, letting me know that he already knew my burden and I only needed to trust in him and it'd be done. I instantly calmed down. Yes, trust in the the Lord and it's done—what an easy way to get things accomplished!
Sunday, March 8, 2020
***Your Personal God
God to many can be someone or something quite vague and remote. But I believe that as humans, we won't be satisfied until we have a God we can get to know most personally as our best friend or even soulmate. *And we have the God of Christ who fits the bill perfectly. He is actually the one we all search for secretly, whether you realize it or not. If your god is vague, remote, impersonal, or unsatisfying, simply switch over to Jesus Christ and you'll receive eternal life to boot. I am not kidding!
**To Be Detached to All Burdens*
We should get to know the Lord well and come to realize that he is all we need to attach ourselves to. Then we'll be able to detached ourselves from everything and everyone else, even from ourselves, and become free. Normally, we think of everything as those things of the world that give us pleasure, then the Lord made me see that it should also include things that give us pain too. We don't like to suffer, but if we can detach ourselves from all pains, then suffering won't upset us anymore. Yes, the Lord can liberate us from all burdens!
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