You may be aware that God will judge you one day, but you don't think much about it. If you are not sure that you'd pass his judgment, shouldn't you do some preparatory work now? None of us are perfect, but we should at the least make sure that we won't look really bad on that day. One thing that helps to know: God is actually on our side, his most ardent desire being that we get to heaven! If you fail to pass on that day, it would grieve him as much as you. And his judgment is fair, so be fair to yourself by preparing for his judgment to make that day of a day of great joy for both you and everyone else in heaven! The whole heaven and many on this earth are praying for you to show up there; don't let them down please!
Monday, June 29, 2020
***Truth Revealed to the Heart
In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 16, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father." When the Lord God reveals something to you in your heart, you just know that it's true.
***Longing for God Invariably Fulfilled
Two verses from today's reading 2 from 2 Timothy 4 spoke to me. Verse 8: "From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance." Do you long for the Lord? If you do, know that the Holy Spirit dwells within you. Such longing is a desire and a prayer the Lord will invariably fulfill. Seeing the Lord is the best reward we can possibly receive. If he will bestow other honors upon us, that'll be just the icing on the cake.
Verse 18: "The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom." Amen. This confirms what I posted in my last blog: Follow Jesus and you'll have eternal life.
**Jesus Our Savior
Jesus is our Savior. This means he can save us from eternal damnation. Of course, he can deliver us from any situation if that's necessary for saving our soul, but sometimes we must lose our life on earth in order to preserve our soul. Repeating what Jesus had said, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." That is, follow Jesus and you will have eternal life. In today's reading 1 from Acts 12, King Herod had Peter arrested and imprisoned. He was going to bring him to trial to please the Jews. But the angel of the Lord came and delivered him from imprisonment and lead him out to the city, for his time had not yet come.
Sunday, June 28, 2020
***Challenged to the Core!***
In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 10, Jesus said to his Apostles: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." We might react, "Who does he think he is?" Here, Jesus challenges us to the core! We are cornered! Dismiss him and you fail the test right off the bat. Accept what he says and you are set free because you are now attached to him alone! Wow, this is absolutely awful or awesome, depending upon your disposition. We are compelled to see him as a mad man or true God. Personally, I love a God who challenges me to follow him, not any god who leaves me alone. Jesus, you are truly my Lord and my God. May you be adored and praised forever!
***Formula for Eternal Life***
Today's reading 2 comes from Romans 6. From Paul's counsel, you can easily form this motto: "Die to sin and live for Christ." It is to the point and easy to remember. In fact, it is the formula for eternal life!
***Doing Everything with Love (The Little Way)
When Jesus saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and a poor widow putting in two small coins, he said to this disciples, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for others have all made their offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood." (Luke 21.1-4)
God does not count the number of souls we have saved for him, but rather how lovingly we perform each task, large or small, for his glory. That's why St, Thérèse' "little way" appeals to so many of us. As long as we treat everyone and do everything with love, we become holy. We are now free because we no longer do everything for our own sake, but for God alone.
***God Wants to Free Us!
Do you recall that when Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was before going to him? He knew that Lazarus would've already been in the tomb for four days when he arrived there. But he's going to raise him for the glory of God. As I was walking outside praying the Rosary this morning, the Lord made me see that when he sometimes delays answering our prayers, it's because he wants us to trust him to the point of not being concerned about whether he's going to answer them or not anymore. He wants us to abandon ourselves to him to become completely detached from anything except him, also for the glory of God.
Saturday, June 27, 2020
***"Never Look Back"
This is not a new message, but I think it's worth repeating, for my own sake too. The message: "Never look back." No matter how the past has affected you, whether it has made you happy or unhappy, let it go. The past is gone! For the Christian, the very best is yet to come. We need to seize every present moment, for every moment gives us a chance to begin anew, letting Christ cleanse and refresh us. This is a great Christian privilege! Dwelling upon the past keeps one chained to himself, wasting precious time. Remember what Jesus said to a would-be follower in Luke 9.62: "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God." Keep marching ahead, one step at a time, and soon heaven will be in sight.
*No Christ, No Peace
Jesus is the fountainhead of our peace. If we are connected to him, we experience his peace that surpasses all understanding. But the world does not even want to think about him! Mentioned many times in the scriptures: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Today's generation still has not learned this. Man still go after its own interests relentlessly without peace. What we end up is a world in constant turmoil and unrest.
***Voice of Reason and Logic for Life
You must hear this clear-thinking young man speaking with poise and logic for life. He puts all the pro-choice politicians to shame.
Friday, June 26, 2020
*Unready for Christ Yet
When you tell others about Christ, they often feel uneasy, thinking that you are imposing your beliefs on them. The truth is that you are concerned about their soul and want to share the gospel with them. On the other hand, you can pretty much tell them or advise them on anything else and they don't feel threatened. I think this is because we somehow sense that Christ as God knows everything about us and we as sinners are not ready to face him yet.
**My Wise Advice
God often gives us the grace to repent and return to him just before we die. But since we can die unexpectedly or lose our mind early, we can't count on receiving that grace always. So, be ready now when your mind is still clear. If you make God wait too long, you could lose him forever.
***God, the Coolest Person
He is, because he always speaks the truth and loves all of us whether we follow him or not. He gives us the freedom of choice, never browbeating us into submission in any way. He has infinite power, but remains humble and meek. He is always magnanimous and trustworthy. He was even willing to lay down his own life for us! He is worthy to be our Lord.
Thursday, June 25, 2020
***Sensible Talk from a Sensible Person
I came across this video on Yahoo News. The speaker, radio host Jesse Lee Peterson makes a lot of sense. Christ made him see things right.
**Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring*
Bach's chorale "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" from one of his cantatas has been arranged and transcribed for various instruments. The best-known transcription for piano was by British pianist Dame Myra Hess. It sounds easy, but is not easy to play. Here we have Simone Dinnerstein playing it beautifully. To me, the title is already beautiful.
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