To see things clearly, I look at the extreme cases. I can live without Christ and remain living in the unknown, while heading deeper and deeper into the unknown. Or I can know Christ, follow him, and never ever worry about getting lost. When you know the Lord, you know the way and then some.
Thursday, April 15, 2021
*Healing of the Soul
The Lord is our greatest healer. He may not always heal our physical ailments for good reason, but he'll always heal our soul if you ask. First, have him take away your sins, for he is the only one who has the power to do that. Then ask him to heal you soul. Once that's done, your heart and your mind are healed as well. Now you are a whole person.
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
**Why People Don't Believe
The Gospel reading comes from John 3: God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Perhaps the world just doesn't get it, for its people only want to focus upon living their life and keep their "freedom" on earth. Surely they should know that life on earth will end, that God wants to give them life after death, and that once saved, you are truly set free. John gave the verdict later in the same reading: people preferred darkness to light because their works were evil. I think he nailed it on the head.
*****God's Transforming Power (Great News)
Today's first reading came from Acts 5. Let me quote the first two verses, 17 and 18: "The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail." As I read, I stopped at the word "jealousy" because it seemed to be somewhat a strange word. Then I realized that it was because I hadn't felt jealousy for quite some time now. A chain of realizations ensued. The Lord has changed me. He has taken away all the sinful feelings offensive to him. That's why I feel so much peace in my heart. He has fundamentally transformed me! God is truly amazing! Yes, he can make any one of us anew if you would cooperate with him. I want the whole world to know him so that everyone may experience freedom, peace, and joy. This is no fantasy, it's the almighty, loving God woking!
***God's Will Be Done
Hearing the Lord speaking to me in my heart gives me great joy. Yesterday I was very happy because the Lord gave me quite a number of thoughts to blog. As I was walking outside this morning again, I thought it'd be nice to hear more thoughts from him again. Then instantly I realized that I was expressing my wish and it may not be his. What I read in yesterday's Gospel reading from John 3 came to my mind. Explaining how one is born of the Spirit to Nicodemus, Jesus said to him, "The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes, so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." So it happens as the Spirit wills. The Lord may wish to give me a hundred thoughts or zero thought according to his will. The joy coming from the Holy Spirit I can never anticipate either. God is free to do whatever whenever he wishes. We may ask humbly for favors, but not wish foolishly for any.
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Losing Fear of Death
No one can be sure that there is no God. In that case, I would be afraid to die, for I don't know what'll happen to me after I die. Since I know without a doubt that God exists and that he even loves me, I lose all fear of death. All very logical.
*Prioritizing. Our Needs
We have our material needs. They may be necessary, but they are always temporary and may even be sinful. Anyhow, we should always put our spiritual needs ahead of all other needs, for fulfilling these needs will get us into heaven.
**We Let God Down
Often we share Christ with others and no one shows any interest and we feel the letdown and a loneliness in this world. I realize how the Lord must feel when great multitudes of people have already deserted him. All the more we need to appreciate and love him to counter this imbalance.
*Being Truly Childlike
When we were kids and didn't like what our parents told us to do, we asked why we had to do it. Many parent did not bother to reason with us; our father or mother simply answered "Because I said so." But God is nor ordinary parent, for he always knows what's best for us. So we can unquestionably obey him in all things. This is being truly childlike.
***Know, Treasure, and Rejoice In . . .
the fact that Jesus' ultimate death has gained for us ultimate freedom from sin.
Our Relationship with God
Since there are many Christians, we must examine our relationship with the Lord. Those who are weakly attached to him risk losing him altogether when the Devil attacks. Only those strongly linked to the Lord will survive all attacks and come through unscathed at the end. Be in union with God for maximum security. Just common sense.
Inspired by Christ
Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Today as I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries, I was inspired by the Lord carrying his own cross all the way to Calvary.
***Going Against God
Jesus advised us to store up treasures in heaven so that we may want to go there. Many of us are doing the exact opposite on earth, which is accumulating material possessions. But I have something in mind even better (or worse), that is, "piling up sins on earth."
***Dying for the Lord?
Jesus has loved us so much that he willingly died for us. If we love him, should we die for him? Know that he died for us so that we may live. So we should focus upon living for him. If death is called for in the process, then so be it. The Lord desires love from us the most, not death.
***Learning from God Directly*
I have stressed the advantage of going to the Lord directly. All the prophets, great saints, visionaries . . . learn from the Lord directly, and I don't ever recall Jesus asking us to go through someone else first. He is open directly to anyone! This is why I advocate seeking union with the Lord, for there is no more direct approach than that. Imagine hearing the Lord speaking to you in your heart! You needn't listen to another voice anymore.
****Close to Death
We may have two more years to live or 50 more to live. Is "50 years" that much longer that two years? Next to eternity, even 100 millions years is nothing. So no matter how much longer we live, we are close to death. This means that we are close to heaven or to hell too. Most of all, we are close to God, for he is all yours if you desire him. I would definitely take advantage of that. But God can be so far away should you choose to reject him, even when he wants to be as close to you as possible. Think about that.
*****God Is Pure Delight!*****
The Lord is pure delight! Knowing him is a delight, hearing him speak to my heart is a delight, learning from him is a delight. having him guide me is a delight, and his constant companionship is absolutely delightful! Of course, I want to go to him. But if I must remain longer in this world, that'd be fine too, for I get to enjoy him longer in this world.
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