I had eggs for breakfast this morning. I saw the cracked shells and realized that the chicken egg has such a perfect shape that it cannot possibly somehow came into existence by itself. This alone showed me that God exists. In fact, I intuitively know that without God, there would be absolutely nothing—no you, no me, no anything, not even nothing! God has to be a being who always exists with no beginning nor end. Now, whatever I do not know no longer bothers me, for God knows it all. The incredible part is that not only I know that God exists, I also know him most intimately!
Friday, May 21, 2021
**Only God and No Self
Ego and the lack of humility are closely related. I can't think of any sin we commit that has nothing to do with the two. If we are like the Lord who is holy, we would be totally selfless and most humble. Sometimes I say something I thought was justified, but not realizing that it could hurt someone's feelings. This ultimately comes down the lack of humility on my part. To kill the ego entirely and become humble, we'll have to submit ourselves even more to God. "Only God, no self" should be our ultimate goal. By the way, this is also how we get ourselves completely liberated by the Lord.
***Only Christ Can Bring Us Peace
Perhaps there is not a single family in which all members get along with each other perfectly because we are all different from each other and not saints. That is why we need Christ in our lives to make us as perfect as possible. The motto "The family that prays together stays together" is right. Unfortunately, many Christians don't even pray enough on their own. Also, the good practice of examining your conscience everyday before you go to bed is pretty much forgotten. In sum, only by letting the God of Christ into our lives can we expect to achieve peace in the family, or for that matter, the nation and the world.
Thursday, May 20, 2021
***God Desires Union with Us!***
In today's Gospel reading John 17:20-26, Jesus prayed to the Father ardently that all those who believe and will believe in him and he and the Father may be one and in each other. He left no doubt that he wants us to seek and attain union with him. This is also the way to fulfill his command that we be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect.
*Patience in Following God
To follow the Lord, we need to be patient. I've learned that zeal can cause us to rush ahead of the Holy Spirit and end up losing valuable time. Jesus never rushed around in a hurry. Surely we face urgent issues, but we still need the Lord to show us the way. To be patient is to stay calm and not worry, while we pay utmost attention to his guidance.
***Our Bright Hope
I just finished taking my morning walk. It was again a delightful day. I received both happy and sad thoughts from the Lord. He first made me see that he is the creator, meaning that he makes new things. We make new things too, but we can only make them from things that have already been created by him. So God is the original creator, in a sense the only true creator. He has created us, surely he can make us anew! This is our bright hope! Let the Lord have his way and we are transformed into new creatures, beautiful for him to behold and fulfilling all our desires at the same time.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Sorrow of Parting
In today's first reading from Acts 20, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus. When he had finished speaking he knelt down and prayed with them all. They were all weeping loudly, for they were deeply distressed that he had said that they would never see his face again. I know that we have all experienced the sorrow of parting. But we have one great consolation awaiting us, that we'll see the Lord in heaven and many other departed ones we once knew up there again.
*First-Rate Thinker
When you truly know the Lord, you learn everything from him, understand his ways, and think as he thinks. You are now a first-rate thinker.
*A Time for stopping All things
Life on earth always comes to an end, so there is a time for stopping all things. If you are wise, you'd start detaching yourself to everything. On your own, this would be impossible to do, but with God, all things are possible. I'd start knowing the Lord as soon and as much as possible so that before it's time for you to stop everything, you are fully ready to leave without ever looking back.
*True Peace Only in One Place
Earlier I watched a short video showing all the places in Scotland worth visiting. I must say that some of the landscapes, rock formations, castles, monuments, etc., looked fantastic. It's like being a fairyland world. I understand that many scenes in the Harry Potter movie were shot in Scotland. It'd be fun to visit those places, but I realize that true peace can only be found within oneself in union with the Lord.
*Bless You All!*
Bless all of you who read my blog regularly. Seeking union with God is not something everyone wants to listen to or even consider. Otherwise, this blog would have gone viral a long time ago. I still remember the time I couldn't bear reading the spiritual classic The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis—I wasn't spiritually ready. But now everything he wrote in that book sounds sweet and beautiful to me. Let the Lord God change us to become the happiest, freest creatures on earth. So God bless you and let's remember each other in prayer. A happiest time will be when we see each other in heaven!
***Most Satisfying Feeling***
There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that God the Father is satisfied with all you do. Always do the will of the Father to be happy with him together. This is to be in and one with him.
***Nice Knowing God
If Christ, the Holy Mother, an angel or some saint should appear before me, I would be delighted, but not surprised nor excited, for I already know the Lord. And I'll be going to him not as a stranger, but as a member of his family returning home.
***Great Consolation
I walked this morning again. The wind was rather cool and brisk in my face, but the sun gave me overall warmth. Then I realized that all these things were external and passing, only the Lord is internal and dwells within me forever. What a great consolation!
**To Be Weak Is to Be Strong
To know yourself is the key to knowing God well. First, you must realize that you are a sinner and need him to save you. Then to be strong in God, you must acknowledge that you are so weak that only he can make you strong. This is how you receive power from him, for his power will only enter those who humble themselves before him. Now you can be as strong as you wish. Always ask the Lord to give you whatever you need.
***Living an Exciting Life
It's exciting to see that things or people change in amazing ways. Look at how technology comes up with ingenious devices and some people accomplish incredible feats. But it's even more exciting to discover that the Lord God can actually change you fundamentally! This is something many are not aware of because they don't try to change themselves and don't know God. As a result, they live a superficial life. When you are excited about God, you have finally found God and connected with him.
**Purgatory Justice
It makes perfect sense that purgatory exists. Say you have a saint, living a holy life. He dies and goes straight to heaven. Then say you have a most evil person, committing heinous crimes all his life, but repents just before he dies. Since God is most merciful, he is saved too. It would seem unjust to have him go straight to heaven too. This would be like letting a criminal go free without serving any time in jail. So God sends him to purgatory to get purified before entering heaven. God's justice is now fully served.
By the way, on May 14, I posted St. Gertrude's prayer for the souls in purgatory. I have shortened that to make it easier to remember and say. Here it is. "Eternal Father, I offer You the most precious blood of thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the souls, both living and deceased. Amen."
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