John 3:17, the last verse of today's Gospel reading: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Do you get it? No condemnation intended; salvation, God's only intention. So there is no need to be afraid of the Lord at all! Yet people do not approach him because they are afraid that he would reveal their sins and force them to change their way of life, while they really should be concerned about their salvation. They need to see this and make a complete turnabout.
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
**Cross to Be Loved
Today is Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. We who follow Christ must deny ourselves and take up our cross (Matthew 16:24). The Lord is suffering from carrying a most heavy cross, as the world continues sinning against him. When we willingly carry our cross, we help the Lord carry his. Let us who love the Lord love the cross too.
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
**God Helps the Weak
Communion experience. Before the Lord, I felt so weak and inadequate that I surrendered to him even more in order to receive strength and power from him.
***Christian Victories
What's victory to you? To the Christian, the big victories are to overcome sin, to belong to Christ and become holy, and to succeed in doing God's will and getting to heaven. No material wealth or vainglory is involved.
***Free Will, an Impediment
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 7, Jesus raised a widow's son who had died. If the Lord can raise the dead, surely he can transform each one of us. Unfortunately, since we are still alive, we often exercise our free will to block God's action. This is why we do not experience wonders.
***Essential Understanding
Another piece of advice from the Lord this morning. There are myriad things around for us to learns about, but all we need to know and understand are our state and our place before him and what he wishes for us.
****Wise Advice from the Lord
I got to the chapel at Mount St. Joseph for Mass a little early this morning, so I remained in my car for a while. Through the windshield I saw a panorama of distant trees and some houses. Somehow I sensed that I am in this world, but I am not really part of it. And the Lord showed me that in the limited time I have left on earth, I should just do his will—do one thing at a time—with love and no rush nor anxiety. It was good advice for me to have.
Monday, September 12, 2022
*End of Unrest
Now that I already know Christ most intimately, for me there's no more hiding, no more running around, no more trying to fill the void of life . . . I simply rest in him, enjoying his peace and my content.
***Sure Way to Immortality***
Communion experience. Chinese emperors are known to have searched for the elixir of life, hoping to achieve immortality. Even today people try to find ways to look young and live a long life. As I received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, I knew that it's the bread of life, the living bread from heaven, and whoever eats it will live forever (John 6:51). The is fantastic! It's the sure way to immortality. You not only live on forever, you get to live on in peace and great joy as well!
**God's Unique Peace
The peace God gives is unique. When you have reconciled with God and know that you are going to him, you receive this peace that surpasses all understanding. It is through this peace that you get to know God.
****Praising the Holy Spirit
You can easily tell whether the Holy Spirit is present or not. When he reigns, we have peace, unity, and harmony. When he's absent, we have discord, bickering, and chaos. The Holy Spirit is most kind, patient, and gentle, yet he can bring about great miracles and set our hearts afire for God. I also see him as the protector of my soul. When filled with the Spirit, no evil can touch you. Praised be the Spirit of the glorious Holy Trinity.
***Most Beautiful Obedience
During the liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass, we hear the words of the Lord asking us to take the bread that has become his body and eat of it, and the chalice of wine that has turned into his blood and drink from it. When we willingly obey and receive the Holy Eucharist (in a state of grace, of course), we perform a most beautiful act of obedience for which the reward is nothing short of eternal life!
**Being Wise and Smart
When you surrender yourself to the Lord, you are being both wise and smart. You are wise because you please the Lord and know that he's going to make you holy and a delight to him. You are smart because you may even get to go straight to heaven when you leave this world.
****A Beautiful Thing with God!
In today's reading from Psalm 40, verse 9a reads, "To do your will, O my God, is my delight." You have to be in love with the Lord to feel that way. Only when you are deeply in love with someone are you willing to do what that person wills. And when that person is the Lord God, this becomes something most beautiful.
Sunday, September 11, 2022
***Evil Is Ugly!
Both good and evil are manifest in this video. Both sides need our prayers, but one side needs a lot more.
**Mutual Giving*
Communion experience. When the Lord was about to transform the bread and wine into his own body and blood during their consecration, I felt so grateful that I had to give myself to him totally. I gained a lot more than he did though, for he gained only little me, while I gained all of Almighty God!
***Excellent Way to Remain Righteous*****
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 15, we heard the parables of the lost sheep and of the lost coin. Jesus let it be known that there would be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. Indeed, repentance is essential to being saved by God. No repentance, no salvation! But it's best that we do not sin against the Lord in the first place. An excellent way for us to achieve that is to be open and transparent to the Lord at all times. This way he watches over you and will let you know when your are about to sin. You now gain a super sharp conscience on guard to help you remain righteous.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)