We all have the need to be understood. And it's frustrating that when you share some view honestly with someone and you can be easily misunderstood or even blamed. Even if you find someone who will listen to you objectively, that person still does not know all your inner thoughts. So when I realize that the Lord God knows everything about me and loves me, it becomes a great consolation to me. Suffice it to say that his understands alone is good enough for me.
Sunday, December 17, 2023
***Overwhelmed by Love
Communion experience. I realized that he had redeemed me with his most precious blood—I was priceless to him! I was overwhelmed by his love.
**Manifestation of a Weak Faith
The lack of reverence for Christ the Lord signals the absence of a strong faith in him.
***Another Natural Law
The more you believe in the God of Christ, the more wonderfully you feel about your own life (existence).
***Rejoicing in God Effortlessly***
Today's psalm response, Isaiah 61:10b: My soil rejoices in my Lord. It's clear that here Isaiah rejoiced in God naturally without any reluctance. We Christians are to rejoice in the Lord always, but sometimes we may not feel like doing that. Well, this can be cured if you get to know the Lord well. Again, seek to attain union with him first. Once you are in union, you don't even have to remind yourself. For now, being fully aware of his intimate presence within you at all times, your soul "automatically" rejoice in the him unceasingly!
***God Is Our Joy!***
I love what I heard from today's first reading from Isaiah 61: I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul... As a matter of fact, God is my joy! My favorite hymn For You Are My God by John Foley, SJ, says it all for me. Here's the refrain: For you are my God; you alone are my joy. Defend me, O Lord. The accompanying melody is also memorably beautiful. I have posted about his song before. Here's a different rendition well done, in case you haven't heard it yet.
**"Have Mercy on Us"
When we pray "Lord, have mercy," we're really praying for ourselves because the Lord is merciful to us always, ready to forgive us anytime we cooperate with him. So begging mercy from him is admitting that we need his mercy and are ready to receive it from him.
Saturday, December 16, 2023
**Simple Knowledge
If we don't belong to God, then we belong to the world, for there are only God and the world. When we belong to God, we are set free. When we choose the world, we become enslaved to sin. This is what I understand as a kindergartener.
***Why We Feel Restless (Another Simple Truth)***
The moment we stop rebelling against God, peace is born. A simple truth again. Now you know why you feel restless when you feel restless. Again, the Lord has made us so.
***Necessity of Finding Solitude***
The Lord speaks to us unceasingly, but his voice is gentle. If you are always busy with things of the world, you are not likely to hear him. Hence we need to find solitude from time to time, setting time aside whenever we can. I am blessed because, being a retiree, I have the time to attend Mass daily. I remain in church after Mass and there I get my solitude. Having just received the Lord, it's the perfect time for me to commune with him. Once you attain union with the Lord, solitude matters much less, for you are now aware of his holy presence at all times. I pretty much receive all the thoughts for blogging during Mass, and I scribble them down on the cards I carry in my shirt pocket. Once in a while, I have trouble deciphering my own writing, but that's rare. Praise God!
*****Great Beauty of God's Love***
We enjoy looking at beautiful things. Some travel to find them. As you know, I am a photographer, and anywhere I go, I try to capture whatever beauty I see with my cell phone camera. Likewise, we enjoy listening to beautiful music. But there is beauty on an entirely different level we can experience directly from the Lord. Once you taste his sweet love, you'll feel that it's so beautiful that you just can't live without it. This is the beauty that captures the heart and intoxicates the soul, making you want to be in union with the Lord forever.
*****Treasuring the Luminous Mysteries
I love the Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary instituted by Pope John Paul II in 2002. I pray them on Saturdays, for to me they are closest to the Glorious Mysteries. (1) The Baptism in the Jordan. The Lord didn't need that, but he chose to go thru it like any one of us. This moves me very much. (2) The Wedding at Cana. Again, he was like any one of us, attending a wedding to join in the celebration. There he changed water into the best wine, performing his first known miracle. (3) The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Jesus called the Twelve, started to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and called all to conversion. This work continues on today. (4) The Transfiguration. Jesus was transfigured before Peter. James, and John. His face shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white. Both Moses and Elijah appeared to converse with him. The Father's voice came from the cloud announcing, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." What an awesome scene! This definitely is also a glorious mystery. (5) The Institution of the Eucharist. At the Last Supper, Jesus gave himself to us in this sacrament. This is one greatest miracle because he performed with the greatest humility. It's also a glorious mystery.
***Union w/God Extraordinary Enuf*
Some saints and mystics in union with God receive favors such as ecstasies, visions, locutions, even experiencing levitation or bilocation. But one can be in union of God without receiving anything extraordinary. The goal of seeking union with God is to know and experience his love to the max, and achieving that goal is extraordinary enough. Any other beautiful experiences received are simply there to help you magnify God's glory to the world.
Friday, December 15, 2023
***A Good Feeling
I love to hear Jesus teaching us, counseling us, and guiding us, for he speaks the truth always. For example, in Matthew 16 he said, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Such words cut us to the heart. I feel as if the Lord is operating on me, straightening out and curing my soul. We feel good because we are sinners.
***Moving Up to the Highest Position
In Luke 14, Jesus told this parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” This much I know. If we humble ourselves every chance we get, we'll be exalted to enter heaven for sure.
*****Greatest Possible Blessing*****
Communion experience. I get to consume the Lord, having him dwell within me! This is even better than seeing or touching him. To me, receiving the Eucharist and becoming one with the Lord is the greatest blessing I can possibly receive in this life. It means that he has chosen me and granted me eternal life—there is nothing more to want.
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