You see so much false joy exhibited on many commercials and various TV shows. In general, people put on a false facade to hide any emptiness or loneliness they feel. Today I was shocked and saddened to learn that the parishioner who owned a very expansive car (I think it was a Ferrari) had committed suicide. I didn't know him personally, but everybody noticed his flashy red car with gold wheels. How I wish that I had the chance to tell him about Christ who can fill us full with hope and joy. This had happen to me twice before. In the first case, I witnessed to a friend about Christ and he was ready to consider entering the Church. He called a local priest for an appointment to see him, but it so happened that he was tied up and couldn't see him right away. The next thing I knew, my friend had committed suicide. Obviously, there was a deeper issue here I wasn't aware of. The second friend was at the peak of his career. He earned two PhD degrees, owned a lot of properties, traveled all around the world, and had a lot of friends too. His job was with a famous think tank. One day I called him and learned that he had committee suicide. How I wished I had shared the gospel with him earlier! So we must share the good new of Christ every chance we get. What we see is often the false front. There are lots of people who are lonely and/or feel hopeless out there. We must do our best to reach out to as many of them as possible.
Monday, January 29, 2024
***Greatest Stupidity
It's believing that you can hide from God, you know more than he, you don't need him, or he doesn't care about you.
***Greatest Division
There is no greater division than that between good and evil, heaven and hell, having Jesus and not having him!
**Only Division That Matters
True inner peace can only come from Christ. He wants us to have that peace, but we are divided by whether we listen to him or not. This is the only division that matters. Know that we'll all be judged by him, for he is the one who created us out of love in his own image.
Sunday, January 28, 2024
***Wise Move
Take all the temporary pleasures of the world you can think of, whether wholesome or sinful. Compare them with eternal joy in heaven, and they would look like nothing. So get yourself detached from the world as much as possible to be sure that you'll have everlasting joy later soon.
*****Saved in God's Love!
Communion experience. I completely abandon myself to the Lord and he completely accepts me. Union is attained and I am saved in his love!
***Submission Begets Freedom
When you submit yourself totally to God, you feel completely free, for he has now taken the load of sin off you! From now on, all your intentions should remain holy. The truth shall set you free—this is it.
***Mary to Keep You Holy*
When impure thoughts surface and you turn immediately to the Holy Mother for protection, she'll mantle you to keep you safe, for she is immaculate and pure. Consider consecrating yourself to her Immaculate Heart if you haven't done so yet. You'll find online the various prayers commonly used. I made the act of consecration decades ago along with parishioners of the whole diocese. We each prayed for a whole month on our own and attended a special Mass at one large church together at the end.
Saturday, January 27, 2024
*****Awesome Unique Miracle*
At Mass, the Lord God actually converts the bread and wine into his own body and blood without changing their appearances for us to consume so that we may achieve union with him spiritually—this has to be the miracle that's most humble and most exalted at the same time.
***No Comparing with Others
Because we'll all face God alone, there is no point in comparing ourselves with anyone else ever. We take care of our own salvation and just pray for all others.
***Signs You Know God Well
You are happy with yourself, you are never lonely, you want God to save everyone, especially those in most need of his mercy . . .
**Ready for Action**
When Jesus tells us to always be alert, vigilant, and prepared, he also means that we are to always remain attentive to what he wants us to do. It's always "Lord, here I am, ready to serve you" for us.
Friday, January 26, 2024
***Unthinkable Thought
Rejecting Christ amounts to saying that he came and died for nothing—this is totally unthinkable! If you cannot prove that he is false in any way, you have no choice but to believe in him 100%, for you are dealing with God! It's all or nothing, no fudging allowed.
***Unique Pure Joy
At Mass this morning, I witnessed the large crucifix displayed on the back wall above the tabernacle on the altar. If you do not know anything about Christ, you probably would be shocked to see a dead figure hanging on a cross. When I looked at it, I knew I was looking at my Lord and God who loved me so much that he gave himself up for me so that I might live. Filled with gratitude, I felt pure joy. I don't believe you can possibly create this unique experience under any other circumstances sans the Lord.
*One Great Joy*
It is the joy of of having a clear conscience, making us realize that we can experience peace only thru obeying God the Father and our creator.
*We All Need Prayers
Know that we need to pray not only for others, but also for ourselves. If we can entrust ourselves to God, we can glorify him even more by doing more good to others.