I am posting more videos by Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel because he doesn't hesitate to speak the blunt truth. His love for Christ is obvious. Strong spiritual messages feed the soul and are exactly what people need to hear today. So Bishop Emmanuel is like a breath of fresh air when you don't hear too many other clergymen speak with such faith and passion. The two videos here are related in a way.
Friday, April 5, 2024
***Why People Reject God
At Mass the Lord made me see we do not accept God because we "love" ourselves too much, and that's the truth. And it's also true that as long as we love ourselves more than we love God, we'll never be free from sin. Here's Bishop Emmanuel's two-minute talk of why people reject God.
**Bye-Bye to the World*
Communion experience. With the Lord dwelling in you, it's time to trust in him, put yourself totally in his hands and say bye-bye to the world. As Peter advised his community in 1 Peter 5, cast all your worries upon God because he cares for you.
****It Is the Lord!****
In today's Gospel reading from John 21, Jesus after his Resurrection revealed himself again, to seven of his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. The seven had been fishing all night, but they caught nothing. At dawn they saw Jesus standing about a hundred yards away on the shore, but they did not realize that it was he yet. Then he asked them to cast the net over the right side of the boat, and they caught a full net of large fish. At this point the disciple John said to Simon Peter, "It is the Lord." Peter heard it and got so excited that he jumped from his boat into the sea and went straight for Jesus. Now, for us who follow the Lord and have attained union with God, we know that he is with us at all times. So every moment now is an exhilarating it-is-the-Lord moment! To have him with you constantly in this life is such a wonderful blessing!
Thursday, April 4, 2024
***Truth to Hear***
Another clear message from Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel. Since he is an Orthodox bishop, he is free to speak out this way. The unorthodox teachings of Pope Francis have already alienated the Orthodox Church and so many in his own Church. Lord, have mercy on us.
***God Is Real!
For non-believers, here are some proofs that God Exists. I'd like to add one of my thoughts. It seems that our earth had been perfectly created for us. We have the perfect atmosphere for survival; various kinds of plants and animals for us to live on; and the right climate, water, and other natural resources to sustain us. As far as we know, there is not another planet in the whole universe like ours; our earth seems to be a unique "anomaly." That God is our creator has to be beyond doubt!
***Our Life Goal:
to know Christ and submit ourselves to him so that we may pass his judgment and return to the Father, our creator, in heaven.
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
*****PURITY AWARENESS*****
The God of Christ is absolutely holy and pure. Once you belong to or have attained union with him, you become aware of the slightest impurity and develop a strong aversion to all impurities. I know what I am going to say will not resonate with those who have already been snared by the world, but speak out I must. Recently, I saw some videos attacking Taylor Swift. I didn't know much about her at all. I learned that she claimed that she's a Christian, yet some of the things she'd done contradicted her claim and were even seemingly satanic. I sense the impurity when I just look at her appearance and how she dresses herself. I'd like to mention that I used to enjoy listening to jazz singing, for the music could be quite beautiful. But now after knowing the Lord, I sense its impurity and listening to it actually weighs me down. Even great rarefied abstract classical music has lost its appeal. It's pure, but pales next to God's purity. I am totally with Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel's view expressed in this recent video below. Following Christ is the only right path for us.
*****Unique Christianity
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel again gives a good talk, clear and bold. Unfortunately, the editor did a poor job. I suggest that you listen to just the first seven minutes to preserve the unity of the message.
*****Appreciating Christ*****
Today I just feel that Christ has been good to me beyond words! I was a nobody . . . only a wretched sinner. Yet he called me, never gave up on me, showed me his tremendous love for all of us, taught me patiently, opened my eyes and heart to see the truth, fundamentally changed me, and set me free, while filling me with peace and joy thru the Holy Eucharist. The Lord is as precious to me as my own soul or more!
***Greatest Self-Giving***
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 24, the resurrected Lord Jesus appeared to two of his disciple on their way to Emmaus. They recognized the Lord in the breaking of the bread. I recognize that when the Lord breaks the bread for all of us to eat, as happens at every Mass, he's giving all of himself to us! What we receive, eternal life, is priceless and no sum of money, not matter how huge, can possible buy it. This is how the Lord rewards us who give ourselves to him. We the finite become infinite, alleluia!
****Greatest Satisfying Reward****
Today's entrance antiphon from Matthew 25:34: Come, you blessed by my Father; receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. This is what Christ will say to those who have been chosen to inherit eternal life at his judgment of all the nations. When you choose to follow Christ, it shows that the Father has chosen you! This has to be the most satisfying reward you can possibly receive in your whole existence! You have now become one of the Father's special favorite creatures!
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
**Forget About Heaven & Hell*
Do you think that the Christians have a better chance of entering heaven than non-Christians? The answer should be yes, then we recall that in Matthew 7:21, Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." Also, Christians are held to higher standards than non-Christians. In Luke 12:48, Jesus said to his disciples that more would be demanded of the person entrusted with more. So it's best not to presume that you are saved if you're not that holy yet. For the Catholic, it's' important that you don't have a single stain of mortal sin on you soul. Seeing how godless the whole world is today, I wouldn't be shocked that overall more people enter hell than heave. Anyway, focus exclusively on loving God and keeping your soul pure and you needn't dwell upon heaven and hell much anymore.
**At Peace with God
Today's Communion experience. I received the Lord and every molecule (or atom) of mine was at peaee with him.
***Believing Without Seeing***
Finally, I was well enough to resume attending daily Mass. In today's Gospel reading from John 20, the risen Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene. He told her to go to his brothers to tell them that he's going to his Father and their Father, to his God and their God. Mary went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and reported what he had told her. I can't say that I have seen the Lord, but I know the Lord as if I've seen him many times already as I feel palpably his holy presence at all times. And pretty soon I will be seeing him. Alleluia!
Monday, April 1, 2024
*****What the Church Needs to Do Pronto
On Easter Sunday, the church was extra packed at all Masses. Many Catholics who didn't attend Mass regularly showed up—they were not really Catholics anymore. I have no idea as to how many of them received Communion. As you know, if you receive the Lord not in a state of grace, you commit another mortal sin. Possibly, some of those lapsed Catholics might not even realize that. Anyway, I believe it's super important for the sake of not offending Christ our Lord to let all know of the requirements for receiving the Holy Eucharist at the beginning of each Mass even if there were only one person present who needs to be informed. Since surveys have shown that a great percentage of Catholics no longer believe in the real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist, this is a crisis so urgent that we must solve without delay. To me, this is even more fundamental than stopping abortion or human trafficking. Without this belief, there would be no Church! And this should also be mentioned as one of the requirements for receiving the Lord. If we do nothing to stop people offending our Lord, we'll have to answer to him for this grave negligence!
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