In today's Gospel reading from John 20, the resurrected Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene and these are his last words to her: "Go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" I already quoted this in my last post, but it strikes me that he absolutely told the truth here, for if he hadn't, imagine how absurd the whole thing would have been—performing all those miracles, dying for us out of love, rising from the dead, and not even ascending to heaven? So when he said he's going to the Father, he knew precisely what he's talking about. We can be sure that Christ is the truth through and through.
Monday, July 22, 2024
*****God's Most Beautiful Love*****
God's love for us is absolutely pure, and that makes it most passionate and overwhelming. Today is the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. The antiphons, the verse from reading 1, and Gospel acclamation . . . all show how this most beautiful, powerful love is and has affected us.
(1) The entrance antiphon from John 20:17. The Lord said to Mary Magdalene, "Go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Jesus shares his Father and his God with us!
(2) Verse 4 from Song of Songs 3. I have found him whom my soul loves. We love God with our soul, beyond our heart!
(3) Response from Psalm 63. My soul is thirsting for you, O loving God.
(4) Gospel acclamation from John 20:15. Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" We who love the Lord look for him and weep for him often.
(5) Communion antiphon from 2 Corinthians 5. The love of Christ impels us, so that those who live may no longer live for themselves but for him who died and was raised.
This is the love for us to live in!
Sunday, July 21, 2024
**Overcoming the Ego*
There were times I shared something that's true, but felt uncomfortable afterwards. And I realized that I was only trying to gain sympathy or understanding, not really serving any useful purpose—it's the old ego rearing its ugly head! So from now on, the moment I sense ever slightly a no, I'll obey that voice. The ego's got to go for good!
**Today's Stray Sheep
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 6, a vast crowd waited for Jesus to show up. When he arrived and saw them, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. Today we have Christ as our shepherd, but many do not even choose to follow him—we have truly gone astray.
***Mind Follows Heart*
If your mind is easily cluttered with all kinds of thoughts that make you feel unsettled, trace it back to your heart. If the heart remains clean and calm, the mind will follow suit. Of course, attain union with God through the Holy Eucharist and you'll have a pure heart filled with peace.
***Most Righteous Goal*****
One goal of my blog is to spread the name of Jesus for the whole world to know. For he is our most beloved Lord, creator, and Savior. He alone deserves to be worshipped, adored, and praised. Without him, we'd be nothing. With him, we can have eternal life. He is the truth, the light, and the way. I want all to know and acknowledge all this so that they may be set free! May this goal be the goal of every one of us.
***Ready to Face God?
We'll never be perfect when we face God, but if you don't have any hesitation and is eager to go to him, you are OK—good enough to go.
Saturday, July 20, 2024
**Happiest Tears*
These are the ones to which you are moved when you genuinely sense or feel God's love for all of us. It follows that you are a happiest person when you know that God truly loves you.
**The Lord's Doing
Communion experience. The Lord made my soul presentable to him; I was ready for his judgment.
***We Are Precious to God***
Know that God has shed his own blood to free us from spiritual death, so we are absolutely precious to him. Therefore, let's keep our soul as spotless as possible. With his help, this becomes practically effortless.
***Going All Out for God*
The Lord God always goes all out for us and we need to go all out for him to live a purposeful and exciting life. So go all out to worship him, to adore him, to praise him, and to obey and serve him. Then we'll be blessed and rewarded to the max by him with eternal life securely in the bag.
***Reconciliation with God, a Must***
God has already paved the way for us to go to heaven. All we need to do is to reconcile with him. It's that plain and simple! So what's your problem?
***God's Beautiful Love*
It' the most beautiful thing in the whole universe. It is pure, meek, humble, most forgiving, but also most powerful, transforming, and capable of solving all our problems—it's the Lord God himself.
Friday, July 19, 2024
**God's Permanent Joy
I use eyedrops to keep the my eye pressures down. As I lay down in bed this morning to do the drops, I first turned on the clock radio by the bedside to see what's playing on the classical music station. It was a guitar concerto that sounded quite beautiful. Then I realized that this listening pleasure was only a passing one, while the joy of Christ I experience is already mine, dwelling in me forever! This realization is in itself a joy!
**Letting Go in the Lord
Communion experience. Receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist strengthens our union with him, readying us for living and dying for him.
**Triumphant Proclamation**
Today's psalm response from Isaiah 38.17: You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die. All faithful Christians already know this, but it sure was good to hear it proclaimed aloud five times at the reading of the psalm.
***Bravery or Cowardice
If you don't believe in Christ, that doesn't mean that he is not our Savior, for you may be dead wrong. As a believer, I know that no one will ever be able to prove that Christ is not our Savior! So all unbelievers are simply avoiding facing reality. Risking losing your soul for all eternity is not an act of bravery, but one of sheer cowardice and stupidity.
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