In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus told the parable of the sower to his disciples. He likened us hearing the word of the kingdom to the ground receiving the sower'e seed. The seed could be sown on the path, on rocky ground, among thorns, or on rich soil. I think the case of the seed sown among thorns best describes most of us today. This is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. Pray that we are like the seed sown on rich soil, the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
Friday, July 26, 2024
Thursday, July 25, 2024
***Inspiring Wake-Up Speech***
Here's a clip of Bishop Barron's talk at this year's 10th National Eucharistic Congress which just concluded four days ago in Indianapolis, Indiana.
***Baseless Fear***
It is common that we follow Christ, but do not abandon ourselves completely to him for fear that he may make us do things against our will. Let me first say that this fear is totally baseless. You see, the Lord understands us thoroughly and knows how we can best serve him, so he would never make us do anything that is beyond our readiness or capability. He prefers that we offer to serve him first. Now, when we don't abandon ourselves all the way, it's because we still don't want him to be our Lord fully yet. This is due to our lack of humility. Let's recall what Jesus said in Luke 9:62: No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God. To follow Christ is to follow him only and not yourself!
***Heaven More Real than Earth
We live in a real world, but I now see that heaven is even more real because up there with the Lord God, you'll see the whole truth clearly with your life on earth looking more like an old bad dream. To return to the loving Father in heaven is to wake up and leave all your nightmares behind forever!
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
***The Lord Knew Us All Along!***
In today's reading 1 from Jeremiah 1, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you." We are the same to the Lord: He knew us before we were born and had a plan for each of us to follow. Our role may not be as distinct as Jeremiah's, but nevertheless, it should become as meaningful to him if we followed his plan. Realizing this alone should make us feel blessed and want to rejoice in the Lord.
***Limitless with God***
With the Lord God, we are dealing with infinity, for nothing is impossible for him. And we can go infinity too! There is no limit to how much we can love him, abandon ourselves to him, ask for favors from him, obey him, and pray to him with great fervency. This is precisely what makes following the Lord God so exciting and such a joy!
**God to Be En...
The Lord God is to be worshipped, adored, and praised, for we trust in and love him. But don't forget that he is to be enjoyed by us too! He is most enjoyable because if you love him with all your heart, he will fill it with unspeakable joy unexpectedly from time to time, totally delighting the soul.
**Only What Belongs to God Remains
Tow days ago, I wasn't able to turn on the house alarm. Couldn't figure out what's wrong, as all window and door contacts looked fine. Arming and disarming it repeatedly didn't seem to reset anything. Then all of a sudden this morning before I left for Mass, the green light on the panel was on, showing that the house was ready to be armed. I realized that in this world, problems come and go, so don't let any of them make you lose your peace. They pass and only what belongs to God remains forever. Remain in the Lord and let everything else go by.
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
**A Christian's Calling
Taking care of just myself is easy since I already belong to Christ. It's taking care of all others in the world that takes much work and prayer. A Christian is called to help the Lord save as many souls as possible, as his last instruction to the Eleven before his ascension was "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)
*****Secret to Enteriing Heaven*****
In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 12, while Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him about this. But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Now we know how to belong to God the Father's family in heaven! Joy should now fill us throughout our whole life!
***A Special Revelation*
As sinners, we'll be held responsible for the sins we have committed in the end—no escape here! Once we realize this, we'll want to stop sinning and become perfect. And we realize that we are being called to become like Jesus Christ.
Monday, July 22, 2024
***Christ the Complete Truth***
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.
*****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.
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