Hunger for Spiritual Learning

        I got well enough to resume going to morning Mass.  Praise Jesus.   The sickness made me appreciate every moment of life even more ~ it is not to be squandered away, but to be consumed in serving God.  I did not receive any strong thoughts for posting today; during Mass I just had a yearning for the Holy Spirit to teach me anything ~ a hunger for spiritual learning.  Any wisdom or "revelation" received from God is so much more exciting, rewarding, and beneficial than knowledge picked up at a scholarly institution.  It affects the heart and delights the soul.

We Own Nothing

        Today is the Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori.  The Communion verse, John 15.16, reads: "You have not chosen me; I have chosen you.  Go and bear fruit that will last."

        It got me thinking.  Jesus was actually telling us that God initiates the calling and we merely respond.  God is the source of all graces and we are the receptacles.  We really have nothing that's ours to give.  To start out, God made the whole of each of us.  We came into this world empty-handed.  If I consider anything that's already here mine, I would be like a robber taking what really doesn't belong to him.  This awareness helps me to remain humble and be detached from all things.  We are nothing and we cannot truly own anything ~ we can only belong (to God preferably).  Our duty is to follow God always.           

Soul More Important than Body

        I got the idea for this message from reading City of God by Mary of Agreda.  

        Body and soul ~ these are what each of us possesses.  The temporal goods are created by God for the sole purpose of sustaining life.  This need is easily satisfied, yet we devote so much time, so much care, so much physical exertion, and so much mental power to the life of the body, of which we know not the duration nor the end.  On the other hand, how much time do we spare on the poor soul?  For some, perhaps just  one hour near the end of life?  Such disproportion must be addressed and corrected for the sake of the soul, which is infinitely more important than the body.  

The Same True Church

        In Matthew 16, Jesus said to Peter, "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it."  Many Christian denominations and sects today claim that the Catholic Church had gone astray and no longer taught what Christ handed down, but none of them can pinpoint exactly when and how it happened.  Nevertheless, this claim basically says that the gates of the netherworld had prevailed against the Church, thus contradicting what Jesus had said.  In my view, this is a most serious offense committed against God.  I challenge all to read the early history of the Church and the writings of early church fathers to find out who had gone astray, the Church or those you're following who, interestingly enough, don't agree among themselves.  The fact that the Catholic Church alone has the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Eucharist, preserved for over 2,000 years speaks for itself.     

Returning to God Is Homebound

        To believe in God, you must acknowledge that he is the one who did create you ~ in fact, in his image.  Then you will realize that he, being your creator, is truly the dearest person to you.  By obeying and following him through Christ, you will return to him in heaven ~ that's going home to your Father who loves you and is waiting for you.  Remember this all the days of your life on earth.  

Learning in Sickness

        I've been quite sick, especially yesterday.  It could be a cold, allergy, or a virus, or mixed.  It started out with a sore throat, then followed by a running nose and a cough.  The last was the worst ~ a non-stopping cough can really hurt your entire chest.  I thought of how much a healthy person can do.  He can build a castle, a skyscraper, or even more; but a sick person is totally helpless in performing any physical work.  The only prayer I was able to say in this state was the holy name "Jesus."

        Good things that came out of sickness:  (1) I learned to be patient.  (2) I saw a chance to offer up my sufferings to God and be more united with Christ.  (3) Now that I know what suffering is like, I could mentally pray for the souls in purgatory.  It's my understanding that these souls depend totally upon our prayers as they have no power to alleviate their own sufferings in any way.  The saints in heaven cannot pray directly for them either, but they can intercede for us if we initiate such prayers.     

         

Sharing the Saints' Belief

        When Jesus asked Peter, "Who do he say that I am?"  Peter replied, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."  Today is the Memorial of St. Martha.  She also told Jesus, "I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”  It gives me great joy to know that the saints and I share the same belief.

Against Organized Religion?

        Many who do not believe in the Church often give the reason that they do not like organized religions.  If that's the case, then do they have a one-to-one relationship with God?  Do they ever kneel and pray to God on their own?  I doubt it very much.  I believe that it's a pretext they use most of the time for not wanting to submit themselves ~ the pride again.  "Don't tell me what to do" ~ you hear that all the time.  Pro-abortion people are like that.  Nations are like that.  People want to be their own god and we end up with billions of gods and a chaotic world.  Disobedience (pride) is the root of all disorder.   

Lord, Make Us Holy

        The Entrance verse, Reading 1 and the Responsorial Psalm at today's Mass are all about "dwelling."  We dwell in a physical body, we dwell in our house... but no dwelling place in this life is permanent or safe for us.  The only permanent, safe place is the Lord himself.  How wonderful it is to dwell in him all the days of our life now and forever later.  Don't forget that for us who were baptized in the Lord and receive the Blessed Sacrament worthily, the Lord dwells in us too.  Our cry to him must be "Make us holy" so that the Lord and we shall be comfortable dwelling in each other.

Avoid Making Sin Attractive

        I'm now going through The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Vol. 2.  She talks about the many things of the world making sin attractive...  "Making sin attractive" ~ this description stopped me in reading.  It's obvious a sin to make sin attractive to others.  I am thinking that if you open a shop just selling luxurious clothing to appeal to rich women's vanity or to make them look sexy ~ that's making sin attractive.  I can also mention video games, shows on TV, etc.  In summary, anything you do that makes others less holy is, to put it mildly, not a good idea since we are to bring all closer to God, who is all holy.   

Our Soul, God's Concern

        I developed a sore throat today and prayed for healing.  Of course, the Lord does not always comply with our request of this sort right away.  Then I realize that it's only with healing of the body that it is so.  With healing of the soul, he never delays ~ that's because the soul exists forever and is so much more important than the body, which is here today and gone tomorrow.  We repent for our sins and we are forgiven instantly.  The Lord is most concerned about our souls ~ he wants us to be perfect, to be holy ~ starting right now; whereas the body can wait.    

Letting God Affect Us

        In today's Reading 1 from Exodus 34 at Mass, we learned that while Moses was conversing with God, the skin of his face became radiant.  The Lord can truly affect us in a radical way.  Surrender to him and he'll make you heart radiant!  

Why Surrender Feels Good

        To have surrendered to God is to have conquered oneself ~ that's why it's such a good feeling.

Rejoice in the Lord

        At Mass this morning at the seminary chapel, I thought of the new parish church that'd be completed in a few months and morning Mass would probably be said at the new church and not at the seminary anymore.  I've been attending daily Mass at this chapel for over three and a half years and have received so many graces that the thought of going to Mass somewhere else  saddened me a little.  Then I heard the Lord pipe up saying that I should be detached from any physical location and that as long as he is in me, I should always rejoice.  Of course, he was right.     

The One Thing Sufficient for Us

        Love of God.

Power of the Holy Eucharist

        After receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist today, I heard myself saying interiorly "I'll never be the same again."  (Someone with musical talent could write a song with that title.) 

Forgetting Ourselves in Serving God

        Today is the Feast of St. James, Apostle.  In Reading 1 from 2 Corinthians 4, Paul talks about how he is constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus in serving the Corinthians and others.  Therefore, in serving the Lord we should forget all about ourselves and see Jesus alone in the ones we serve.  In fact, in praising the Lord, in worshipping him, in adoring him, we should also forget about ourselves and see the Lord only. 

Care More and Less

        Care more about the things of God to deepen your union with him and care less about the things of the world to gain more freedom of the heart.  (The goal: Care only about the things of God and nothing about the things of the world.) 

Amazing Lord and Servant

        I've been thinking that Jesus is our Lord, yet he's our servant at the same time ~ what an amazing combination!  If you look at his life, he was meek and humble, willingly giving up his own life on the cross; yet you know that he's no ordinary man, as his teaching was authoritative and his deeds awe-inspiring.  You adore and fear him at the same time.  The greatest came and stooped low to serve us ~ only God can accomplish this.

Jesus, the Judge of All Beauties

        Once you have discovered the beauty of Christ, all true beauties in the world are made even more beautiful and all false beauties are exposed and made ugly.  The beauty of the Lord judges all other beauties. 

The Holy Spirit Unveils Us

        Within each one of us, there is a conscience, but we can easily ignore or smother it and commit sins.  Once you let the indwelling Holy Spirit work on you, he unveils your conscience and makes you see clearly what's right and what's wrong. 

Where Is Your Treasure?

        St. Jerome used to spend much time reading profane works by the pagan writer Cicero and others.  During a sickness, he saw himself transported before the tribunal of God, who asked him who he was.  "I am a Christian," Jerrome replied.  "You lie," said the Judge.  "You are a Ciceronian; for where your treasure is, there also is your heart."  And the Judge ordered him to be scourged.    

        A good question to ask ourselves is: "Where is our treasure?"  Is it in reading trashy literature, in watching impure TV shows, in accumulating material possessions, or just indulging in worldly pleasures in general?   

What to Ask of the Lord?

        From today's Mass Reading 1, 1 Kings 3, we learn how in a dream the Lord asked Solomon to ask something of him and he would give it to him.  Solomon asked for an understanding heart to judge the people and to distinguish right from wrong.  The Lord was pleased because Solomon did not ask for a long life, nor riches, nor for the life of his enemies, but for understanding so that he might know what's right.  A good question to think about: Should the Lord ask you the same question, what would you ask for?  

Worth of the Kingdom of Heaven

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus taught his disciples thus: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.  When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."  An appropriate question: How much is the kingdom of heaven worth to you?

Prayer Motivation

        I prayed for an "enemy" today, someone who's been against me.  It's clear that the Lord wanted me to pray for his salvation, but then I also detected in the background that I was hoping that he wouldn't turn against me anymore.  Aha, I caught myself again.  A reminder that when we pray, we should do it for the glory of God alone and not to have things turn out to suit us, unless what suits us is clearly also for the glory of God.

Prayer Coverage

        Today I recall some of the things I haven't been praying for because I more or less accepted the status quo or thought that they were less urgent, but the Holy Spirit showed me that I should not forget them and that to think nothing is going to change is to give up hope, limiting God's mercy.  Therefore, I should pray for everything that's deposited in my heart and not pick and choose "favorites." 

On God Being with Us

        Jesus told his disciples that he would be with them always, until the end of the age.  So we know that God is with us, but what does that really mean?  I believe it means a lot more than just seeing what we are up to.  The Lord created us, so he knows all about us.  He knew us before we were born and knew all our thoughts before we express them.  Our hearts are totally exposed to him.  He is personal and intimate.  Therefore, when he is with us, he watches over us every moment and supports us every step of our way.  This is one amazing aspect of God.   

God Has the Right

        Still at the chapel after Mass, I became aware that God created me at the beginning and he should have the right to mold me in any way he wishes.  Therefore, I should always remain pliant and never rebel.

Christ's Love Overwhelming

        During contemplation after Mass, the beauty and goodness of Christ moved me to tears.  Everything else couldn't be further from my mind during those moments.  I just wanted all of me to be dissolved by his love.

Jesus Will Always Be with Us!

        In the Gospel from John 20 today, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed.  She wept because she thought others had taken Jesus from the tomb and now she didn't know where they put him.  A most touching scene.  Then I thought of us.  We are just so fortunate that we know exactly where the Lord is now and that he'll always be with us and that we'll always have him ~ cause for great rejoicing!

Same Father and God for All

        Today is the Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene.  Here's the Entrance verse from John 20:  "The Lord said to Mary Magdalene: Go and tell my brothers that I shall ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and to your God."  It's just so good to hear that we and the Lord share the same Father and the same God ~ we are one big family all along.  Rejoice and rejoice.

Ego, the Obstacle

        Before morning Mass during prayer, I saw that the ego is like a weight inside us.  If we just drop it, then our soul will be free to soar upward to God. 

Choose God's Ways

        So far I've read 2/3 of The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Vol. 1, a book 600 pages long.  What inspires me most were her obedience, meekness, and humility.  This morning I wondered how the world would eye Christ, should he show up meek and humble in every way.  Probably not very well at all.  Then we have St. John the Baptist who, aware how mighty and exalted Christ was, deemed himself not even worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.  What a contrast!  God's ways are certainly not our ways ~ let's humbly choose God's ways always.   

Growing in Holiness

        Before you go face any problem in life, pray for God's help and that he'll make you holier.  This last part is important because you want to deal with the problem as the Lord would himself and he is most holy.  Treat every problem as an opportunity for you to grow in holiness.   

How to Be at Peace

        Being at peace with yourself is only possible if you are already at peace with God. 

Invitation to Union

        Thoughts while receiving the Holy Eucharist.  How fortunate to receive the bread of heaven!  The Lord was ready for union ~ was I ready?  The desire was there, but I needed his help to make me worthy to accept his invitation. 

Is the Lord a Fair Giver?

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 13, we hear the Lord say: "To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away."  Does this sound like "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer"?  Actually, it's totally fair here because the one who has is the one open to the Lord's giving and the one who has not is closed to it.  A small difference makes a big difference.    

Obedience Is Beautiful

        During prayer before Mass this morning, "obedience" struck me a a most beautiful word, because it can bring us into perfect harmony with God, leading us to perfect freedom. 

God's Justice & Mercy

        God also made it clear to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich about his justice and mercy in this vision.

        She said, "Great is God's justice, but still more inconceivable is his mercy. He damns only those who are determined not to be converted; they who have a spark of good will are saved.  Those who grieve for their sins, confess them sincerely, and trust confidently in the merits of their Savior; they are saved and their sins will no longer be remembered.  It's true that they go to purgatory, but not to remain long.  On the other hand, many stay long in purgatory who, although not great sinners, have lived tepidly.  Through pride they would take no admonition or instruction from their confessor.  The time was when the thought of only one poor sinner's condemnation grieved me so that I could not get over it; but on the present occasion, though many were condemned, I was perfectly calm, for I saw that God's justice called for it." 

        (Those last lines really helped me.)

The Value of Prayer

        Anne  Catherine Emmerich had already been officially investigated by and declared Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich by the Church, but Catholics are in no obligation to believe in any private revelations.  Nevertheless, this following vision of hers is instructive to me.

        She was taken to a place to be shown how it is with our prayers before God.  They seemed to be inscribed on large white tablets which were divided into four classes: some were written in magnificent golden letters; others in shining silver; some in darker characters; and still others in black streaked lines.  The guide explained to her: "What's written in gold is the prayer of those who have united their good works to the merits of Jesus Christ and often renew this union; they aim at observing his precepts and imitating his example.

        "What's written in silver is the prayer of those who think not of union with the merits of Jesus Christ; but who are, notwithstanding, pious and pray in the simplicity of their hearts.

        "What's written in darker colors is the prayer of those who have no peace unless they frequently confess, communicate, and daily say certain prayers; but who are, however, tepid and perform their good works through habit.

        "Lastly, what's written in black streaked characters is the prayer of those who place all their confidence in vocal prayers and pretended good works, but who do not keep God's Commandments nor curb their evil desires.  Such prayer has no merit before God."

        (Again, you see that union with the Lord is best for us.)    

Danger of Gratification

        I continue reading The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich.  Her charity, humility, obedience, and willingness to suffer are truly remarkable.  She was favored with visions in her ecstasies.  Here's a short one that's both meaningful and interesting.

        Her angel led her across a narrow bridge safely and she saw on the bank a mousetrap around which a little mouse kept running and running, and at last slipped in to get the bait.  Anne cried out, "You are sacrificing your liberty, your life for a mouthful!"  ~ "Are men more reasonable," asked her angel, "when for a momentary gratification they endanger their soul's salvation?" 

Recipe for Inner Peace

        Live to please God alone and not care about what others think of you.

Think of God First

        If you see someone sin against the Lord, think first how it must bring sorrow to him, then pray for that person. 

Denying Ourselves Includes...

        being willing to accept sufferings coming our way.

To Counteract Sins

        I have started reading The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich, a holy, German nun (1774-1824), who took sufferings upon herself to expiate the sins of the Church and her members.  This picture comes to my mind.  Visualize every sin as a filthy raindrop falling on the Lord.  We have billions of people in the world with each of us committing numerous sins each day ~ now imagine how the Lord is being bombarded every single moment by us!  This visualization should prompt us to perform as many acts of love as possible to shield some of the drops from hitting him, providing some comfort.  It's most urgent and our duty to fulfill.

Motivation Purified

        Yesterday I posted that I felt that I was ready to go to Christ.  Today, I started examining my motivation during morning prayer.  Yes, the yearning was there because I love the Lord, then I also detected that deep down there was the desire to escape from some of the things that were somewhat bothersome to me right now.  So I realized that my motivation wasn't that pure.  The yearning can continue, but Jesus wants me to deal with all problems head-on with his help and not to want to run away from any of them.         

We Need to Know God

        God already knew us thoroughly, having created us ~ the question is whether we know him.  If we do, then how well?  The more we know him, the more we understand ourselves and our place before him, and the more we are set free.  Jesus, brighter than all the shining stars, has pointed the way to knowing him, who is God.  To ignore him is to be lost in the universe. 

Mary, Our Mother

        Mary is God's great gift to us.  From the cross, Jesus gave her to us as our Mother.  This makes us brothers and sisters to Christ.  Since the Lord gave her to us, then of course, we can communicate with her.  That's why we talk to her, asking her in intercede for us before the Father. 

        I love Holy Mother for the following reasons:  (1) She suffered greatly for the Lord's Passion.  (2) She's a most special and dear gift given to us by God.  (3) She always brings us closer to Jesus.  (4) She's most holy, most beautiful, and most loving, a perfect model for us to imitate.   

Ready to Go to God?

        I've mentioned that sometimes I feel that I am ready to go to God.  Today after I received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, I felt that way, then I heard the Lord asking me if I had already lived up to how I felt?  What he wanted to tell me was that if I still had things in this world to cling to, then I wasn't really ready yet.  A good question for me at this time to consider. 

To Be Free for God

        It came to my mind that we all have mementos, things of sentimental value, and, I should include, nostalgic memories.  The Lord has shown to me that all such things are to be detached from us, since knowing him alone is all that matters.  Again, his thoughts are not our thoughts and I know that he's right.  To be free for him, let nothing of the world hold us back.