Knowing You're Loved

        I am loved by God. I am also loved by all the angles and saints in heaven. On earth I am loved by every single brother and sister truly in Christ. I wouldn't be surprised that the total number exceeds one hundred million. In reality, every person is loved by God. It's knowing Christ that has made me aware that I am loved by God and all the others. 

God's Chosen Gift

        In today's Gospel reading from John 17 at morning Mass, Jesus prayed earnestly to the Father that all believers may be one in him and the Father. He made it clear that we believers are the Father's gift to him. Regarding us as a gift to him, Jesus must be so pleased with and appreciative of us. Knowing that we have been chosen by the Father to be worthy as a gift to the Son, we should be pleased with ourselves and appreciative of the Father's love for us. It's love and appreciation all around.        

Road to God Is Clear

        The early morning sky was beautifully clear with not a cloud in sight. And the Lord made me see that the road to him for us is also clear without his placing any obstacle in the way. He is eagerly waiting for us at his end. If we accept and believe in Christ, we are saved, for he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The only thing that prevents us from reaching God is our own unwillingness to get going.     

Jesus Our Intercessor

        In today's Gospel reading at Mass from John 17, we learn that Jesus interceded for all those whom the Father had given him. He prayed that they might be one, protected and guarded them so that no one was lost. I just feel good that I am totally secure under his wing and am grateful that he cares for us so much. He makes my day every day. 

Thoughts Affecting Inner Peace

        Since God knows all our thoughts and he is the source of our peace, any impure, sinful, or inappropriate thought we have directly affects our inner peace ~ we are just made that way. When our thoughts are all pure, we are at peace, and we and God are one. At the other extreme, there are those who do not hear the gospel  or do not want to know Christ ~ they have succumbed to the world and their thoughts can't be further away from God. Happy and blessed are those who are pure in their thoughts and have peace in their hearts.

Transforming Power

        At Mass today, when the priest was consecrating of the bread and the wine in the Eucharist, I saw that the changing of the elements of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ is indeed a miracle and that through receiving the Holy Eucharist, we receive power to transform ourselves. This awareness gave me tremendous support. 

State of the Union

        Here "Union" refers to union with God. In that state, God fills all of us and we become so happy and content that we no longer seek anything else for ourselves. God is all one needs.

Holy Spirit, Abode of Peace

        With Pentecost coming up next Sunday, my thoughts turn to the Holy Spirit. The Father wants us to stop all inner struggling on our own and rest in the Holy Spirit so that we may enjoy perfect peace. Let's fulfill Jesus' wish for us to have peace. 

On Wishful Thinking

        Wishful thinking is basically ego-prompted ~ you imagine things turning out well to feed your ego. One the other hand, when you imagine things going bad, you start to worry because you realize that things may go against your wish. In any case, one free of ego does not imagine things in one way or another. The entire focus is on following the Lord single-mindedly. Jesus is our perfect example. When he was on earth, he did not imagine nor worry about things ~ he was the most realistic person. Wishful thinking indicates the presence of ego and the lack of inner peace.  

God's Gentle Love

        At today's Mass, Reading 1 from Acts 20 tells us that Paul laid his hands on twelve men in Ephesus and they received the Holy Spirit. We who have been baptized in Christ already have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. The Holy Spirit has mighty power, yet he is most gentle. To receive power from him, we must first surrender ourselves to him and pray sincerely. Surrendering to the Holy Spirit is surrendering to God. The fear or uneasiness people feel in surrendering to God all comes from within, for the Holy Spirit could not have given it to them. Knowing how gentle the Holy Spirit is should put our mind at ease when we surrender to God.

Union Most Intimate

        Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. During Communion, I felt the sweet intimacy of union with the Lord. The closest possible union between two human beings is for them to be soul mates with both in union with the Lord, but another human being can never touch or penetrate my inner soul as God can. Union with God with the aid of the Holy Eucharist is to become God's soul mate and unite with him at the most fundamental level, returning to our creator who loves us.

What God Knows

        There are so many scandals out there being revealed in the public media. Those who got caught are in trouble with the law now. But, of course, even if they were not caught, they're in trouble with God already. Some people think that if they can hire a good lawyer to beat the court, then they are home free ~ they forget that being free is not being free of guilt, for only God removes sins. What we think or what the court thinks is not that important compared to what God knows! 

What's Your Joy?

        Yesterday I did not have the chance to do any posting because I was away in another city, attending a university commencement for a relative's graduation. Most of the over 4,000 graduates were jubilant. Families and friends carrying flowers and balloons were everywhere. After the ceremony, there was the posing for pictures around campus. Dinners, banquets, and parties had been planned for the rest of the day. It was a big day for the graduates and the joy was palpable. But then I saw that this joy stemming from a temporary relief would be short-lived. I didn't believe that many of the graduates would be able to find a good job today as this relative of mine hadn't yet. Joy is similar to faith in this way ~ it is long-lasting only if it's deeply grounded in something solid and firm. The joy of God is in that category.       

Joyful Boast

        I have called upon the name of Jesus thousands of times. Yesterday it dawned on me that I had been calling God by his first name! God and I are on an intimate first-name basis ~ something I can joyfully boast about. 

To Be Free Is To...

(1) live to please God alone,

(2) not care about your own reputation (what others think of you),  

(3) not be concerned about how your prayers are going to be answered,

(4) rejoice when someone else loves the Lord more than you do,

(5) never look down on someone who might not be as advanced as you spiritually,

(6) ...

        Actually, (1) is all I need to have put down as it covers the rest.

True or False

        Yesterday's Gospel Acclamation at Mass was John 16.28: "I came from the Father and have come into the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." Read it one more time. To the believer, what Jesus had said was absolutely true. To the nonbeliever, Jesus must be a false prophet or someone "demential" ~ no way around it! The Lord always challenges us (for our good).     

It All Has to Do with Love

        Since our love is not perfect, we can be pushed to the limit and stop loving, thereby loosing our inner peace and freedom. Just look at our own world. By contrast, God's love is perfect, making him holy and infinitely patient. He then remains free forever and is the source of all peace.

Three-Way Love

        As disciples of Jesus, we are to be the light of the world. Our light is to let all others see that God loves them and that we love God. We love God because he loves us. We love others because we love God ~ his love for all is demonstrated through our love for him.

Joy with Jesus

        In today's Gospel reading at Mass from John 16, Jesus knew that he's going to the Father in a little while and he told his disciples that they would weep and mourn, but their grief would turn into joy. When that happens, they would no longer remember the grief. 

        I can recall my own past sufferings and pains, both physical and mental; but since I am enjoying the Lord so much now, I don't ever think about those days anymore (no regret either). "When you are in love, the whole world looks beautiful" ~ it has that kind of effect. With Jesus, joy always wins out. Looking ahead, we see eternal life awaiting us in heaven and all present sorrows will be forgotten ~ so why not start "forgetting" them right now?           

Timely Questions for All

         For the nonbeliever: How much time do you have left in your life?

       For the believer: How much do you love the Lord? (Are you willing to surrender to him to seek union with him?) 

Union Most Satisfying

        In the state of union with God, one has no more desire to see apparitions or witness miracles because he already has the Lord in him, satisfying all his desires.

Total Occupation with God

        When you are in union with the Lord, figuratively you don't see, hear, or feel yourself anymore ~ you see, hear, and feel only him.

The Taking Away of Sins

        I know that Jesus takes away our sins, but what does that really mean? Of course, it means that the Savior has once and for all crushed the power of sin and given us the hope of salvation. More specifically, if a believer sins and repents (or goes to confession in the case the sin is serious), he is then forgiven and made whole again. Often, the same or another sin is committed again ~ this only shows that the tendency to sin is still there. But the Lord can take care of that too! Seek union to be holy and Christlike and he will eradicate your tendency to sin and take away your sins permanently. 

Don't Mind Others

        I've been observing others and notice that a lot of people do not have peace in them because they are not generous enough to tolerate others who might have offended them either unintentionally or deliberately, or who have not lived up to their expectations. Examples are getting bothered by someone who has an odd mannerism; being disappointed in someone not showing any consideration or gratitude for what he has received; seeing someone not acting in accordance with conventional custom... These are really forms of judging on the same level as gossiping. If you cannot tolerate such others, how can you expect God to tolerate you? Just let them all go in God so that you may have peace in you. 

Better or Worse than You Think

        Before God, if you consider yourself to be the greatest sinner, you may be a saint already. But if you believe that you are OK and good enough for God, you are definitely worse than you think ~ for lack of humility. (Read the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Luke 18.9-14.)

God, Source of Mercy & Peace

        Just before we receive Holy Communion at Mass today, after fraction of the Bread all asked the Lamb of God to have mercy on us twice and then grant us peace once. I felt that I was totally at God's mercy and that he is the source of all my peace. It is absolutely true that everything in heaven and on earth is at God's mercy and that true inner peace can only come from God. 

Ego as Your Guide

        Do not do anything if you feel that doing it is prompted entirely or just partly by your ego. It may be to give God glory, but the time may not be right yet. When the time is right, God will let you know and you will have peace. Peace is the sign by which you know if the ego is involved or not. (Hint. Extinguish the ego first and you won't have this problem.)        

Too Late to Be a Saint?

        Never! If God can raise the dead, he certainly can turn a living person into a saint. If you disagree, then you must not think highly of yourself and/or God's power. It's never too late ~ your willingness is the only determining factor.

To Know God...

be like Christ first, then you'll know exactly how he feels.

To Go Deeper in Love

        Some nice people, friends or family members, express their love by helping you whenever they can, in different ways, but they never seem to be interested in finding out how you're feeling or what you are really up to. I may be too harsh by saying that this is rather like going to Mass every Sunday just to discharge your obligation. To really love Jesus, you want to know him well, to find out what his joys and sorrows are, and what his will is for you at all times. Similarly, to love someone deeper is to explore that person deeper, finding out what his true wishes and feelings are, and go from there.         

Thoughtful God

        When you live in God, not only he shields you from all evil, he also keeps you clean on the inside so that you may continue to enjoy your residency ~ most thoughtful of him! 

God Always a Consolation

        Sometimes I have trouble finding the right words to express my inner feelings to God, then I realize that he looks into my heart and already knew what's there ~ lucky for me. God is always a consolation to us (and a step ahead of us).

All About Trust

        Through Saint Faustina, Jesus spread the message of his Divine Mercy, letting us know that we can trust in him. To trust means no more wondering, no more questions, and no more concern about what might or might not happen. Complete trust brings tremendous freedom! ("Jesus, I Trust in You!") 

Keeping Life Simple

        Jesus wants to simplify our lives ~ he never gave us any complicated rules; he only wants us to love. To do more is to make life complicated ~ misery then is bred. Make love our sole motivation for living, then we live in God and will enjoy peace.  

God the Great Makeover Artist

        The story of St. Augustine is an inspiration ~ it shows how God can change a great sinner into a great saint. Brothers and sisters, God can change us again and again, making each day more beautiful. Let God give you a complete and thorough makeover.

On Way to Judgment

        With zillions of actions going on and happening around the world, most of which not good, we truly are living in a chaotic, disordered world. I see all of us caught in a whirlpool, being tossed, churned, and pulled downward in slow motion. Eventually, everything will hit the bottom ~ this is the Day of Judgment. God will then settle all cases in his court and chaos will end and order return with everyone put in his right place.   

Best Place to Remain In

        Today is the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle, and the Gospel reading is the same as yesterday's at Sunday Mass ~ John 15.9-17. Most beautiful is when Jesus asks the disciples to remain in his love. Imagine resting in his love, being soaked with his love, and living in his love at all times! Give me the most expensive and luxurious penthouse of all Manhattan and I'll choose the love of Lord to live in anytime.   

Freedom, Peace, and Joy

        After you believe in and have come to know Jesus, since he is the true God, he sets you free ~ this is the first experience. This experience of freedom naturally leads you to inner peace ~ the second experience. As for joy, the Holy Spirit will give it to you whenever he pleases ~ the surprise enhances the joy.

Greatest Love Practiced

        Jesus has taught and shown us that the greatest love is to lay down one's life for one's friends (John 15.13). So why not show our greatest love by laying down our lives in serving others?

How We Live Comes True

        If we live as if there will be no next life, then there will be no next life for us; but if we live as if there will a next life, then there will be one for us after we die.

Grateful for Old Age

        If we have reached an old age, we should be grateful not because we have lived longer in this world, but because we have been give more time to grow holier before meeting God. 

Knowledge as an Obstacle

        In today's society, at least in this country (USA), people know so much, kids included. After all, this is the information age. What's sad to see is that so many people talk as if they know everything! They are opinionated, vocal, and even boastful. Showing some humility couldn't be further from their minds. They are not even aware that they are being self-centered and foolish in God's eyes. The knowledge of the world can be as dangerous as other things of the world that blind us from seeing God.

More than God

        Another quick thought: The Christian God is not just God, he is also our Redeemer!

In Touch with Heaven

        After receiving Holy Communion today, I realized that I had just received the bread of heaven. Then the Holy Spirit is from heaven too, so being the temple of the Holy Spirit is to have the heavenly guest residing within me. Heaven and I are definitely in touch with each other. 

Our "Resurrection"

        The Entrance verse today at Mass, Colossians 2.12: "You were buried with Christ in baptism, in which you were also raised again with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead." So you could say that we who have died in Christ and become new creatures in him have already gone through a resurrection. Indeed, the Lord raised us from the dead.

Real Presence Felt

        I just realize that my constant awareness of the presence of the Lord dwelling within me is due to the fact that he is truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Eucharist, which I receive at each Mass.

What's Important to Gain?

        We go to a gymnasium to exercise, work out hard, and eventually achieve a better-looking and stronger physique. We attend a higher-learning institution, study hard, read extensively, and become a well-educated and -informed intellectual. But we neglect to pray and nurture our faith in God so that we may evolve into a holier person. Isn't gaining eternal life so much more important than acquiring temporarily a well-proportioned body or a headful of knowledge?

What to Ask from the Father

        In today's Gospel, John 15, Jesus called his disciples his friends and he told them that he had chosen them and appointed them to go out and bear fruit, so that whatever they ask from the Father in his name, the Father may give them. Obviously, "whatever" doesn't include anything going against God's will. Therefore, you can be confident that if you ask God to make you holier, to draw you to union with him, he will readily comply.  

Seek Union First

        In today's Mass Reading 1 from Acts 15, the Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church, sent representatives to Antioch to correct the problem of some who went out without any mandate from the Church, upsetting others with their teachings. The unity of the faith must be maintained (Church of Ireland, take note.) If we oppose the teaching of the Church, we can not possibly be in union with Jesus. Seek union with the Lord first, then we'll have the wisdom and humility to know what's right and what's wrong.

To Sink or to Soar

        The rich are attached to their wealth and the poor want to become rich. In general, people are attached to what they already have and want to acquire even more things of the world. How to cure this problem? 

        Imagine that you are in your dying hour right now, luckily still with a clear mind. What are your thoughts? Are you looking forward to meeting God or still thinking or even worrying about what's going to happen to all your material possessions? Jesus has made it clear that we cannot serve both God and money. A soul heavily weighed down by material things is like a sinking ship, while one that chooses God first is more like a helium-filled balloon, eager to soar to God.