Essence of True Living

        A simpler definition than two days ago. The essence of true living is to let God love you.

Abiding in the Lord

        This is what I learned from the Lord today. It's easy to get zealous about wanting to glorify God in some way, but he made me see that I must not think about what I can do or gauge my spiritual progress by looking at what I have accomplished. No, no, no ~ he wants me to take every step following him, as the Holy Spirit leads. Sometimes nothing seems to happen, but it's the abiding in him that he desires. I am to remain in step with the Holy Spirit at all times, no matter where he is taking me to. This is the way he wants me to keep peace within me.                 

Becoming One with Christ

        Today's Communion experience. When I received the Holy Eucharist, I knew I was with Jesus and we became one and inseparable like a little branch already grafted into him, the main vine.

"Do Not Be Afraid"

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 6 at Mass, Jesus walked on the sea toward his disciples in a boat. When they saw him, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, for they were terrified. Then at once Jesus spoke with them, "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!" I know that Jesus said "do not be afraid" on numerous other occasions, so we should take it to heart. Indeed, with him with us at all times, there is truly nothing to be afraid of. Even if we lose our life, we'll be in heaven with him. 

In Spiritual Emergency

        At Mass, I also became aware of the horrible state of our world. There are just so many tragic events happening everywhere every moment you feel that your prayers can't even keep pace with the rate at which they're taking place. Using Isaiah's description: We are a people walking in darkness and dwelling in a land of deep gloom. Today's Communion antiphon was 1 John 1.2: "That life which was with the Father became visible, and he appeared to us." Why don't we turn to Christ? Is it because we are so sinful that we are afraid of the shining light? The need for us to love God is so great and urgent now that I feel the door will not stay open long! We need to repent without delay and go directly to Christ to seek safe refuge in him.

The Essence of True Living Is...

finding God and loving him.

To Be Fair to God

        Before Mass began this morning, I was made aware of how much God had given us. He had gone as far as he could, sacrificing himself on the cross on our behalf, whereas we do not even listen to him most of the time and when we do, our effort is often so very feeble ~ it's just not fair! The very least we could do is to submit ourselves totally to him.

Loving God Is Different

        I see people who run races, ride bicycles, or lift weights in a competitive event push themselves to the very limit, risking injuries, striving to do a little better than before. By contrast I see that in loving God, you have the exact opposites. First, you remain passive instead of pushing yourself hard, so as to let God do the work. Second, there is no limit to reach because God can draw you to him as far as he wants. Last, there is no risk of injuries of any kind. In fact, the closer you're drawn to God, the safer you are from all evil. 

The Holy Eucharist Miracle

        Today's Communion experience. I felt great satisfaction and deep fulfillment. Receiving the Holy Eucharist is letting God enter me, fill me, take care of me, empower me, and work his will through me. It is a miracle!

          [Interesting to read from part of St. Ignatius of Antioch's letter to the Romans which Fr. Groeschel included at the end of his chapter on the saint (see my last post) what Ignatius said about the Holy Eucharist: "I take no delight in corruptible food or in the pleasure of this life. I want the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was David's seed, and for drink I want his blood, the sign of his imperishable love."]

How Are We Doing as Christians?

        Many of you probably know about the Franciscan friar Fr. Benedict Groeschel. I first saw him on EWTN TV. I love and respect him for his love for God and the Church, and I value his opinions on numerous issues as well as his spiritual insights. Even though he has been a prolific author, it is the first time that I am reading his book The Saints in My Life. The first saint he talks about is St. Ignatius of Antioch, one of the early Church Fathers, who died a martyr around A.D. 108. He was a truly fearless Christian who lived for Christ alone. Never did he ever stop urging all to trust and abandon themselves in God. After I finished reading the short chapter on this saint, I realized how weak the faiths of our generations are! I feel prompted to examine ourselves with these questions: (1) How much do we believe in God? (2) How much do we live for Christ? (3) How much are we detached from the world? The correct answer to each question should be 100%. So how much do we fall short?

      Last thought. If you do not know Jesus or his Church yet, I urge you to read the writings of the Church Fathers, the earliest of whom personally knew the Apostles. 

Awe-Inspiring Truth

        This is the first thought I had before Mass this morning. The Holy Eucharist is the vehicle for achieving union with God. The mercy of God is great because of his humility, as shown by his sending his own Son to become one of us and to die in our place. If we are to be united with God, we must be likewise humble. Now, to receive the Holy Eucharist with great humility, we can actually become like God ~ this is absolutely awe-inspiring! For a moment I had trouble believing that this could be true.

Jesus Pure Enjoyment

        Today's Communion experience. I felt that Jesus was pure enjoyment, more enjoyable than all the best vacations I could possibly take. I just wanted to jealously guard this treasure in me. [Of course, this treasure can be anyone's if that person loves him enough.]

A Jolting Thought

        Following the train of thought in the last post, I see that not receiving the Holy Eucharist reverently is not taking the Lord seriously, so when you face him later, he may not take you seriously either.

Are You Fearless in Christ?

        Some Catholics in business try to hide the fact that they are Catholic for fear that it may turn some of their customers off and lose them. In Matthew 7, Jesus said, "As you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you." Again, in Matthew 10, he said, "Whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father." Fair enough. Then obviously, if we are ashamed of letting others know that we follow Christ, he will be ashamed of us later. True Christians are always proud of their faith and live their lives fearlessly in the Lord.

Hard but True Sayings

        Today's Communion verse at Mass was Matthew 19.29: "Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or father of mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life." This provocative saying brings to mind what Jesus said in John 6, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." This hard saying shocked even his disciples and as a result, many of them stopped following him.

        Of course, if you believe that Jesus is the Lord, then all his sayings make perfect sense. In my case, I have already received a hundred times more in this life (just for the peace and freedom the world cannot give alone) and am looking forward to inheriting the next part. 

The Greatest Journey

         Today is the Memorial of St. John Neumann, Bishop. The Gospel reading came from John 1. Jesus found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Then Philip found Nathanael and brought him to see Jesus. After Nathanael found out that Jesus saw him under the fig tree even before Philip called him, Nathanael responded, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." 

        Looking back, I remember the day I decided to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, the day I entered the Catholic Church receiving the Body and Blood of the Lord in the Holy Eucharist for the first time, the day I got baptized by the Holy Spirit in the Charismatic Renewal within the Church, and the day I surrendered to the Lord seeking union with him. These were all defining moments, marking the high points in my life. Each successive move drew me closer to God. And of course, the critically important question of eternal life got all settled. A life-changing journey to God has to be the greatest journey you can possibly take.

Reality Realized

        Today's Communion experience. Reality hit me. God is real; his love is real; I received real Christ in the Holy Eucharist; and there was real union with him. Again, what are true remains real for all eternity and time became irrelevant.

Following the Lord at Any Time

       In today's Gospel reading from John 1 at Mass, we read how Andrew and his brother Simon Peter came to follow Jesus. John the Baptist was standing with two of his disciples, and as Jesus walked by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two heard it and followed Jesus. They stayed with him that day. One of the two was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Andrew then found his brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah," and brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter. 

         We do not have Jesus to follow physically, but we can follow him spiritually and get as close to him as Andrew and Peter. It's the same Lord for all eternity, so the gap in time is absolutely immaterial.

Living Martyrs

        Today is the Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious. She was not a martyr like many other saints who suffered death for Christ's sake. Then I thought that we could be living martyrs too. As long as we are willing to live for Christ alone, we should be willing to die for him. Whether we actually meet physical death or not, it's the willingness that counts. If our old self has already died with Christ and is now a new creature in him, we should be ready to live as martyrs.

Are We Robbers Too?

        We live in a materialistic society. Our strong attachment to material things easily turns us into slaves. You might say that we become possessed with our possessions. In the parable of the rich man Jesus told in Luke 12, God said to the man, "You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have stored up, to whom will they belong?" Of course, God owns everything in the first place and nothing can really be considered to be ours. To think otherwise is to rob God of what belongs to him. We are now not just fools, but also robbers!

Humility Praised

        Humility has to be the most outstanding virtue among all the virtues. A person with humility thinks nothing of himself, yet receiving full attention from the Lord. A person with humility is secure in the Lord and safe from all evil. Without humility, one will not find God. With humility, he will be shown the doorway to heaven. And it is also the prerequisite for attaining union with God. Look to Jesus, the supreme model of this great virtue.

We Can Be Geniuses!

        There are all kinds of geniuses around. Kit Armstrong, whom you can watch on YouTube, studied piano with Alfred Brendel. At nine, he already performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 24. He playing of Bach, Beethoven, and Schubert is most impressive, besides also being a composer and studying higher mathematics. He is definitely a genius. Most of us may be talented, but are not in that category. Then I realize that we do not need any special talent in loving God ~ all we need is an open, willing heart. So why not become a genius in loving God? Furthermore, we also build up treasure in heaven at the same time. Think about it.

A Call to Battle

        The Teens Defending Life  puts out a short, quite powerful pro-life video on YouTube. As usual, you find some outrageous, extreme comments there too. One commented, "god is a lie so removing a fetus that has no understanding of anything in the outside world will not hurt it ... if my mother didnt want me then so be it better to be dead than unwanted by your own mother , also who will look afte the millions of babys if they were all born , not you thats for sure". This is exactly the the way written. I looked up the uploader's background and found out that at least he seems to be still a teenager. Another comment later from a different person was so sickening that I can not even make myself read it again. Jesus, heave mercy on us!

       Anyway, the word "lie" in the first comment got me thinking. God never lies, period. Satan is the big liar and he's got so many others fooled and they all start to lie or talk nonsense. Souls are at stake ~ it's our fight for the eternal survival of all. So, let's join together to fight this critical battle by using all the time we have left in this life to love and serve the Lord to the best of our ability. This is my New Year's call.

Good News for All

        You've heard the Chinese proverb "Every great journey begins with a single step." Nothing is said about the completion of the journey. I have a better one: "Every great journey can be completed with God's help." And there is no greater journey than seeking union with God! The end of this journey may seem so far away as to be unreachable, but anything big to us is nothing to God. Give him the permission and he can get you there fast ~ it's his drawing that does all the work. So my good news for the New Year to all is that to become a saint for God's glory is within the reach of every single one of us, you and me.

My New Year's Resolution

            It is officially 2013...a little closer to Jesus' Second Coming. Will the world ever be ready for it? I just hope that the answer is not a no.

        My resolution for the New Year is let Jesus continue to work on me. Due to decades of living basically a self-centered life, to be thoroughly cleansed of all the residuals of old ways, habits, conditioned responses, etc. takes time. For example, when someone needs the Lord's help and asks me to pray for him or her, I would gladly oblige. Even though I sincerely hope that the prayer will be answered for the sake of the one who requests it, I also detect the thought that I so hope so that the person may think that I am close to God. This realization "horrifies" me, because once I start praying, how effective I am should not be of my concern anymore. Checking just to see how many more people have looked at my blog is another example. If I truly leave all matters in God's hands, then that number should not be of my concern either.    

           It comes down to trusting in the Lord by focusing upon him alone and forgetting totally about oneself. Only such trust leads to complete freedom. 

Truth Hard to Swallow

        I read a comment on a YouTube video. The writer said she left the Catholic Church because she was not comfortable with the teaching on sins, eternal damnation, etc. She wanted to find a religion that makes her feel good. My suggestion would be not to pick any religion, then she could do whatever she pleases. In today's first reading at Mass from 1 John 2, the apostle mentions that many antichrists have already appeared. In the Gospel from John 1 that followed, we heard read, "Jesus came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him." The division had started right from the beginning. It just shows that truth is hard to swallow.

       I don't like to end the year on this somewhat sour note; but again, reality is rarely pleasant. Then the bright and shining hope given to us by God through Christ has made it possible for us to endure it all.

Some Signs of Holiness

        (1) Willing to listen more and talk less to others (more difficult with those you know well).

        (2) Willing to help those who do not love you.

        (3) Not expecting any reward after helping others. 

In God Only We Trust

        We see "IN GOD WE TRUST" printed on the back of all US bills. I'd like to advocate that in God only we trust. This is not saying that all others cannot be trusted or would not help us when we are in need. We still love them, but placing our trust in God alone ensures that he is Number 1 in our lives. When we do this, we eliminate all disappointments in our lives. 

We Become like God

       Today is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The following thoughts came to me before Mass began.

         Since we were created by God, we belong to God. Then naturally, we should obey God. By obeying him, we then become like him. 

On Using Our Talents

        This is something I have posted about, so here's taking another look at it. I was a pretty good photographer with a unique, personal vision. I reached the point that you could pretty much tell that it was my work when you see it. In those days I spent a lot of time and energy pursuing photography. Like most other artists, I justify what I was doing by telling myself that I was just using my God-given talent. Of course, the motives to become well-known and to make some money were there too. Was I justified?

        This is how I see it in general today: 

        (1) If what I do helps to bring others closer to God in some way, then I am doing the right thing.  

       (2) If not, then no matter how talented I am, what I do is basically self-centered or at most neutral. [If I were still doing photography today, I would do it with detachedness so that it never gets in the way of serving God first.] 

Unique Joy from Jesus

        Jesus also sets the standard for our joy. The joy he gives to the soul comes directly from him, purifying the heart and intoxicating the spirit. All the joys you receive from the world are just not on the same level, if you can call them joy.

A Sad State of the Soul

        Jesus, our ultimate judge, came into this world and showed us clearly what is good and what is evil. Tragically, today there are still so many who sin so easily and are not even aware that they are offending God!        

God to Be Taken Seriously

        It is almost the end of 2012, less than one and a half days away. People have started making New Year's resolutions. Looking ahead, I feel great sorrow when I see the shape our present world is in. Every day you read about terrible, senseless killings all around the globe, resulting in the losses of innocent lives, including women and children ~ does human life mean anything anymore? And I must again mention the evil of abortion. Due to its sheer magnitude and horror, this evil has to be ranked ahead of all other crimes. Of course, besides the obvious killings, there are myriad other, shall we say, subtler sins. One particular example that offends me personally are those TV talk shows on which sordid personal stories are exposed for the sole purpose of entertaining an audience with absolutely no sense of any shame. I hope that they really don't know what they are doing!

        I am neither a prophet nor one of those doomsday forecasters, but I do believe that we cannot go on offending God without any chastisement coming our way. In Luke 17 (and Matthew 24), Jesus said, "In the days of Noah before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all." [I am thinking that the sinking of the Titanic also happened unexpectedly, when passengers were still enjoying the luxuries of the ship. Then those who lost their lives in the recent tsunamis didn't have any idea of what's coming to them either.] Let's also remember the prophecy given to us through our Holy Mother at Fatima during the time of World War I ~ she warned the world that if people did not cease offending God, another worse war would happen, and that was the World War II we had.

        We must absolutely take God seriously or take the consequences.

A Fantastic Leap

        Today's Communion Experience. It amazed me that I could receive the Lord. I am a great sinner and he is all holy. I finite and he infinite. I a creature and he my creator. I totally helpless on my own and he omnipotent. I nothing and he everything. I must learn to love and he is love. Now, receiving the Holy Eucharist actually brought me into union with him! Imagine the Lord reaching all the way down from heaven to lift me all the way up to his heart ~ what a fantastic leap for me!

No Escape from God

        The Lord showed me that not one iota of what we think, say, or do goes unnoticed by him. For whatever we do for love of him, we will be rewarded in this life or if not, the next. For whatever sin, big or small, committed against him, we will be exposed. His mercy is great, but his judgment is precise. Expel all darkness in your heart, mind, and soul now so that you may be ready for the light of the Lord to shine upon you.

A Free, Loving Relationship

        I realize that since God has given each of us a unique soul with free will, he never forces himself on us the way evil spirits take possession of a soul. The Lord will never makes us into his puppets or slaves. Even when we are in union with him, there is always interaction going on ~ we talk and listen to, or even argue with each other, continuing building up the loving relationship.

Love God Under Any Circumstances

        We may never experience visions or ecstasies, we may go through dark nights and not feel God's presence at all, we may win the lottery or lose our shirt, we may become seriously ill or be badly hurt by others...whatever happens, still God is to be loved, as he never stops loving us. 

Attaining Equanimity

        Before we know God, we basically live for ourselves. After we get to know him as love, we begin to live for him ~ the whole emphasis starts to shift. When we reach living fully for him alone, we attain perfect equanimity in the Lord. 

Being Linked to God

        Communion experience. As I received the Holy Eucharist, I knew that I was going to be directly linked to God. This is a strong, inseverable link originated by God to connect to my soul. I am now his sheep, his branch, and his child. There is nothing I lack.

Christ Is the Way

        Today is the Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr. Here is my fourth realization of the day. Stephen was tried before the Sanhedrin, condemned, and stoned to death by a mob. I see clearly that any other way of living other than for Christ is dead-end, leaving you with no peace in both this and the next life. If you live for Christ and even die as a martyr, you are still assured of peace in the next life.     

Staying Dry and Safe

        Before Mass began this morning, I visualized the following picture. All things of the world, including all the people and what they did and are doing are like a running stream flowing swiftly downstream. They pass by and are gone forever. Since I am with the Lord, I am standing on a bridge overlooking this stream going under me. I say to myself that I certainly don't wish to be part of this stream, rushing onward to oblivion.

Secret of True Happiness

        Another early morning realization. My roof is leaking again, ruining quite a bit of the interior wall. A couple of other things around the house are not working either. I realized that one should be happy with a roof over his head, enough food on the table, a car good enough for transportation, etc. Anything in excess is unnecessary and uncalled-for. Contentment in God is the secret of true happiness. 

Letting Disappointment Be Bygones

        Early this morning, the Lord made me see that no matter how I feel or wish and what I do, he is in charge of the whole situation. Therefore, if I follow his will, then I will not ever be disappointed.  

Speak Little and Suffer Much

        The Guardian Angel of St Gemma dictated to her: "Remember, my child, that whoever loves Jesus speaks little and suffers much. I command you, in the name of Jesus, never to give your opinion unless it is asked, never to hold to your opinion but to yield. When you have committed any fault, acknowledge it immediately, and do not wait until you are taxed with it." A challenging lesson in humility for sure.

Do We Have Room for Jesus?

        At Christmas Eve Mass, Pope Benedict XVI asked a pressing question: Will people find room in their hectic, technology-driven lives for children, the poor and God? At this Christmas time especially, how much room do we make for the Lord? It is a question we must face, reflect upon and answer to order to find peace and salvation. Are we like the innkeeper who had no room for the birth of Jesus to take place? In that case, Mary had to take Jesus elsewhere to be born. I say, let Jesus take up all of the room in us, then we'll have him forever with us, making us truly temples of the Holy Spirit. 

Best Christmas Present

        Jesus has given himself to us totally ~ there's no present that can top that! On this Christmas day, the best present we can give to the Lord is to try to match him by giving ourselves entirely to him.  

Christmas Blessings

        Having faith in God is such a beautiful thing! Not seeing, yet believing; not believing in any god, but the true God of Christ. 

         A beautiful, holy and peaceful Christmas to all!

God's Sanctifying Power

        This morning's Communion experience. As I received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, I felt his power to make me holy. 

Feeling Good About Jesus

        It's Christmas Eve and I see Jesus as my lifeline. I have caught this line and am saved for all eternity as long as I don't let go of it. Rather than having to hold onto him for life, I feel more as if he is holding me securely in his own hands. Knowing that God loves us is exactly the missing link for completing our lives. Normally, we feel good when we meet someone who happens to like us. I still remember the time when I was working in an organization, one colleague in the same department told me in private that he wished that I could be his department head, as the head at the time wasn't making everyone happy. I was flattered, but nevertheless, felt good. Then I met another person on a pilgrimage many years ago who loved to share his spiritual thoughts with me as if I was his confidant ~ I felt good too. Now, it's the Lord God himself letting me know how much he loves me ~ that has to be the best possible news that can make me feel good!

A Natural Consequence

        The more we ask for God's mercy upon us, the less we become judgmental of others.