Disasters are either caused by nature or man. I scan the news online today and can state without exception that all the man-caused turmoils, disorders, chaos, and tragedies can be traced to the presence of man's ego. Ego blocks out humility, endangering the soul. Jesus is characterized by the total lack of ego. One cannot love perfectly nor experience peace as long as his ego lives. In today's Gospel reading at Mass from Luke 12, Jesus told his disciples that he had not come to establish peace, but rather division ~ division as a result of the existence of egos. Jesus got killed for that same reason. Since the existence of egos is a reality, we who follow the Lord can expect to face division and consequently bear many crosses. To make our journey easier, we must first get rid of our own egos.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
God Seeking Union
During Liturgy of the Eucharist at morning Mass, again the Lord transformed the bread and wine into his own body and blood. When I received the Holy Eucharist, I sensed the most intimate bond God was forming with me whom he loves ~ he is the one seeking union with me! Let's always say yes to him.
Union Unique & Supernatural
In union with God, one becomes Christlike. It's impossible to achieve such union with another human being. Marriage unites a man and a woman, but the two are still basically different individuals. Only God can transform us to be like him. Therefore, union with God is unique and supernatural.
Friday, August 16, 2013
The Everlasting Soul
I might have caught something, so I haven't been feeling too energetic. Earlier today I lied in bed to rest a little bit. I looked out the window and saw the tall trees and the blue sky. I saw everything in the world passing ~ the trees, the blue sky, the clouds, etc. Passing to me means no more, and I saw that we are not really passing. We grow old and die, but our soul exists forever! In fact, I can't think of anything God has created for this world that has an everlasting soul. That being the case, our major concern should be to make sure that we end up with everlasting happiness.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Going Home to God
Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. At Mass the Lord made me see simply that we all came from him and we would only have peace when we are with him. God has created us out of love and neither he nor us can be happy if we don't return to him. He has already shown us the way to home through Christ. Personally, I am looking forward to the happiest event of my life ~ my reunion with the Heavenly Father (and see the Blessed Mother in person).
Universal Emptiness
The world looks bustling and busy, but I see emptiness in the hearts of people all around. Facebook has over a billion members. In today's news, a study has shown that many Facebook users are lonely people and they feel even worse each time after using it. People keep busy just to forget or cover up their emptiness; they drift through life. Not being concerned about not knowing where they are heading is sad. Not knowing that Christ can completely fill their emptiness and change their lives is tragic.
Our Only Vocation
Normally, a Catholic is expected to discern if he or she is called to the religious vocation or the vocation of marriage. But there is really only one vocation ~ that of following Christ, the vocation of loving your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. All other vocations are merely subdivisions.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Be Grateful for Everything
We go through life with many disappointments, unhappy about this or that, wishing things to be different. First of all, this world is not perfect; we are not meant to live in this sinful place forever. Secondly, God wants the best for us. If every single thing that happens to us is exactly what we've wanted, we would be so spoiled and not think about God anymore. What we experience is exactly what's needed for us to learn, to find God, and to grow spiritually ~ it cannot possibly get worse anymore. So let's be grateful for what God has given us.
A footnote. Of course, you could ask about those who are truly in dire misery. I believe that if they know God, they would agree with my understanding. This is why we need to evangelize the world, starting with those close to us.
Of Jesus Forever
On July 17, I mentioned that signs of glaucoma had been detected in my right eye. Today I had my eye pressure checked ~ it had come down into a safe range. Anyway, I ask myself: "What if I do go blind?" Answer: "I'll be OK, since I already have Jesus." It follows that I can lose my sight, hearing, touch, etc., and still be OK. Then, what if I lose my mind? Answer: "No Problem ~ Jesus will always have his clear mind." Conclusion: Once you have Jesus, you are securely his forever.
Spiritual Progression in Christ
Being aware of one's own sinful state > repenting before God > reconciling with God > experiencing his love > starting to fall in love with God > increasing yearning for him > surrendering fully to him > union achieved > enjoying God every moment in peace and freedom > (life in heaven)
Any progression that leads one away from God forever is unthinkable!
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
The Perfect Moment
If you acknowledge that you are a sinner, and desire to be transformed, this is the perfect moment to let God step in to fulfill your desire.
To Be like Christ
Communion experience. After I received the Holy Eucharist, I heard myself asking myself, "How dare you not want to be like Christ the Lord?" Again, I saw to be meek and humble being the key to imitating him. Here, to want to be like Jesus is not prompted by pride, but by humility!
To Be Meek and Humble
The word I received from the Lord for today is humility. The Gospel acclamation at Mass came from Matthew 11.29: Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. If God remains meek and humble, how dare we to be immodest and prideful? To those who have not found God yet, may I suggest that you assume that he exists and loves you, and you remain meek and humble, then he will find you. To be meek and humble is to be like God!
Monday, August 12, 2013
"Not Me, But You"
This expression floated into my mind earlier this morning. This is how it should be when we stand in the presence of God. We acknowledge that we can do nothing without him. We need to remain passive and let him take us to wherever he wants us to go. We vanish so that only he exists in us. This is what it's all about.
Greatest Intimacy with God
Communion time thought. Receiving the Holy Eucharist within the Church is receiving the true body and blood of the Lord. By no other means and nowhere else can you attain such intimacy with God! Indeed, blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
Again, There Are No Accidents
Today's Gospel reading at Mass came from Matthew 17. To find the money to pay the temple tax, Jesus asked Peter to go to the sea, drop in a hook, take the first fish that comes up, open its mouth, and find a coin worth twice the temple tax. If something like this happens to us, we would probably think that it's pure chance. The lesson here is that truly nothing can happen without God's knowledge or approval. Again, there are no accidents.
Suffering cherished
When I am suffering mentally or physically, I just fling myself into the arms of Jesus, calling out his Holy Name and begging for his mercy with all my heart. He is the one who died for me, loves me, knows me the most, and hears me. I cherish such opportunities suffering provides because I get to enjoy my greatest intimacy with the Lord.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Carrying out Good Intentions
Just having good intentions is not good enough. I've learned that I should put all good intentions through the humility filter before carrying them out. Otherwise, my good intentions can easily be misunderstood. You cannot go wrong with humility.
On Changing the Heart
The human heart does not easily change. We usually do not do what we know to be the right thing to do. Only a fundamental change of heart can correct this. If you feel this way, then an encounter with God is needed to bring about a breakthrough. More surrendering is in order. Know that Christ is our only hope and that hope is always present for us.
Beauty of the Church
To see the true beauty of the Church, we should look at Jesus, how he built his church upon Peter, the apostolic succession and the teachings of Christ safeguarded to this day, and the transformation of so many souls into great saints. People err by noticing only the sins of her imperfect members, but this is a matter of human failure and does not in any way indicate that the Church is less beautiful.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
To Repent Is Divine
Benjamin Franklin used an old quote "To err is human, to repent divine, to persist devilish." To repent is indeed divine, a beautiful act by the heart. It's beautiful because it cleanses your heart immediately, restoring your relationship with God. Really, what else could you ask for? What's sad is that people in sin do not see that it's the single, most important act they need to perform if they are to be saved. Let all know that repentance can change one into a resplendent soul before God.
Jesus Alone Is Sufficient
Communion experience. My life is complete, fulfilled. I feel totally secure in him. It's impossible to ever feel lonely when you have him living fully in you!
Why Jesus?
At Mass, Father M before distributing Holy Communion raised the host and cup and said to all: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. I realized then that Jesus is the only one who can take away my sins, not Moses, not Mohammed, not Buddha, not Confucius, or anyone else, because he is God. This is reason enough for me to believe and follow him.
As a Grain of Wheat
Today is the Feast of St. Lawrence. The Gospel reading at Mass came from John 12. Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." We may not see our fruit in our lifetime. For example, the autobiography of St. Therese, The Story of a Soul, which has converted untold number of souls was not published until after her death. Our role is to die in Christ, serve the Lord, and let God produce whatever fruit he wishes.
Friday, August 9, 2013
No Complaining
The Gospel reading at Mass today came from Matthew 16. Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." To me, Jesus is saying that whoever wishes to follow him must do so without ever complaining. A complaining Christian has to be an oxymoron. As we follow the Lord faithfully, he will teach us to let nothing bother us. With no more complaints, we have inner peace.
The Scientific Attitude
Many scientists are atheists. They only believe in what they can see and figure out. Of course, what they cannot see or understand does not in any way prove that things do not exist ~ it only shows the limitation of science. No one has seen an electron, x-rays, light itself, or heard ultrasound; only their effects on other matters are known. Yet the effects God has on many of us are positive, life-changing, or even miraculous. To me, miracles scientists cannot explain only shows the existence of God. Scientists can never prove or disprove the existence of God using their methods. Believing that God exists will make all their searches and investigations so much more meaningful and rewarding. To think that science can explain or replace God is utter folly.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
What Not to Live by Alone
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, and afterwards was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread. Jesus (quoting from Deuteronomy) said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4.1-4). As I was watching TV this morning, it came to me that one does not live by watching TV alone. Then I saw that one does not live by anything other than what comes forth from the mouth of the Lord alone. This reminder can definitely help me live a balanced life.
Monumental Question
The Gospel reading at Mass comes from Matthew 16. Jesus started out asking his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" After they replied, he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" The answer can only be Peter's "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" or the denial of it. We are not obligated to answer any questions except for this one, for it is monumental, won't go away, and our eternal destiny hinges upon the answer we give.
Hardened Hearts
Today is the Memorial of St. Dominic. At Mass, the response to Responsorial Psalm 95 reads: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Hardened hearts are precisely the world's problem. Everyone has so much to say; who's willing to listen to anyone? Unless we want to get our hardened hearts cracked by God and beg for his mercy, we are doomed.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Becoming Spiritually Free
Our physical body is always a burden to us ~ it seeks comfort and lets us know instantly when it experiences discomfort. But this burden we must live with in this life. Our spirit, the nonphysical part of us, can also be a burden to our conscience, resulting in mental discomfort. The good news is that we can be rid of our spiritual burdens. Since God is spirit, we can let the Holy Spirit fill us entirely, displacing our own spirit so that the self no longer exists. Union with God is the same thing ~ we have only God dwelling in us. We are now spiritually free. In other words, we are free when we no longer exist in ourselves. (Note: When we leave this world, we become physically free too.)
Invitation from God
Communion time reflection. Receiving the Holy Eucharist is no ordinary obligation or act. This Most Holy Sacrament is an invitation for us to become one with God. To want to receive it, we must be willing to answer yes to this invitation.
On Seeking Sympathy
Before Mass started this morning, the Lord made me see that seeking sympathy or pity for yourself is still an ego thing. This is wanting yourself to be noticed, wanting others to feel sorry for you. It is not unlike wanting others to notice that you pray hard or fast. Of course, it's all right to share about yourself with others if your motivation is pure.
Today's Gospel reading came from Matthew 15. A Canaanite woman came to Jesus, crying out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." After testing her, Jesus found her faith great and said to her in reply, "O women, great is your faith! Let it be done as you wish." Obviously, seeking sympathy or pity from the Lord is perfectly fine because the motivation is pure and he is the only one who can truly help us.
Jesus Still Leading Us
The early Apostles had Jesus in person to follow; they could follow him wherever he went and do whatever he told them to do. Today Jesus is not visibly with us, but we do have the Holy Eucharist he had instituted for our sake. By receiving him in this sacrament with the same zeal and devotion the Apostles had for him, we will also know how to follow him and what his will is.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Calling for Union
Communion experience. Receiving the Holy Eucharist is receiving God's calling for union with him. Once you recognize this, you will want to seek this union.
Peter Is Trustworthy
Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Reading 2 came from 2 Peter 1. Peter stated that he was an eyewitness of the majestic glory of Jesus. While he was with him on the holy mountain, he heard the voice from heaven declaring, "This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased." I too believe in the glory of Christ. Who am I to distrust the first Apostle of the Lord?
Asking and Answering the Lord
Praying for the conversion of a loved one can be a big burden on the heart. When I asked the Lord about it this morning while I was driving to church for Mass, he simply asked me if I loved him the most? I answered him and knew that he had answered my question.
Approaching God the Right Way
To find God, we must be humble first and remain open. If we expect God to speak or reveal himself to us before we would believe in him, we may have a long wait ahead of us. By an act of will or faith, we must submit ourselves to him first. It was by an act of will that I first accepted Jesus into my life. It's by an act of will that I confess my sins and ask for his forgiveness. It's by an act of will that I asked the Holy Spirit to baptize me. It's by an act of will that I surrendered myself to God. In each case, the Lord makes or made himself known after my move. Don't forget that God is so much greater than us. Let us beg from him, not the other way around.
Life of Jesus Examined
The life of Jesus from the human point of view seems rather unappealing. Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but he had nowhere to rest his head (Matthew 8, Luke 9); he was not honored in his native place and in his own house (Matthew 13, Mark 6); toward the end, the chief priests, the Pharisees, and the Sanhedrin constantly plotted to kill him; his own disciple betrayed him; then in the end, he went through indescribable suffering. Now let's look at the life of Jesus from God's point of view. He triumphantly succeeded in accomplishing the will of the Father. Being obedient, he never complained. Throughout his ordeal, he remained loving and forgiving, maintaining his deep inner peace. Through him, God the Father revealed his infinite love for us. The Father must feel great satisfaction that he carried out his plan of salvation for us whom he loves. The life of Christ shows that we too can have the same peace and be set free by being obedient to God the Father.
Monday, August 5, 2013
What Conversion Is
If darkness is the absence of light, then holiness is the absence of sin. Conversion is letting the love of God overcome our sins so that we may be holy.
Communion Joy
As I went up to receive Holy Communion this morning, I felt as if I was walking in a procession leading to God for his blessing. On my way back to the pew, I was in full enjoyment of being a child of God the Father.
Nourishment for the Soul
In today's Gospel reading at Mass from Matthew 14, Jesus multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish to feed crowds totaling about five thousand men, not counting women and children. They all ate and were satisfied. This reminds me of our spiritual hunger ~ the soul needs to be nourished too. And the Lord has given us the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist just to satisfy this deepest longing of ours.
Jesus' Unique Challenge
Jesus is unique among all leaders, religious or secular. He is the only one who challenges you to follow him, but leaves the decision entirely up to you. And this challenge is such that you must accept or dismiss with no middle ground possible ~ ignoring it is no different from dismissing it. And your decision will bring enormous consequences. Jesus himself proclaimed to be a cause of division: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the world. I have come to bring not peace but the sword" (Matthew 10.34). This further bolsters the authenticity of his challenge.
Not Just Joy Alone
Knowing Jesus is a great joy; but at the same time, the more you know him, the more you experience his suffering and pain the world inflicts upon him, which is great. This in turn enhances your joy because you know now that you are ever closer in union with the Lord.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
We Need Jesus!
In these two last two days, the Lord hasn't given any particular thoughts. The only thing he made me see was why we need him. Without him, we are constantly being self-centered, thinking, saying, and doing things with not much genuine concern for others. I could say that we live disordered lives. With Jesus, we have a supreme model showing us how to put all things in order and one who can truly transform us into perfect beings. Love, hope, freedom, salvation are all presented to us ~ he is indeed the good news for us!
Friday, August 2, 2013
The Light of Christ
During the Liturgy of the Eucharist at today's Mass, I thought of the light of Christ. This is the light that illuminates the truth, exposes all darkness, and heals the soul. This is the light in which I am content to live and die.
Dealing with Suffering
It is undeniable that as long as we sin, there will be suffering. Therefore, accept suffering as a reality ~ it's how we deal with it that matters. This is where God can support and guide us and we can learn to be patient and to trust in him.
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