How to Live Joyfully

        This morning at Mass I sensed the joy of serving God. To live a joyful life, simply do everything for Christ. 

Fruit of Union

          Learning from the Lord becomes a great joy, further intensifying the intimacy.

Honesty the Best Policy

        Anyone not honest with himself fears looking at himself. The Lord made me see this morning the truth that if we can be completely honest with him, then we will be honest with ourselves and able to examine ourselves without fear! 

How to Enjoy God

        Seek union with God. Once you are in union, you no longer have any issue with him and you are in complete harmony with his will. Now you can enjoy fully his companionship, intimacy, and communion with you.

Life of the Christian Worker

      A Christian works for the Lord. He is hired as an employee to remain faithful, obedient, and productive. The Lord reaps all the profits and at the end of the employment period repays him lavishly.

Are All Religions the Same?

       Some people say that all religions are the same ~ they all lead you to God. This is one of the most irresponsible and misguided statements I've ever heard. There can be but one truth about the true God. So we have the truth, which we shouldn't consider a religion, and the various religions. If all religions are the same, does this mean following any of the numerous religious belief systems out there is OK? Of course not, because they even contradict each other. Mind you, a religion that teaches even one single error can no longer be the truth. Saying that all religions lead one to God is also nonsensical. I do agree that any good person due to no fault of their own can be saved even if they don't know the truth ~ but why take the chance? To me, the Catholic faith is the absolute truth for the many reasons I've mentioned on this blog. I must add that to be sure of being saved, one must be a faithful Catholic, not just one in name only. 

Surrender Only Choice

        Today's Communion experience. When I received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, it was the meeting of heaven and earth, creator and creature, the infinite and the finite, the holy and the sinful ~ I had no choice but to let every particle of me surrender to the Lord.

1st Acknowledgement to God

        Recently after I got hurt physically, friends, well-wishers, called to express their concern. That was nice, but there's nothing they could do about it. I know that some of them did pray for me, then any help I'd received still came from God. What I am trying to say is that everything is in God's hands and our only sensible choice is to put our trust in him. This is the acknowledgement we must first make if we want to save the world. It would be the beginning of showing our humility before God. Without it, the world is doomed. 

Only One Judge

        I can know a person, but I can never know what truly resides in his heart; therefore, I am not qualified to judge anyone. The Lord sees everything in our hearts; therefore, he alone should be our judge.  

Jesus Beautifies Us

        Communion experience. Jesus came, entered us, and made our souls beautiful for the Lord to behold.

"Heavenly" Expectations

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke, Jesus also advises that when we hold a banquet, we should invite those who do not have the ability to repay us, then we shall be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. This is storing up treasures in heaven and we expect receiving our repayment in heaven too! The faithful Christian does not live for this life, for his heart is already with the Lord in heaven and he expects all his expectations to be met later too.

Jesus Always Right

        Today's Gospel came from Luke 14. The main lesson from the parable Jesus told is "every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." You may find his teaching and counsels throughout the Gospels hard to accept and follow, but if everyone obeys them, we'll have peace in the world! This is how we know that he is right.

How to Possess God

        Just surrender completely to God and he is yours!

The Shroud of Turin

This short Smithsonian video gives clues that link the Shroud of Turin directly to the time of Christ.

True Humility

        I had a dream early this morning. What I learned from the dream was that we should not be concerned about if we are appreciated by other fellow humans or not, but remain perfectly content with God's everlasting love for us. 

What's Said Is Done

        During the Eucharistic Prayer at morning Mass, the priest consecrated the bread, repeating what Jesus said at the Last Supper: Take it, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body which will be given up for you. Right then, I knew that whatever the Lord says, it's done. If the bread is his body, then it is. We must take every word he says to heart, for they are realities.

So Good to Have God...

because he is the only person in whom I can completely trust and to whom I can cry to when I am in trouble and beg for mercy after I have sinned. He is the Father!

Jesus the Coolest

        We humans typically behave like creatures that are finite, facing the vast unknown, and are constantly amazed, surprised, or shocked by what's happening. We learn about some scientific discovery and think that we can conquered the world. Hit by a tragedy and our life falls apart. Hurt by someone and we are upset and become unforgiving. In other words, we are pitiful! Now, read about Jesus in the Gospels. You'll see what he says and how he behaves fit perfectly one who is (1) all-knowing, not surprised or shocked by anything and knowing exactly what's coming to him, (2) the creator of all things, making miracles happen so naturally, his own Resurrection included, and (3) infinitely merciful, forgiving his enemies even from the Cross. As a human being, he has to be the coolest dude (no disrespect intended) there ever has been or will be. 

Transformation to Effect Transformation

        Communion time thought. Jesus transformed the host into his own body so that we may receive him and be transformed by him.

Ego, the Conscience Killer

        We all have a conscience, but to keep it clear we must leave it alone. The common trouble is that we let the ego dictate our conscience. As a result, the conscience gets muddied or even entirely ignored as the heart hardens. Pope Francis came on scene as a breath of fresh air the world had sorely needed. 

Herod, Typical Sinner

        Today is the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist. The Gospel reading from Mark 6 tells us that Herod the king married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, and John said to him that "it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Herodias harbored a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. On the other hand, Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, so he just had him arrested and bound in prison. When Herod heard John speak, he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. [Here Herod knew that he had done something wrong, so he feared the righteous and holy John. He's perplexed about John, because it's difficult for a sinner to understand why someone wants to be holy. He still liked to listen to him because his conscience needed to be soothed.]

         Then at Herod's birthday banquet he gave, Herodias' daughter performed a dance that so delighted Herod and his guests that the king swore he would grant the girl whatever she asked of him. Herodias had her asking for the head of John the Baptist. The king was distressed, but not wishing to break his word before the guests, he gave in to the request. [Here, looking good before others overrode Herod's conscience.]

        Herod might be an evil person, but all the above comments bracketed could have described any average sinner.

All I Could Ask For

        During Communion, I was at the supper of the Lamb. The Lord God was the host. What was served was the Lamb himself. As I ate, I was purified and promised eternal life. There's nothing more I could ask for.

Hypocrisy Brings Woe

        Today is the Memorial of St. Augustine. In these last three days, the Gospel reading has come from Matthew 23. Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the scribes and the Pharisees, who appeared righteous on the outside, but were filled with evildoing inside. Certainly, a hypocritical person does not experience inner peace. All we need to be concerned about is our inside because if the inside is clean, the outside will appear clean too. We are blessed to have Christ who can cleanse and purify us, removing all hypocrisy so that we may feel free being our genuine selves.         

From God or Not

        If you imagine yourself doing some great work for the glory of God, that is not from God. If you think about yourself being totally humble before God, that is not from him either. If you don't think about anything, but serving God faithfully ~ that is from him.  

Most Amazing Experience

        To me, this has to be the most amazing experience of the human life. A sinner, which could be anyone, knows that he's in trouble because he feels the weight of sin upon him. By the grace of God, he is lead to repenting and confessing his sins. The heavy weight is instantly lifted from his heart and he is a free new being. This experience is well known to many who have come to Christ. It was recounted on a recent EWTN Coming Home episode by Fr. George Turano who were baptized as a Catholic, left the faith for many years, and finally reverted. He described the tremendous relief and elation after making his confession. Only the true God as known through Christ can bring about such a fundamental transformation ~ not another god or man has the power to do anything with sins.

Reconciliation in Order

        Reconcile with God your Father first, then you'll be able to reconcile with your neighbor and yourself. If you don't love your neighbor and/or yourself, you have not reconciled with your creator fully yet.

God Alone Is Sufficient

        Today is the Memorial of St. Monica. After I received Holy Communion today, I really felt that once I have Jesus, there is nothing else I want for myself anymore. If God is not sufficient for me, then nothing will. Of course, I do want everyone in the world to be saved, but that's something I want for God, not for myself. 

Union Is like Playing the Piano

        When you learn to play the piano, the goal is to be able to forget completely about your fingers and put all your effort and concentration into expressing the music, making it sound beautiful. But due to human limitations, we can play a piece of music well enough, but never to the point of complete satisfaction. Similarly, in seeking union with God, the goal is to be become Christlike. The more we let go in the Lord, desiring to be changed, the more we progress. But since we are finite creatures, we can become more like him, but never reach his state of perfection. (Note that in both cases, letting go is the key.)

Critically Important Message

        In Scriptures, we see that Jesus always had the answer to any question he's asked. No one had been able to trap or stump him. He showed that he's the all-knowing God. In today's Gospel reading at Mass, Luke 13:22-30, Jesus talked about the narrow gate through which we must strive to enter in order to be saved. Once the master of the house has arisen, the door will be locked and those who are outside will be cast out forever; and they will see all those inside reclining at table in the kingdom of God. Everyone should take this reading most seriously because our response to the message will determine our eternal placement.  

Try to Be Faithful, not Successful

        I attended a Respect Life Leadership Gathering today. The task of changing the thinking of all to pro-life is daunting, but one presenter's quote from Mother Teresa was most encouraging: "God doesn't require us to succeed; he only requires that you try." To serve God is to not aim for success, but remain faithful. 

The Weakness Advantage

        We all know our own weaknesses in various areas, and being weak can be a disadvantage in life. Then the Lord makes me see that we can use this awareness to our advantage by letting it keep us humble before him.

The Unsettled Life

        As long as you do not know Jesus yet, you cannot be certain where you'll end up after death; therefore, you live an unsettled life. Happy is the one who lives a life with eternity all settled!

Good Reason to Be Happy

        We feel good when someone appreciates us, likes us, or thinks highly of us. Now, we have God continually loving us more than anyone else possibly can at all times, how can we not feel happy? Believe and rejoice!

How to Know We Love God

        In today's Gospel reading at Mass from Matthew 22, Jesus answered one Pharisee asking him which commandment in the law is the greatest, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." 

      The second commandment is not easy to follow because your neighbor may be an extremely unpleasant person or even an enemy who hates you. Nevertheless, we can't say that we love God if we don't love our neighbor. So, the second commandment serves as a test to see if we fulfill the first commandment or not. 

Obedience Sequence

        Seeking God's will, knowing his will, and doing his will ~ the delay usually occurs between seeking and knowing. Nevertheless, we have peace at the end always.     

Belonging to God

        Communion experience. After receiving the Holy Eucharist, I wanted the Lord to pulverize (vaporize is even better) any hard part or particle that's still in me so that I may be his completely. 

God's Serious Invitation

        Today is the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 22, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. Not only those invited should accept the invitation, but also attend the feast properly dressed. Those who did not take the invitation seriously were cast into darkness. Conclusion (also present day fact): "Many are invited, but few are chosen." It helps to see that God's invitation, his call, to us is for us to become his chosen ones. 

Can't Do God's Will on Our Own

       In John.15 Jesus says: "I am the vine, you are the branches. ... without me you can do nothing." In John 5.19, Jesus says to the Jews, "Amen, amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do also." Again, in John 5.32, he says, "I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me." I looked up these quotes after the Lord made me see that I cannot do his will without him doing it through me! I must first clearly know what his will is, otherwise he will not be with me in my doing. It was a big realization and I was uplifted.

Life Is like a Dream

        The older one gets, the more the past seems like a dream. Like all dreams, life comes to an end. One who lives just for himself is often concerned about leaving a legacy, or may enjoy living his life as in a meaningless dream. For one who seeks and knows God, he lives for the reality that comes after his "dream life." 

In God We Forget

      Today is the Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope. The Gospel parable came from Matthew 20. Jesus told the disciples that the Kingdom of God is like a landowner who hired laborers for his vineyard all day long. Some started working early in the morning, some later in the morning, some at noon, some after noon, and some in the last hour. In the evening, all received the same pay. Naturally, the ones hired earlier grumbled and one of them questioned the landowner. And he replied, "My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my money? Are you envious because I am generous?"

          The lesson here is that I must not compare myself with others nor let anything about others bother me. I am to be happy with all what the Lord has given me ~ I already have him who awaits me in heaven! Yes, in God, I can forget everything else.

How Many Times a Fool?

        In the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12, the rich man stored up treasures for himself and God said to him, "You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things your have prepared, to whom will they belong?" Being called a fool by God is much worse than being called a fool called by another fellow human. I wonder how many times the Lord has so called me when I wasn't even paying attention. Probably innumerable times as one can be foolish in so many ways!

Vows for the Laity

        We the laity can too follow poverty, chastity, and obedience ~ the vows of the religious. For us, poverty is detachment from all material goods; chastity, keeping a pure heart and, for the married couples, also faithfulness; obedience, obeying the Holy Father on earth and the Heavenly Father in heaven.

God's Love Ever Present

        Today is the Memorial of St. Bernard. Communion antiphon, John 15.9, reads: As the Father loves me, so I also love you; remain in my love, says the Lord. After receiving Holy Communion, I wanted to remain in Jesus' love. I felt that nothing could possibly prevent that ~ I could be sick, imprisoned, constrained in any other way, then I wanted to be in his love and there I was.

The Humble Way

         The home is a good testing ground for our humility. If I can remain humble enough so that I do not provoke anyone else in the household, I'm doing OK. For those who live alone, try not to provoke yourself and lose peace. Remaining humble is the way of Christ. It is the correct way because if everyone practices it, there'll be peace in the world.

Another Challenge from Jesus

        Jesus wants us to put him first in our lives and follow him alone. He challenges here again. He must be either the most selfish person there is, asking for the absurd, or he is God, asking for what he rightly deserves. We must decide.

Inspired by Pope Francis

        Pope Francis' humble acts have been refreshing and inspiring. To follow his example, we should also once in a while step out of our comfort zone and do something out of the ordinary for the glory of God. This should spice up our spiritual journey.

It's My Ego!

        I've said in the past that I don't think of myself as either a liberal or a conservative ~ I only care about if I am following Jesus or not. (Actually, Jesus was quite a radical in his time.) I must admit that before I knew Jesus, I was quite liberal in my views. I never seriously considered if abortion is right or wrong ~ the right for a woman to do whatever she wants with her body sounded fine to me. Divorce was OK too ~ if one can't get along with his or her spouse, why not try again with someone else? Reflecting back, I see that it was my own ego that lead me to form my "naive" views ~ I wanted to "liberate" everyone! Was I willing to carry any cross myself? No! It was after knowing God personally that I began to see how my ego had blinded me from knowing God and from ever considering seriously if my choice was right or wrong ~ definitely not good old days for me.

To Be Completely Free

        Communion experience. The Lord made me see clearly that the ego imprisons us. And God cannot dwell in one who still wishes to remain in his own prison. When you leave the ego and let God completely fill you, you become completely free.   

Blazing for God's Glory

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus said at the beginning to his disciples, "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!" To me, this is the fire that's going to purify us to make us fit for his kingdom. This is the fire the soul desperately needs to be renewed and transformed. The burning may be painful, but ultimately sweet. Lord, set us all ablaze for your great glory!

God, Everlasting & Our Answer

      Scientists have been trying hard to figure out how the universe got started. Here's my simple consideration of all the possibilities.

       (1) There was absolutely nothing, not even the space the universe exists in, then the universe came into being. Something coming into existence from nothingness ~ this is only possible if God had been there. (2) Space has always been in existence and the stuff the universe is made of came into being later. Mind you, even if space is all empty and invisible to us, it is something that is a reality. Again, it points to the existence of God, the creator. (3) The stuff the universe is made of has always existed. In that case, there wasn't a beginning to speak of. This would be totally beyond the understanding of man, but becomes completely logical if you believe that God has always existed. 

        When the Lord gave his name as I AM in the Scriptures, he revealed his everlasting existence. And he became the logical answer to all our questions.