Death Thought, a Blessing

        Nothing can prevent us from dying. Living is just the minuscule beginning portion of our continuous journey toward eternity. We tend not to think about this when we are feeling well. Then one day we don't feel too well and death seems possibly imminent ~ this is a blessing because we see the reality of life and our dependence upon God. 

Lesson from Dreams

        I sometimes have certain recurring dreams, indicating that certain people have emotionally affected me in the past. This teaches that we must be responsible for how we treat each other, for what we do can haunt others and ourselves too. May the love of God always reign in us. 

On Responding to God

        Today's Gospel came from Luke 1. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and informed him that his wife Elizabeth would bear him a son, to be named John. Since the couple were already advanced in years, Zechariah did not believe the words of the angel and he was rendered speechless. This got me thinking: we are responsible for my responses to God. In fact, every thought, word, and act coming from us would get an appropriate response from God!

Most Wondrous News

        In our disordered, pitiful world, we do hear good news from time to time. During this Advent season, I realize that the most wondrous news of all has to be the Incarnation, the coming of Christ into the world. It not only is an earthshaking groundbreaker, but also forever rejoices the heart.

The Christian Profession

        To be good or at least survive in any profession, we must learn all aspects of it and perform our assigned tasks. Christians should see that being a Christian is also a profession. To be good at it, they must learn all about Christ and practice being holy. In fact, this should be their first profession before getting into any other profession.          

Mercy Demands Submission

        During fracture of the bread before we receive Holy Communion at Mass, all say, "Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us." This morning I realized that when we ask the Lord to have mercy on us, we should submit ourselves to him, for how can we beg for mercy and not decide on changing ourselves? How can children ask for their father's blessing when they remain disobedient?       

Overwhelming Intimacy

        Communion experience. As I received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist at Mass this morning, I was made sharply aware that I was receiving the flesh and blood of the creator of the whole universe, the one who is pure love and who forgives our sins! I felt crushed, but what a liberating crush! I had not seen God, yet he entered to dwell in me. Such intimacy and union readies the soul for complete transformation.

Being Drawn to Jesus

        What makes Jesus so beautiful, attractive, and inspiring? I thought about this today and can say that it's his complete, perfect obedience to God the Father. [This has also been the goal of all the great saints.]

Jesus as Soulmate

        Ideal soulmates are people who think alike, have the same values and tastes, share the same interests, are compatible with each other in every way; therefore, they greatly enjoy each other's company and are most happy together. We all wish that our spouses and friends are all soulmates, but in our imperfect world, finding a soulmate is rare at best. This morning at Mass, I realized that when we are in union with Jesus, we become like him in every respect ~ in thinking, viewing others, doing all things for God, etc. ~ Jesus then is our soulmate! And he is the only soulmate who can take care of our souls!  

The Surrender Experience

        Being human, it's natural that we feel some uneasiness when we are ready to surrender ourselves totally to God. There is a little bit of that jumping-off-a-cliff-into-the-unknown feeling. In reality, not only you do not free-fall after jumping, the Lord catches you and lifts you to new heights of freedom! Then you know that God is solidly with you.   

Freedom in God

        In many countries ruled by a dictator or a dictatorial government, there's no freedom of personal expression. People live in constant fear and you could even feel the oppression in the air ~ I know because I visited such a country once. The very opposite of such confinement is the utter freedom we can have in God. Since God is infinite, the space within him is infinite. Since he is also love, we are given complete freedom to live and explore in this immense space. This is why I love and enjoy the Lord so much.

Christianity Stands Out

        Jesus said, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14). As a Christian, I directly get to know God in person! As a Catholic, I even receive the Savior into me in the Holy Eucharist and achieve intimate union with him. Where else would you find and get so close to God? 

Jesus Our Test

        Today is the Memorial of St. John of the Cross. I have posted in the past that you meet a lot of seemingly nice people, but you don't really know them without seeing how they undergo certain tests in life. Does a person have the courage to risk his own life to save another person whose life is in danger? I had "friends" who became "enemies" the moment they saw a chance of making financial gains. Then there were cases in which the wife suffered cancer or some other illness that required a lot of care, and the husband left or divorced her. Tests do reveal the true person. This morning before Mass began, I saw Jesus as the test for all of us. How we deal with him reveals how self-centered or how humble we are to God. 

The Evil of Laziness

        Obesity has become a major problem in many of the more affluent nations. The obvious causes are eating too rich foods and the lack of exercise. Normally, one is aware of his bad habits, but is too lazy to do anything about it. It's so easy and comfortable to continue eating the same junk food, watching a lot of TV, and skipping exercise or even regular walking. Time flies and soon you are middle-aged. It's now even more difficult to change yourself in any way. The risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke rises.

          Spiritual unawareness (death) happens in the same way. Normally, you are aware of your sins, but you are too lazy to do anything about it. It's so easy to rationalize away or ignore it ~ you are fooled into believing that you would feel comfortable by not facing the uncomfortable. Of course, you're wrong, for unforgiven sins stick with you forever. Again, time goes by and you become an older person burdened with even more sins. The risk of losing your soul is ever great.   

Prayer Progress

        Wanting to pray harder for someone "compels" you to trust in God more, resulting in greater inner peace. This is an excellent way of letting God draw you closer to him.  

Elated by Love

        We all want to be loved, but when I realize that I am being loved by none other than God, I am elated, for the intent of this greatest divine love is to ensure my eternal happiness! 

How to Possess God

        The only way to possess God is to let him capture you. Always trust in him, letting him do the work, and you'll be well taken care of. 

God Forever Our Delight

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 1, when Mary entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth, the infant (John the Baptist) in Elizabeth's womb leaped for joy. Some people leap for "joy" when they learn that they have won the big lottery, but our hearts can be in constant joy when Jesus dwells in us ~ God is forever our delight.  

God Forever Our Hope

        Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. At the time the Protestant Reformation caused many Catholics to leave the Church, the Lord sent Mary to appear in Mexico and converted the entire nation. I thought of how Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead, how his disciples went from almost giving up to being willing to die for the Lord, and how so many of us were in the pit and are now being lifted into heaven. God is at his best in making things happen ~ he is forever our hope. 

Easy Living in God

        Today's Gospel reading from Matthew 11 ~ Jesus said to the crowds: "Come to me, all you who labor and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."  

        I can vouch for the truth of the Lord's saying. "Easy" living is moving forward in life, relying upon and being powered by God alone. Living outside God is like putting on a mask and costume and going through the motion of living, not knowing where you'll end up.

To Be Like the Father

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 18, Jesus said to his disciples, "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray." Here Jesus was trying to tell us that it's not the will of the heavenly Father that any of us be lost. Then I notice that we behave very much like the Father ~ we too would quit whatever we're doing and go look for something valuable that's lost. After all, we were created in his image! This should inspire us to want to be just like our Father.  

Steps to Union

        To be one with God ~ lofty goal, but simple to reach. Here are the steps to take: (1) Believe in the transforming power of the Holy Eucharist you receive, (2) let God know of your sincere, ardent desire for union, (3) remain passive and submissive to the Lord (no striving on your own), (4) wait with trust.     

My Duty

        Communion thoughts. I am still journeying toward God, but receiving the Holy Eucharist is connecting me to heaven. In fact, the Lord God actually enters me to dwell in me. My duty is then to do my utmost to keep him happy and comfortable in his residency.

Following God's Plan

        Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Reading 1 from Genesis 3, how Adam and Eve committed the original sin was recounted. Then, of course, God chose his only Son to come to us through Mary with the good news of salvation. Sin alone sometimes makes us search for God for help, but seeing the overall, complete picture makes us realize that we are meant to return to God in our journey.

Change through Union

        I see people being drawn by the Lord and starting to change, but they still are not seeing things his way yet. One reason we need to seek union with God is that once we get to know him intimately, we will see how off our ways are. Only then shall we learn to see all things through the eyes of the Lord, bringing about a complete change. I could also describe this process as self-understanding leading to freedom.   

God as Our Backer

        Today's Gospel reading came from Matthew 3. As John the Baptist was baptizing people from all regions in the Jordan River, many Pharisees and Sadducees came to his baptism. John chided them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of you repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones."

        Indeed, before God, even if I can trace my lineage to an illustrious king, it would not make any good. It is what we are that's relevant. Where we came from belongs to the past and where we are heading determines our ultimate destination. We only need God to back us!

On Overcoming Evil

        How do we love others for the sake of Christ? We won't have any problem with those who are already holy, so it comes down to dealing with the unholy in the world. Overcoming evil with love ~ this is the challenge we face. We must accept this approach because it's God's way. Since it may cost us personally, total dependence upon God is called for. 

More Dying

        Communion thoughts. Every time I receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist, it's a chance for (the old) me to die some more in him.

Perfect Antidote

        Today's Gospel reading came from Matthew 9 & 10. Jesus went around to the towns and villages, teaching and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. This is still true today when you see people lost and lonely all around. And it is still true that Christ is the perfect antidote for the troubled and abandoned. 

Superior Learning

        Today is the Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, whose sermons were known to have greatly helped the conversion of St. Augustine. When we seek and get to know God, he fills us with wisdom and understanding far superior than anything we could possibly learn from the world, for he reveals the absolute truth to us as he has done to all the great saints. 

Stepping into Freedom

        Today is a first Friday and we had adoration of the Blesses Sacrament after Mass. I saw that if in his holy presence, we are bold enough to ask God to do whatever he wishes with us, then we'll have stepped into the realm of freedom. This is showing our trust in the Father, abandoning ourselves in him, and inviting him to be one with you. The Lord is now surely free to take care of all our things. 

Cup Always Full

        Some people see a half-filled glass as half empty. These are the ones who're usually not happy about their own lot and see others as being more fortunate than they are. Then we have others who see the same glass as half full ~ they are happier, appreciative of what they have and optimistic about the future. Finally, the fulfilled Christians know that their cup is always full to overflowing, as they receive grace upon grace from the Lord. 

We Are at Fault

        If everyone in this world is as holy as Jesus, we'll have a peaceful world filled with joy ~ no question about it. Even should tragedy befall us, we'd still be strong, filled with faith and hope, and praise the Father. As I have said before, it is our sin that messes up our own lives and the world, causing continuous, great miseries. We are at fault ~ this is important to realize so that we may look to God for mercy and salvation.

Direct Learning from God

        There must be tens of thousands of books out there giving spiritual advice. But the best, expedient way to learn is to surrender to God, letting him enter your heart to teach you directly.

A Free Relationship

        Our relationship with God is also a free one in the sense that God freely gives us his love with no strings attached and we are free to respond to him any way we choose. Amid God's free giving and our free responding, faith is born. 

A Jealous and Generous Relationship

        Before Mass began in church this morning, I saw my relationship with God to be a jealous and generous one. Jealous, because I enjoy the Lord so much that I want to possess him totally and not let anyone take him away from me. Generous, because I enjoy the Lord so much that I want everyone to possess him and experience the same joy.

Healing the Soul

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 15, we read that great crowds came to Jesus, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet and he cured them all. Today, such miracles are no longer so common, except for the healing of the soul. When we repent of our sin and ask for healing of the soul, the Lord instantly complies. We have his great mercy on our side.

More than Number One

        God is not to be number one in our lives ~ he is to be the only one in our lives.

Sharing the Good News

        Today's Communion antiphon, Matthew 10.27: What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light, says the Lord, what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. Therefore, we must make Jesus the Truth known, one way of another. We can tell others about him and/or live our lives as faithful disciples. Not to share the truth is like being the servant who dug a hole and buried his master's money in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25). Subsequently, all that he had was taken away from him. Good news is to be shared with all and not kept in secrecy.  

Highest State of Existence

        Today is the Memorial of St. Francis Xavier. In the Gospel from Luke 10, Jesus praises the Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for having revealed those things hidden from the wise and the learned to the childlike. It is the childlike to whom the Son wishes to reveal the Father. The highest state of our existence is then to be childlike first and seek oneness with the Lord to achieve perfect harmony with his will.

How God Has Made Us

        Quoting St. Augustine once more: God has made us so that our hearts are restless until they rest in him. It's also true that God has made us so that we are not completely free until our hearts surrender to him.

Living the Dream Life

        Is life a dream? The answer depends upon whether life is meaningful to you or not. Everything you see, hear, touch, and experience is real enough, but if you do not know where you came from and where you are going, then your life will be like a dream. To those who know Christ to be the eternal truth, life is no longer a puzzle. Everything that happens to them makes sense and they know where they are going more surely than they know that the sun will come up the next morning. The beautiful dream of their life has become a reality. Everything is now real, extended beyond this life.

Expecting the Unexpected

        The Gospel reading was taken from Matthew 24. Jesus said to his disciples that the coming of the Son of Man would be as it was in the days of Noah. People were eating and drinking, marrying and giving marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. The flood came and carried them all away. He therefore told his disciples to stay awake and be prepared, for he would come at an hour they did not expect.

          It's critical that we be ready always, joyfully anticipating the coming of the Lord.

God's Holiness Should Rule

        Today is the First Sunday of Advent. At the beginning of Mass, I trembled because I sensed the awesome holiness of God. I am sure that Peter, James, and John felt it on Mt. Tabor when they witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus. So, how do we dare to do anything without God's approval?

First Concern of Life

        Jesus' love for each of us is the same. The only variable is how each of us responds to his love. If we truly love Jesus, our foremost concern of life should be how we can love him more.

Unique Love

        God is unique, different from any creatures and created things, and he alone is to be worshiped and adored by us. Because of this, our love for him is also unique and not the same as our love for other creatures and things. This unique love we enjoy is to be prized.

Responding to God's Call

        Today is the Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle. The Gospel from Matthew 4 read tells that Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw the two brothers Simon and Andrew casting a net into the sea and said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Today's Communion antiphon, John 1.41-42 ~ Andrew told his brother Simon: We have found the Messiah, the Christ. Then he brought him to Jesus.

        If we hear the Lord calling us personally, we must realize that it's going to be the beginning of a most intimate relationship, a most blessed journey. With God, there's no place for casual relationships.

God Satisfies

        Yesterday I felt completely satisfied because God had shown me the way to salvation, that he had prepared a place for me in heaven, and that I'd already been chosen to be one of his children. So I am all set for eternity. All this is not fictional as Jesus is not. If you think life is not worth living, banish such thought and turn to Jesus immediately to ask him to illuminate you.  

Our Greatest Gift Ever

        On this Thanksgiving Day, what do we Christians have to thank for? This is easy to answer. The greatest gift we have received from God is the Lord himself, as he gave himself on the Cross to save us. Again, he instituted the Holy Eucharist as a sacrament so that he might enter us in person to dwell within us! We can and should take full advantage of this divine gift by letting him transform us into new, holy creatures.

Wake-Up Moments

        Every time we are happy on earth, we should think of heaven where we can be infinitely happier. Every time we suffer some hardship on earth, we should think of hell where we can suffer infinitely worse.