Power of the Holy Eucharist

        Communion experience. I felt Jesus thoroughly cleaning up my interior. 

Great Father We Have

        I pray to Jesus a lot and to the Holy Spirit too. At Mass today, I felt called to pray to the Father just as much. I thanked him for having created me so that I might enjoy him in this life and forever in the next. It is unbelievable that we have such a loving Father.

On Forgiving Your Enemy

        Forgiving others can be the most difficult thing for many of us. Let's look at the matter this way. Here's someone you dislike or even hate, and get angry about. Now think of hell, such a horrible place, where one is cut off from God and suffers for all eternity ~ would you honestly wish that your "enemy" be condemned to hell? If you do have a heart that hard, which I don't believe you do, then perhaps you should reconsider whether you deserve to go to heaven for God loves your enemy as much as he loves you. If your answer to the question is no, then simply forgive your enemy. 

How God Leads

        In leading us, God does not show us every little thing we need to do; he usually brings us to the point where we finally realize on our own what he wants us to do. This is good learning because it teaches us to remain patient and trust in him always. 

The Only Sin

        I thought of Adam and Eve who committed the original sin and got banished from Eden. And that sin was disobedience to God. To this day, this has been the same sin that alienates mankind from the Lord. Start obeying God now is the only but sure way of returning to the state of grace.  

God's Way of Love

        St. John of the Cross spoke of dark night of the soul. We all have or had our own dark nights. Mother Teresa had hers that lasted for decades! Whether it's the feeling that God is totally absent, sickness, or any other form of suffering, I see all of them as proof of God's existence or his love. It's because God exists so that we notice his absence. It's because God loves us that he sends us trials and suffering to purify us, readying us for joining him in heaven. We must welcome whatever the Lord sends our way.

Saints Can Help

        I just finished reading Colleen Carroll Campbell's My Sisters the Saints. She is a gifted writer and I enjoyed reading this spiritual memoir of hers. Even though I am already familiar with the saints she grew to love, it's good to read about them again, knowing that we are in communion with all the saints and they can definitely inspire and help us in our spiritual journeys.

Our Only Business

        Common things out of order: (1) Casting stones at others when we have plenty of our own sins. (2) Judging others when we don't see our own faults. (3) Asking for God's blessing when we don't even fully obey him. (4) Asking God to protect us from external evil when we neglect to ask for deliverance from our internal evil. Our only business should be to become saints before God. 

God's Great Promise

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 10, Jesus tells his disciples that anyone who has given up everything for his sake will receive a hundred times more in the present age, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. It's clear that giving up all to follow Jesus does not mean that all our problems will be gone. It only ensures that we'll get through this life safely to eternal happiness. This is plenty good enough for me.

God Does It All

        This morning's Entrance Antiphon, based upon Psalm 18.19-20: The Lord became my protector. He brought me out to a place of freedom; he saved me because he delighted in me. How good to read these verses! God protects me; he freed me; he saved me and loves me ~ everything is true. All he expects from us is to love him back.

The "In God" Difference

        Nonbelievers get their strength and courage in themselves, whereas believers get the same in God. Nonbelievers with troubled hearts find their escape in alcohol and other distractions of the world, whereas believers take their trouble to God and "escape" in him for solace and guidance.

Love Is Being Considerate

        If you love someone and that person does not pay any attention to what you say to him or her, you feel hurt. Therefore, listen to others who have good intentions, even though what they say might be inappropriate or difficult to accept.

Great Consolation

        Communion experience. The Lord gave me the consolation I needed. After I received him in the Holy Eucharist, I heard him whisper, "You already have me; I am yours." I felt great joy.

Faith Dispels Fear

        The Gospel reading at Mass, Matthew 6.24-34, is a great one. Again, it's exactly what I needed to hear today. When Jesus told his disciples not to worry about life, I understood that he doesn't want us to worry about anything in this life, that is, he doesn't want us to worry, period. He's really telling us to have faith in him. Where faith is, fear can not exist. 

All About Judgment

        An excerpt from today's Reading 2 at Mass from 1 Corinthians 4: It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. I needed to hear these words today. I don't want to judge anyone nor be concerned about others judging me; I trust only in the Lord's judgment of me.

How to Leave This World?

        Here are two examples with completely different focii to help you decide: (1) I want to leave my mark on the world and want the world to always remember me. (2) I want to reconcile with everyone, be completely detached from all worldly things and sufficiently pure to go home to my Father without trepidation.     

One to Hold Onto

        Reading the news today, I am greatly saddened by the horrible things happening all around the world. At the same time, I feel the love of those close and devoted to me. But good or bad, everything is passing. Whatever is good I cannot hold onto because I am passing myself. It becomes crystal clear that only God is forever and never changing, and he is the one we should hold onto.           

Feeling Secure in God

        Communion time thought. If I am God's, who can harm me? (Echoing Romans 8.31.)

Reality Check

        This is our generation. When we are young, we don't think about death and believe that we can solve all our own problems. We are confident or even cocky, but that's because we are ignorant and shortsighted. Reconciliation with God remains unsettled and hidden in our conscience. As we age or have a crisis in life, we finally begin to feel it gnawing at us. God, the ultimate reality, can never be wished away. 

How to Gain Wisdom

        The first reading at daily Mass has been coming from James. This Epistle is full of wise counsels which the Apostle must have learned from the Lord. We can also gain divine wisdom by listening to God and stop thinking on our own.  

Going Deep into God

        Life is our testing ground to see if we can make heaven after we die. It is also a time for those who choose God to prepare themselves for going there. In the meantime, how do we deal with all the problems we face on earth? We can pray to God, but problems don't usually vanish instantly like magic. I see only one way: to go even deeper into the Lord, making him truly our rock and refuge. Any other way without him will be lost effort. God may not promise us happiness in this world (as he told St. Bernadette through our Holy Mother), but he'll definitely give us the strength and courage to endure any trials and tribulations and keep us safe from all evil if we dwell in him.    

Surrender to Freedom

        Our own life is normally the most important thing to us, followed by our family and last, my material possessions. Therefore, if we can hand our own life over to God, then everything else will follow. That's why surrender to God brings so much freedom. 

Amazing Mysteries

        Today Wednesday I recited the Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. I felt that the Sorrowful Mysteries were the most amazing of all the Mysteries of the Rosary, because they could not be taken for granted ~ Jesus actually underwent suffering and death to redeem us. His love truly shines forth as we meditate upon these mysteries. 

God Is Hope

        Today's Communion experience. I, a sinner, actually received the Sinless One ~ I was filled with hope.

Love Through and Through

        Communion experience. It was the Lord who entered me. This was no mere encounter; it was union! It was consistent with his giving of self. It marked the culmination in drawing us into his love ~ no more reverting to my former ways.

Ego Must Go

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 9, Jesus said to the Twelve, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." The Lord made it clear that ego has no place in anyone who wishes to follow him.

Freedoms in Union

        When you are in union with God, your will and God's will are in perfect harmony; therefore, you are free to do whatever you want. Today's Response to Psalm 55: Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you. When you are in union with God, you automatically throw all your cares on the Lord. Today's Gospel Acclamation (Galatians 6.14): May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. When you are in union with God, you can boast all you want.

How to Receive the Lord?

        Communion experience. The Most Holy One, the Perfect One, entered me. How should I respond? What an opportunity to welcome him, to tell him that I adore him, worship him, love him, and want to belong to him forever! What a perfect time to let go in him, offering my heart and all to him! As much as possible, I enjoyed the greatest intimacy with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! It's truly "there is nothing I lack."

Jesus Completes Our Life

        Liken a life unfulfilled to a picture puzzle with an important piece missing, then Jesus is that missing piece. Naturally, to complete the puzzle you must fit that piece into the empty spot. Likewise, you must seek union with Christ to live a completely fulfilled life. 

God's Intention Revealed

        Before Mass began this morning, the Lord let me see that we human beings have been created with the potential of being good, that is, holy. Then he must have intended that we be holy.

Reward of Surrender to God

        One of the rewards you receive after surrendering to the Lord is the discovery of his great beauty.

The Holiness Process

        Jesus established his Church on earth to guide us. The teachings of the Church can inspire us and her sacraments provide us with the grace to become holy. But if we do not have the desire to become holy, the Lord can't do much. In a word, we have the final say. Therefore, holiness starts with a yes to God from us and the Holy Spirit does the rest.      

Speaking of Crosses

        What makes a cross? Most crosses we endure and suffer are caused by our lack of perfection ~ we distrust and disobey God, are selfish and not loving enough. God does not want us to be afraid or anxious so that we may have peace, but we don't listen and make everything (including ourselves) even more complicated, worsening our burden. The rest of the crosses are those inflict upon us or given to us by God ~ here we must see them as blessings that can benefit us spiritually. It's in our willingness to carry our cross and follow Jesus that we receive strength and joy. In conclusion, all self-created crosses can be eliminated and the rest, lightly carried with God's help.  

On Facing Jesus

        Today's Gospel reading from Mark 8 at Mass truly challenges us. Jesus said to the crowd and his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it.... Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." These are hard words we must face or dismiss. They are either truth or rubbish. Ignoring them does not make them go away. 

Peace Is Born...

as Jesus becomes more and more important and all other things, with the exception of loving others, become less and less important in one's life. 

God Values Us

        Jesus wants us to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect and to think as God does. Apparently, he thinks highly of us, his creation. How do we regard ourselves? We can feel sorry for or even hate ourselves, we can brush aside God and go on our own way, we can halfheartedly follow him ... all these options are wrong because they disappoint God by ignoring the potential he sees in us. As a matter of fact, it is sinful to not believe that God can transform us. We should thank the Lord for wanting to make us holy so that we may enter union with him and be joyful forever from this life on. Therefore, think about not yourself, but what God thinks of you.  

Low to High via God

        Nothing is impossible with God. No matter how hopeless you feel, God can fill your life with hope. No matter how low you have sunk, he can lift you up high. We've seen examples in the lives of many, not all of them saints. I can testify to you that the highest points in my spiritual life followed some of the lowest points. "Never give up" can be foolish, unrealistic advice, but it works perfectly when you involve God, for he loves to help those in low spirits. 

A Humbling Experience

        Today's Communion experience. In the world one can experience highs by riding a roller coaster, winning the lottery, or taking drugs; but the high you get after receiving the Lord is in an entirely different realm, touching the soul deeply. I got the incredible, humbling feeling today after the Lord entered me, putting me in place; he let me know that he is God and I was receiving the greatest possible favor from him. He humbles those whom he loves.

To Think like God

        Also in today's Gospel reading from Mark 8, after Jesus revealed to his disciples openly that he must suffer, be rejected, and be killed, Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this Jesus, before the disciples, rebuked Peter for thinking not as God does, but as human beings do. Human beings are good at following their own wishes, which amounts to ignoring God's will. In essence, Jesus wants us to be in union with God so that we may think like God.

Jesus, All-Knowing God

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 8, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.

        From an objective point of view, you can see that Jesus knew exactly who he was and what's going to happen to him. He first asked the disciples questions to test them. Once they knew that truth, he told them what's going to transpire. Here's nothing other than our all-knowing God being himself.  

More on Surrendering to God

         I thought more about surrendering to God at Mass this morning. I acknowledge that God created me, so all of me belongs to him except the free will he has given me. If I give that up as well, then I am all his ~ this is crucial to having faith in God. To surrender to God is to return to my creator to be united with him forever, as it should be. It's letting God take over completely so that I totally vanish in him. This is the process that liberates our heart, mind, spirit, and soul! We are free only when we are no longer aware of our own independent existence. Perhaps you argue that this way a person becomes like a puppet of the Lord. Then I say that if you play your own god, you are just your own robot. To be a "puppet" of God is infinitely better than being a master of yourself or whatever else you can think of. 

Falsehood Exposed

        Truth exposes falsehood. That's why the more you get to know and learn from the true God, the more you realize that you've been living in falsehood. Therefore, ask the Lord to open your eyes, your ears, and your mind so that you may see exactly how you are supposed to live. The goal of life should be to discover the truth and discard falsehood.  

God's Greatness

        Communion time musings. Although so high above me, God is totally accessible. Although he is far beyond my reach, there are no barriers between us. Today in one act, he and I become one. He can stoop so low because he is so great!

The Christian Journey

        When we are on earth, we need God because we have health issues to deal with, natural elements to confront, and most of all, sins to fight. After we get to heaven, we no longer need God because we already have him, and all the above-mentioned problems no longer exist. The Christian journey skips to its best part right after the first part.  

Faith in God Works

        I am pretty much back to normal and resumed attending daily Mass this morning. As Jesus indicated to his disciples in today's Gospel reading from Mark 8, without faith we can have eyes and not see, ears and not hear. He made me see that if we have faith, everything will be well. This is the theory, logic, also a simple formula that always works. Faith makes us follow God, and since God can never lead us astray, everything works out well at the end. The ultimate example: Faith in Christ leads to eternal life.  

Conscience Examined

        Conscience is like a clear window pane God implants in each one of us at our birth. The pane gradually gets soiled and stained by the sins of our world, losing its clarity over a period of time. Now the person no longer sees clearly what's right and what's wrong. God is the one who can wipe it all clean again if you give him the go-head. While he is at it, ask him to clean out whatever filth and dirt your muddy conscience has allowed into your heart and mind as well, and you'll be clean all over again. This was Jesus' mission when he came into the world, for the Lord specializes in making all things clean.     

To Your Heart's Content

        Communion experience. I was amazed and thrilled to realize what the Lord can do with us. If you let yourself be his entirely, he can mold and shape you until you become a totally happy, free person, enjoying him and the world.

Relaxing in God

        I still have one more day to go on my antibiotic, but my cough is almost gone. I attended Sunday morning Mass, feeling God refreshing me once again. Letting go in God relaxes the body, mind, and spirit. How good it is to have the Lord at our service anytime we wish to relax! 

Plan for Living

       First things first:

       (1) Awareness ~ know that you're only passing through this world. 

       (2) Action ~ make sure you'll enter heaven after this life ends.                  

       (3) Pullback ~ relax and enjoy living.

      Note: People do not enjoy living because they jump to step 3 without going through the first two steps in order.

On loving Others

        The Lord wants us to see him in every fellow human being so that we may treat all with love and respect. I got on this because I saw how easily old folks got ignored by others. It is Jesus' commandment that we love our neighbor as ourselves. One caution though: we love others, but not be attached to them, for we attach ourselves to God alone.