Greatest Achievement

        What is the greatest achievement of mankind? The fact is that everything we think we have achieved is done by God through us, for without him we wouldn't even exist. Then the greatest achievement that involves us has to be our salvation through the sacrifice of God's own Son ~ made possible by the greatest love there is.

Moving On with God

        If you have done something well for God, rejoice that you have glorified him; but beware that you don't relish the experience too much lest your ego gets fed. We must focus upon God always and not dwell upon what has already passed. 

Freedom in God

        To be free in God, you must make sure that God would feel free in you. This means remaining completely open, empty, and passive to him.

Jesus Faithful in His Role

        On this Palm Sunday, the Gospel was read from Matthew 26 and 27. The long reading recounted the experience of Jesus from his betrayal by Judas through his burial. As Jesus carried out the Father's plan of salvation, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament, it was as if he was following a script, faithfully acting out his part. An ordinary human not knowing what's happening and the future would have reacted entirely differently. This is worth noticing.       

Weeding with God

        I enjoy weeding outdoors by hand around and among the plants. This morning after Mass, while the air was still cool, I started to weed some. When I saw some beautiful red flowers in bloom, I thought of the creative genius of God and appreciated the sense of beauty he had given me. Then I was surprised that a plant which seemed to have been killed by the frost last winter was still alive, for I saw new growths underneath all the dead leaves that formed the dense top. This was like the birth of the new person after the old self has died in Christ. Next I noticed that some weeds looked very much like the good plants among which they grew. I had to look carefully to pick them out. It reminded me of the Second Coming when Jesus would separate the goats from the sheep. Now I could feel the temperature rising and moved into a shaded area north of the house ~ I felt immediate relief and was refreshed. That's how I felt about God at times. After I finished weeding that area, it's time to go inside the house. 

God Most Desirable

        Communion thoughts. I desire all of God. I want to belong to him completely. Going all the way into him and with him in every way is the way to go, for any other way will be unsatisfactory.

Source of Clear Thinking

        Only God sees and understands everything clearly, for infinite mercy and perfect justice demand that. Muddy thinking is the cause of rebellion against God and all other chaos, tragedies, and miseries of the world. Union with God will enable us to see and understand all things clearly, thus bringing peace to both our heart and the world. 

Sign of Freedom

        The fact that you feel great joy in sharing the good news of Christ with others is proof that the truth has begun to set you free.

Model for Us

        In today's Gospel from John 8 at Mass, the Jews did not like what Jesus had said to them and picked up stones to throw at him, but he hid and left them. How would we have reacted in his place? What impresses me is that throughout Jesus' life on earth, love alone motivated and guided him in all that he did at all times. He is our ideal model.  

Love Worthy of Trust

        This morning's Communion antiphon (Romans 8.32): God did not spare his own son, but handed him over for us all; with him, he has given us all things. In other words, if God is willing to give his own son for us, how will he not also give us all things with him? Such love deserves our absolute trust in God. 

God and World Worlds Apart

        In today's Gospel reading from John 8 at morning Mass, Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him that the truth would set them free. They thought they were free because they had never been enslaved to anyone, but Jesus meant "free from becoming a slave of sin." In today's world, "free" also means having no financial burdens, no one giving you a hard time, and free to do whatever you wish and not worry about the consequence. To the world, to love is to desire or enjoy something that attracts, lures, or satisfies you sensually or intellectually, whereas to love for God is to lay down your life for your friends. Again, the world seeks external pleasures that satisfy mostly the senses, while God wants to give us internal joy that intoxicates the soul. 

How to Kill the Ego

        Simple ~ just starve it.

Standard of Love

        Jesus said, "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15.13). All love is to be measured by this standard. Then the greatest lack of love has to be to abort one's own child for oneself.

Multiplication of the Lord

       Communion time thoughts. Jesus in his time multiplied loaves and fish to feed the multitude, satisfying their physical hunger. Now he multiplies himself in the Holy Eucharist to feed all of us who love him, satisfying our spiritual hunger.

We Are the Soil

        Today's Gospel acclamation at Mass: The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever. This makes us the soil. If we keep the word of God, the soil will be good and rich and we shall bear fruit and live. Otherwise, the soil will be poor and barren and we shall die.

Thread of Mercy

        I see God's mercy as a thread with each of us suspended by such a thread. Since God's mercy is infinite, this thread is so strong that it will want to hold us safe all our life. But sin weaken this thread. Therefore, if we keep sinning and do not repent, the thread will in time break and drop us into the abyss where we don't want to go.

Offering Up Suffering

        Offering up our suffering to God is seeking refuge and consolation in him. It's an excellent way of deepening our union with God and overcoming sorrow with joy.

All About God

        First thoughts this morning while shaving. God is the big star of the universe since he created all of it. He deserves all the recognition and credit. Who are we, such finite creatures, to get in his way? Besides, he loves us to death. Therefore, we should not only let him have his way, but also embrace him with joy and gratitude! 

Greatest Truth

        To know God is to know love, to be illuminated and fulfilled, and be set free. Without love, we remain in darkness. Our greatest truth is love.

Same Tragedy Today

        In today's Gospel reading from John 7 at Mass, the Pharisees did not believe that Jesus was the Christ simply because they were not open-minded and had already formed negative opinions about him. The nonbelievers today are the same. When they believe that they already know the truth as they see it, they shut the door on God.  

Off the Hook

        Yesterday's Communion experience. After receiving the Holy Eucharist, I heard the Lord saying to my heart, "Do what I want from you, not what you want for yourself" and I felt great freedom.

Power of Love

        Throughout the two millennia since Jesus came into the world, many people continue to give up all of themselves to serving him ~ this is the power of God's love.  

Leaving the World Easy

        Speaking of leaving the world, when we die, we leave everything behind, including our own body. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to start severing our attachments to the things of the world before the inevitable time arrives so as to make our final departure as easy and carefree as possible.

Jesus Makes the Difference

        Suppose that I do not know Jesus at all and must leave the world now. I know I would feel unhappy, not because I haven't found God, but because I haven't achieved all my personal goals yet. Since I know the Lord, I can leave this world with peace and joy, not matter what I have done or failed to do, for God can make us anew at any time.

Only You and God

        Attributed to Mother Teresa: "In the final analysis, it is between you and God." She is right! Therefore, mind God alone and let nothing else bother you. Aim to please God and let all else go.        

Ultimate Reconciliation

        During Communion yesterday, I felt it's the perfect time to submit all my wishes, goals, and plans to the will of God to be in perfect harmony with God, thus letting peace continue to reign in my heart.

The Drawing Process

        "To everyone who has more, more will be given" (from Matthew 25.29). The process of being drawn into Christ is like that. As one grows closer to Christ, he experiences the same joys and sorrows as the Lord more. The joys naturally draw him even closer to Christ and the sorrows impel him to seek refuge and consolation in him ~ both leading the one to deeper union with God.

To Be Transformed by Christ

        Reading and learning about Christ, even from the Gospels, will not transform you. Only a direct encounter with him can make it happen. Therefore, meet him head-on with an open heart and let him influence and shape you. 

Peace and Purity

        If we do not sin, we shall have inner peace. Conversely, if we have inner peace, we do not wish to sin anymore in order to preserve that peace. Therefore, peace and purity are virtually synonymous. When we achieve unity with God, we gain both. 

Zeal for God

        To be an effective Christian, one must have zeal for God. This zeal is the fire lit by the love of God in our heart. Two days ago, the entrance antiphon at Mass from Psalm 105 read: Let the heart that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face. This is also the zeal that impels us to constantly seek the Lord.  

Be Prepared for Life

        The last two days I couldn't blog because I lost my internet connection. At the same time, the house phone went dead and the TV reception was gone. We cannot always be certain about what can happen in this life, but we can be certain about our life eternal with God. 

Most Beautiful Title

       At Mass this morning, "Lamb of God" struck me as a most beautiful title for Jesus who takes away the sin of the world by becoming the sacrificial lamb. The title speaks the love of God for us loud and clear. Praise be to God!

On Being Self-Conscious

        Another reason people don't feel free is that they are too self-conscious, too aware of what others think of them. Whereas if we are concerned only about pleasing God and not anyone else, we lose our self-consciousness and become free. Remember that God's whole aim is to free us from all bondage so that we may be saved.   

To Be like Jesus

        When Jesus taught us how to live and behave, he was revealing what he is like to us: how he deals with anger, how he forgives others, how he trusts in the Father, and so on. Therefore, if we obey him in all his teaching, we shall be like him.   

Eager to Learn

        Once when I was still a young man, I dreamed of becoming a great pianist. So I thought how great it would be if I possessed the talents of all the great pianists of the world. Of course, that was pure foolish and self-centered fantasizing. During Communion today, I had the great desire to learn from the Lord. Then I thought why not ask all the great saints in heaven to teach me too. This time, I was sincere, with no ego involved, and definitely not fantasizing. 

Endearing God

        Today at morning Mass, I realized that it's the Incarnation of Jesus that had made God truly endearing to us. God is not just Lord and God, he became our most beloved, our friend, our brother, and even our servant; even his mother became our mother ~ all made possible by love.   

Glorious Living

        Believe and trust in God with all your heart and God will fill you with his love to overflowing and perform wondrous deeds through you. This is glorious living when you live for God's great glory!

A Beautiful Way to Go Home

        Here's a beautiful Ave Maria supposedly to have been written by the Polish film-score composer Michal Lorenc and sung by the Polish soprano Olga Szyrowa, although I could not find any information on Google to substantiate these claims. The clip, very moving, came from the movie The Passion of the Christ. Christ died for us out of love for us ~ it's our turn to die for him for loving us. What a beautiful way to go home to our heavenly Father!

The Perception of Distance

        As human beings with physical senses living in a physical world, we sense how far anything is from us by its actual location in terms of measured distance or whether we can hear or see it. Wrongly, we tend to perceive God and heaven the same way. The spiritual world is not a physical world ~ the moment we die, we are there! And we don't need to travel any distance to go to God either ~ he is ever present and already dwells in those who love him.

A Wonderful Gift

        The big bang theory describes how the universe began in a rapid expansion about 14 billion years ago, but some major problems still remained. Now the big bang theory modified by the inflation theory seems to have solved these problems. Inflation refers to the expansion of space lasting just an instant right after the big bang. Afterwards the universe continues to expand at a slower rate. All this is rather mind-boggling, and I become aware that God has given us this wonderful sense of wonderment. With this unique gift, we are able to enjoy these amazing perceptions of the universe and our even more amazing God.   

Food That Sanctifies Us

        Communion experience. The Holy Eucharist I have just received is not only something from heaven, but also nothing short of being the body of the Lord! And this is the food that raises us to holiness.   

Recipe for Peace

        Do everything to please God alone to the exclusion of all else, then you'll have peace.

All About Surrender

        The word "surrender" is usually associated with unpleasant circumstances ~ for example, we surrender the city to the enemy, the thief surrenders the stolen goods to the police, one surrenders himself to a life of imprisonment, you surrender your office to someone. But there is one exception: when you surrender yourself to God, you gain unrestricted freedom (and eternal life to boot)!

The Authentic God

        Read through all the Gospels and you see that Jesus always spoke and acted with authority. Many attempted to trip him up with questions and he always had the right answer. Of course, there are many others in the world who speak with authority, but they do it only as experts on a particular subject or in a certain area, never as the all-knowing God himself! ~ this is the huge difference.

Mercy and Justice

        God's mercy is great. Jesus went through his Passion, died on the cross, but he never complained or condemned anyone. On the contrary, he prayed for those who put him to death. Everyone, including the ones who hammered the nails through his hands and feet, can be forgiven if they only repented and believed. Jesus asked us not to judge anyone as he never did while on earth, always leaving open the door to salvation. But there will be a final judgment, for mercy with no justice served is not true mercy.

Passion to be Welcomed

        Remembering how Jesus rebuked Peter for wishing that he's not going to suffer greatly and be killed? We must realize that Jesus, in carrying out the will of the Father, welcomed the cross; gladly suffered and died for us out of love. [How I wish that all nonbelievers see this.] To feel sorry for him is not what God wants from us. Instead, we should praise God, thank him for what he has done for us, and rejoice that we are so loved by God.

Best Unity of All!

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 11 at morning Mass, Jesus drove out a demon that was mute. The crowds were amazed and some of them said that he drove out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?" It is true that every nation, government, political party, organization of any kind, or family divided will remain weak and eventually disintegrate. A person alone can also be divided if he is unhappy about life and dislikes himself, and will fall in time. Only unity can produce strength and stability. And this leads me to see that the best (and most profitable) unity we can have is union with God! Such unity will make us so strong that no evil can touch us in this life. Since it's a unity not of this world, it will extend into our next life for all eternity too.

In Christ Is Freedom

        Why do we have fears, worries, get anxious, or feel self-conscious? Answer: because we are still attached to ourselves, still think we are somebody, don't fully trust in God yet, and care about what others think. Galatians 2.19, 20 provide the clue to the solution we need: I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me. When Christ displaces us in us, nothing can affect us negatively anymore. The wicked will only make us feel sorry for them and we'll be able to forgive our enemies. No longer shall we be concerned about our own image; we simply do what the Lord wants us to do and let what follows follow. With God taking over our lives, we are set free.

Importance of Humility

        Without humility, one cannot have inner peace, love others truly, and be holy.

Saving the World

        Transformation of the world must start with the transformation of each one of us. And our transformation starts with following Christ, becoming humble, loving, and holy as he is. We may not witness notable success in our lifetime or even lose our life in the process, but we must take this path as it's the only right way.