It strikes me today that Christianity is beautiful because it allows God who is love to envelop you so that you vanish in him for him to dwell in you.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Pressing Time
As you scan the shocking news headlines everyday, you can't help sensing that there is no time more pressing than now to choose God. Among all the bad news, Christ alone brings the good news, hope, and promise for a certainty. If you don't feel the urgency, you are living in a dream world.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Getting Things Done
Communion time thoughts. The priest offered the congregation the Lamb of God and we all responded by saying "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." I believe that when the Lord says the word or just wills, it's done. Be good, obedient, and faithful children and we can get the Father to say the right word to get a lot of things done.
Being Fair in Praying
The drug problem will persist if you only go after the dealers and not change the habits of the addicts. If you desire peace in the world, go beyond praying for those you love and pray for your enemies and all the evildoers too. This is applying offense and defense at the same time. Besides, we must be fair to all whom our Father loves.
Precious Conscience
If you possess a clear conscience, consider yourself most fortunate and blessed, for it is more precious than all the riches of the world.
Love and Life
If you have Love for God, then you have Life. These two L's are inextricably linked together.
Are You Listening?
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 8.19-31, we heard the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. This parable should be on everyone's must-read list, as the crystal-clear messages it carries are of paramount importance. Here's what Abraham said to the rich man suffering in the netherworld and asking for some relief from his torment, "My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours." The Jews had Moses and the prophets, but those who did not listen to them ended up in the place of torment. Now we have Jesus, the Son of God, shall we not listen to him either?
Judging as an Indicator
Jesus teaches us not to judge others. You can easily see those who judge and criticize others harshly are the ones who do not know the Lord well, whereas humility, obedience, and forgiveness mark the great saints of the Church.
The Gospel Test
Read the Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, assuming that Jesus was not God. I don't think you would be able to finish reading them, for it make no sense for an ordinary human to say and do what Jesus did as recorded. Read the books again, this time believing that he was the the Son of God, or God, then everything comes together and no puzzle is to left to solve.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
See It Right
First, realize that you cannot find true happiness in this life messed up by sin ~ this should preempt all your disappointments. Next, know that this life is not only imperfect, but also quickly passing. These realizations should help you see the need for a loving and dependable God. By living for him, you live for eternal happiness, not just for your rather brief, ordinary-to-miserable sojourn on earth.
Compelling Ave Maria
In my list of Good Sites, Blogs, Web Pages..., you'll find 4 Ave Maria music videos. The music is beautiful in each of them, but the one that moves me to tears every time I watch it is the one by Lorenc. I thought I would point this out. Loving God can be so beautiful!
Our Mission
Jesus is the light. Without him, there'll be only darkness. If we follow him, we must let his light shine as brightly as possible. This is our duty, our responsibility, our life goal, our mission. It's do-or-die. Why? Because it's liberating and a great joy!
*We Are Human
Anytime I experience mental agony, I tend to think that my trust in God must be weak. Today I realized that when Jesus underwent his Agony in the garden of Gethsemane, he certainly did not lack trust in the Father ~ he suffered simply because he was human. This came as a great consolation to me.
God's Purpose for Us
Communion experience. I felt so fortunate that I was present at the consecration of the bread and wine when these elements were transformed into the body and blood of the Lord ~ he transformed himself so that we might be transformed to be like him. This was clearly his intention when he created us in his image.
Jesus Has Few Friends
There's this story about St. Teresa of Avila. Once, when she was traveling to one of her convents, her carriage tipped in crossing a torrential stream and she fell into the muddy water, injuring her leg. Soaked and hurt, she cried to God, "Lord, if this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few!" Humor aside, the Lord still has few friends today. In our present secular societies, people look up to pop stars, rock musicians, sports heroes, those who have glamour, wealth, and/or power. Mother Teresa was inspiring, but how many of us wanted to be like her? The humble, meek, and self-giving image of Christ just does not appeal to the world anymore. Timid Christians ashamed of him are legion. What is certain is that if we ignore the Lord, he will ignore us in the end too. The worst thing you can possibly hear said to us is "I do not know you" from the one who loved us the most (Matthew 25.12, Luke 13.27).
Changing Perspective
Sometimes I wonder what I have done for Christ. It seems that I haven't succeeded in bringing many people to him or done anything extraordinary for his glory. Then it dawns on me that I am again seeing things from my perspective, while the Lord only wants me to be holy so that I might be saved, and not be so concerned about what I have accomplished in his name.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Cause of Uneasiness
The more one feels uneasy upon hearing the name of Jesus, the more that person needs to surrender himself to the Lord for mercy.
Fundamental Truth
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." The last part I italicized is a truth in itself. Since Jesus is the truth, knowing him solves the puzzle of life. I now know where I came from, why I am here, and what my final destination is going to be. Through Jesus, I now belong to God, my creator and Father. In other words, I am now free!
Monday, March 2, 2015
Reading God's Mind
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6 at morning Mass, the first thing Jesus said to his disciples was: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. All the teachings Jesus gave us told us what he, God, is like. His desire was for us to be like him. The reason could only be love.
Be a Contrarian
An investor in stocks is called a contrarian if he buys when everyone else is selling and sells when everyone else is buying. Often he ends up making more money than many regular investors. Here's how to be a contrarian Christian.
The more things go against you, the more you put your trust in God. The more your enemies attack you, the more you seek refuge in God and pray for their conversion. The more you undergo suffering, the deeper you enter God for strength and consolation. The more you run into problems, the more you welcome the challenge. Moreover, be determined not ever to let evil defeat you, not ever to let any sin of yours be the cause of your death ~ die only for the glory and love of God.
Breaking Free of the Maddening World
The world seems to have locked itself in a perpetual vicious cycle with almost every nation and everyone wanting to do things its or his way, resulting in waging all forms of wars against each other ad infinitum. The only way to break free of this madness is to let Jesus (not any god who's not all love) save us. Here, saving us means making us not of the world, thereby getting us ready for heaven after this life. There is no other way, for there is only one true God.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Concentrated Living
To learn to play a piano piece, you learn faster if you take on a small number of measures each time. Trying to swallow the whole piece at once always results in longer overall learning time. It works the same way in living the spiritual life. The truth is that we can only live in the present moment because the past is gone and the future is not here yet. Therefore, focus upon serving God, overcoming sufferings, putting your trust in God, and so on, every present moment you live. Projecting into the future can only weaken your present concentration. If you see or rest in God, you are seeing or resting in him now.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Love, Our Answer
Since God is love, love is the solution to all our problems. Like Jesus we must love everyone, including our enemies, and love the cross sent our way. Let the love of God set us ablaze so that we may shine brilliantly in the world.
Wasting Time
Communion time thought. Doing anything not for the sake of Christ, dying included, is a waste of time.
The Suffering Test
In suffering, one sees the opportunity to trust in God even more, offering up his suffering and thanking the Lord for his mercy; another gets upset, worrying and complaining to or even cursing the Lord. Suffering brings out the best and the worst in us.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
God Takes Care of Us
The Lord told Jeremiah the prophet, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." In Matthew 25, Jesus said that on the day of the Judgment of the Nations, he would say to his chosen sheep, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." How can I not be elated upon hearing that God knew me before I was born and that he had prepared a place for me from the very beginning? Such great comfort!
In Harmony with God
Communion thoughts. The Holy Eucharist is the Lord himself perfecting us. Receiving him with reverence, love, and appreciation puts us in perfect harmony with him ~ a most beautiful thing.
Discerning God's Will
In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 7 at morning Mass, Jesus said to his disciples, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." At the end, he added, "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you." This tells me clearly that I could ask the Lord to shield me from evil, but not to destroy my foes ~ praying for their conversion would be his intention.
Our Best Defense
If we keep a clear conscience, the Lord is with us and we no longer need to be afraid of any attacks from evil enemies. Since our soul is safe in him, these attacks become more like annoying mosquitoes and flies around us.
Birds Behave Better
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31604026 ~ this link takes you to a happy, amazing story about the bond formed between a young Seattle girl and a horde of crows. Perhaps, dogs aside, crows are our best friend too. Viewed morally, these grateful crows in the story put a lot of us to shame.
Time Running Out!
There is just so much time we have on this earth. That time is running out is what we should be aware. When we face God, we will have to account for everything we did in our life. Did we glorify or offend the Lord? Not hurting anyone, just minding your own business, won't do you any good, for the sin of omission can be as serious as the sin of commission. Overall, you reap in this life and/or the next what you sow in this life.
Free Will Interference
A lot of Catholics are familiar with St. Gertrude's prayer for the souls in purgatory given her by our Lord. According to tradition. the Lord promised her that 1000 souls would be released from purgatory each time it is said devoutly. The prayer was extended to include living sinners as well. Here are the words:
"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."
I am thinking that the reason this prayer is so effective in releasing souls from purgatory is that these souls are already heaven-bound and therefore no free will exists to interfere with our prayer request. In the case of praying for the living, the Lord will have to bring their free will in line for our prayer to be answered.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Why Limit Yourself?
Why do you limit yourself to seeking pleasure and enjoying beauty on this earth only? Soon your life will be over. Instead, seek joy and enjoy beauty in God and you'll find them uplifting and more satisfying, continuing into eternity.
Ultimate Living
The truth is that God is love. The tragedy is that many do not know it through misguidance or misunderstanding. If God is love, then there's nothing for us to fear. The most enlightened life is to open yourself entirely to him, sharing all your feelings, thoughts, intentions, desires . . . everything that's in your heart ~ yes, in total union with him. This liberates your spirit. Using my favorite adjective again, I say, this is ultimate living.
Greatest Transformations
(1) Incarnation ~ God assumed the human form in Jesus Christ to spread the good news of salvation among us.
(2) Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor ~ Peter, James, and John witnessed this when Jesus' face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared to converse with the Lord.
(3) Transubstantiation ~ the elements of bread and wine change into the body and blood of Christ when they are consecrated in the Eucharist during Mass.
(4) Our transformation by the Holy Spirit ~ the Lord wipes away all our sins, transforming us into new creatures holy and pure, fit to enter heaven.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Most Perfect Prayer
In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6, Jesus taught his disciples to pray the Our Father. This is indeed the perfect prayer. It shows us how to approach God and what to ask from him. It teaches and shapes us. It defines our ideal relationship to the Lord. If we would just say this prayer with all our heart with persistence, it should turn us into holy saints in the end.
Words over Bread
Today's Gospel Acclamation from Matthew 4.4: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. We must regard the words that come from Jesus to be much more important than the bread we eat. The bread only sustains us temporarily, but the words of the Lord lead and guide us to eternal life.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Rock vs. Straw
When you abandon yourself in God, he becomes your rock of refuge, your stronghold, and you are ready to face eternity. Those who hold onto whatever in the world for security are grasping at straws, literally or figuratively speaking.
Jesus "Is" Everyone!
In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 25 at morning Mass, Jesus made it clear that whatever we did for one of the least brothers of his, we did for him, and whatever we did not do for one of the lease ones, we did not do for him. Fr. P in his homily pointed out that when Paul was threatening the early disciples of the Lord, Jesus spoke to Paul, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Obviously, when we hurt anyone, we hurt the Lord! We cannot love the Lord without loving all our brothers and sisters.
Mercy, Key to Inner Peace
This morning the Lord made me see that he is full of mercy, and if we are merciful to others, we shall have inner peace. Like the Lord, we would be forgiving and loving everyone with never any hatred of others.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Embracing Suffering
Communion experience. The Lord made me see that if I want to embrace him, I must embrace him as the one who suffers. It is in embracing the suffering he sends my way that I shall have peace.
Facing the Lord
One who is not ready to deal with his own conscience is afraid to look at himself. Essentially, he hides from God. But since the Lord sees and knows everything, that person is both a coward and a fool. Turning to and baring yourself to God is the first step in letting him clear up your conscience to set you free.
Clear, Straight Call
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 1 at Mass, Jesus came to Galilee to proclaim the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." This call is for everyone, coming straight from God! Do you hear him? Answer this call and you are on your way to heaven.
A Picture of Life in Water
I had this image in my mind this morning at church before Mass began. I saw everyone in the world floating in one somewhat rough sea. Those who followed the Lord looked quite calm, knowing that they were safely attached to him by some strong cord and would be pulled out of the water one day. Other followers of weaker faith were attached to the Lord too, but they were not quite aware that the cord could get stronger or weaker, depending upon what they do in the water. The rest who did not follow the Lord seemed to enjoy the water the most ~ they frolicked, splashed water on others, and even tried to drown them. What's sad was that they did not know that if they continued to behave so, they'd be left in the sea struggling to stay afloat for all eternity.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
On Being Fearless
Have no fear of anything that is false, for God is not with those who propagate falsehood. Fear the truth instead, but this fear is more respect than fear. Nevertheless, one who is one with the Lord becomes fearless because he knows that God is his Father and his soul will always be safe.
Understanding God
As followers of Christ, we need to realize that God is constantly teaching us, shaping us, testing our faith, consoling us . . . with the sole purpose of drawing us into deep union with him. We need also know that God will always defend our soul against evil because we are his.
All Sins Are Sins
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 5, Jesus said, "I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." Since God is holy, before him we are all sinners. To think about whether I am a bigger or lesser sinner than someone else is pointless. That's why God asks us not to judge anyone, and the saints consider themselves to be most wretched before God. What's important is that we realize our own sinfulness and repent to the Lord, then all our sins are forgiven!
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