Our Nirvana Is...

understanding our place in the overall scheme of things before the Lord our God. We come to know him as our loving Father and follow his will. This is existence in perfect harmony with our creator now and forever.

Jesus, the Only One!

        I went to Vigil Mass today. After receiving Holy Communion I realized that I absolutely need Jesus, for without him I'd be stuck with my sins forever, as there's no one else who can take away my sins and make me clean again!

Holiness Indicator

        One can have a conscience so muddy that he is no longer bothered much by committing any serious sin. At the other extreme, a saint can have a conscience so clear (sharp) that he would sense and thus avoid committing the slightest transgression against God. Therefore, the sensitivity of one's conscience measures his holiness.       

God Completes Me

        Communion experience. God fills me with whatever I lack.

Keeping Motivation Pure

        God motivates us to love others, but sometimes I sense that my motivation may not be as pure as it should be because personal views and feelings can interfere, often stealthily. To keep our motivation pure, we need be fully aware that loving others and loving God are exactly the same thing. 

Serving God Right

        Serving God must never involve the ego. If you succeed, God is glorified. If you fail, God is still glorified because you've been obedient and remain at peace. Naturally, the first thing your should do is asking the Lord to eradicate your ego so as not to be in his way.

Most Holy Eucharist

        Communion experience today. As I received the perfectly round, white host, I knew that Jesus can make us pure and perfect. Never receive this Blessed Sacrament in vain.

Our Greatest Honor Is...

to be at the beck and call of Jesus to serve him alone.              

Secret of Finding and Knowing God

        God is neither someone you have to look hard to find nor someone to chase after and catch once you have found him. He is someone here, just waiting for you to see, hear, and embrace. In fact, the effective way of finding and getting to know God is to let down your entire defense, remain open and passive, and humbly yearn for him. Trying hard on your own is totally counterproductive, whereas letting God do the work is the key to success. This is true with God all the way through seeking union with him.   

Offering of the Heart

        In the beginning at Mass, we confess to God that we have sinned in our thoughts and in our words, in what we have done and in what we have failed to do. We see that thoughts, words, and deeds all originate from the heart. If we can keep our hearts pure, we shall be clean. Therefore, let Jesus rule our hearts. The heart is surely the greatest possible gift we can give to God, a gift he would appreciate and be please with.

Extra Reason for Wanting to Go to God

        As a student, I always liked to ask a lot of questions because I wanted to understand things. It can be considered one of my shortcomings that I do not embark upon any "venture" until I have thoroughly figured it out. Sometimes you get where you want to go faster by taking the plunge and whatever necessary actions along the way. Anyhow, I really would like to know how God created all things, how he makes miracles happen, how he watches over us, etc. To find out all this is my extra reason for wanting to go to him.

Crossing a Threshold

        Today is the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. In the first reading from Exodus 24, when Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, "We will do everything that the LORD has told us." If the people had "everything" to include "total surrender to the Lord" in mind, they probably wouldn't have responded thus so readily. It's still the same today; it comes down to "I believe, but not all the way yet." To accept God and not be a little god yourself anymore is just plain hard, but it's in abandoning yourself entirely to God that you enter spiritual freedom. How else can you be a true child of God if you don't believe in him like a child? I can testify that the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Holy Eucharist, is exactly what we need to help us overcome this difficulty to go all the way.

God Is for Letting Us Be Holy

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 12, Jesus denounced the scribes who loved to show themselves off before others and praised the poor widow who put all she had into the treasury at the temple. Each of us is capable of acting like the scribes or the poor widow. Without God, I am sure we would all be more like the scribes. The presence of God in our lives affords us the chance, an outlet, as it were, for doing good like the widow ~ we need that. In time, we'll leave no more room for committing sins.

On Changing Yourself

        I often hear people say that they cannot change in certain ways, even though they know that they should. They would even use the excuse that God has made them this way. I believe the plain fact is that they are just not willing to change. It's true that they cannot easily change themselves, but they totally disregard the fact that God can even turn them into great saints if they'll only let him. Stubbornness shows the lack of humility.

Appreciating the Holy Eucharist

        Today being a First Friday, there was exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after morning Mass. It was a profound experience to adore the Lord displayed in the monstrance on the altar, knowing that this same Lord entered me just a short while ago. Truly, through the Holy Eucharist we are intimately linked to heaven, uniting with God both physically and spiritually. Jesus is indeed with us always until the end of the age (Matthew 28.20).

Following Common Sense

        Plain common sense tells me that it's impossible for any finite creature like me to grasp the infinite creator our God. I know he loves us and is all powerful, but I really cannot comprehend how much he loves us, how his mercy will bring justice to us all, how he sustains all lives and keeps the vast universe in motion, etc. It is this realization that humbles me to surrender to him willingly. If you always want to do the appropriate thing, don't overlook common sense.

How Faith Comes About

        When I was away, I recorded the The Journey Home program on EWTN. Today I watched Holly Ordway, author, professor, and former atheist, sharing her story. She mentioned that when she was an atheist, she thought faith in God was something believers force upon themselves. This made me review how my faith came about. After I was convinced that Jesus was God who came into the world to die to save us, I accepted him as my Lord and Savior (the Protestant approach). The decision was an intellectual one. If faith was present, I didn't feel it. I prayed for my faith to grow, but never at any time did I force myself to believe harder. I don't think that's even possible, since faith is a gift from God and only he can increase it. Over the years, faith started to grow almost imperceptibly, as I desired to know God more. The great spurt came during my involvement in the Catholic Charismatic Movement, when the Holy Spirit took over, stirring my heart. When I finally started seeking union with God, I entered a new phase in which God accomplishes all things, faith included, through me and for me.
       
        Just in case you are interested in hearing Holly's story, I am posting her video here:

Perfect Abandonment Time

        Communion experience. After I received the Lord, I went completely limp (passive). It's time for the Holy Spirit to caress you, knead you, transform you ~ letting the Lord do whatever he wants with you. 

Love Indicator

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 12, Jesus gave the two greatest commandments: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength" and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Clearly, how much we love our neighbor indicates how much we love God. When we find out how difficult it is to love our neighbor as ourselves, we get an inkling of how great God's love for us is.

Grand Statement

        Today's Gospel acclamation (based upon 2 Timothy 1,10): Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel. Here's a statement that pretty much says how much God loves us.

No Longer Alone

         Since I got back home very late the day before yesterday, it wouldn't be wise for me to get up early to attend morning Mass yesterday. Today I was happily back in my own church. I believe people, including some from other parishes, love to come to our church for daily Mass for the following reasons. The church is just a few years old with a simple, bright, nicely designed interior. The tabernacle is beautiful and the seating are rows of movable, comfortable chairs linked together. As the church is not that large and everyone sees each other clearly, you get some of that intimacy of being together in one spacious living room. The priests always give well thought-out homilies too.

         The entrance antiphon came from Psalm 25: Turn to me and have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am alone and poor. See my lowliness and suffering and take away all my sins, my God. Indeed, we can't deny that are not alone, poor, lowly, and afflicted. I am just going to talk about feeling alone. We all look for companionship, sympathy, understanding, and love. Although I have so far refrained from telling any friend about my nasty fall two weeks ago when I was away, the urge is there. How can we eradicate feeling alone? Would having millions of friends or followers on a social networking website do it? How about having worldwide fans who adore you for whatever reason? I don't think you'd be happy with either. Even if you have real close friends who truly love you, they are still fallible beings like you who are just here for the time being. Basically, you are alone. 

           As St Augustine points out, feeling alone is really a blessing from God because he made it so when he created us that we might search for him. That is, we feel alone when we have not found God yet. Well, do I who have already found Jesus still feel alone? No. But to be honest, I must admit that I do feel lonely whenever I face a disconnect between me and those who are still very much of the world, which is nothing compared the oneness I feel with the Lord. 

Home Sweet Home

        I finally got home last night very late ~ it's "home sweet home." Then I realized that my true home is with the Father in heaven. When I get there, I'll definitely have the best home-sweet-home feeling ever! And life on earth would seem very much like a short dream I had once. 

Doing Your Best for the Lord

        Suppose you are a good shoemaker and Jesus orders a pair of new sandals from you ~ wouldn't you do your utmost to make the best possible pair of sandals you can for him? Then why not do your utmost best in everything for him? In so doing, your life will be filled with great joy. 

Adopting God's View

        Our views are so myopic that we are only concerned about our immediate interests and physical survival. The reality is that we are simply passing through this world with our soul continuing on to live forever in the next. Therefore, whatever we do now should be based upon this unlimited view as God sees us for the sake of our eternal happiness.

We Are Responsible for Souls

        We shall be judged by how much we love God. More specifically, he will measure how much we draw others to Christ or turn them away from him. This is a critical point, since it's easy to do what we want to do and not consider any effect our action might have on others. A good deed you do that affects others is so much more meritorious than one that just benefits you alone. And a sin that makes others also sin is indeed much graver than a sin that affects only you in private. For rapid spiritual advance, avoid all sins and concentrate upon bringing as many individuals closer to Christ as possible by your holy example and work. 

Teachings Severe & Demanding

        It does seem that the teachings of the Lord can be severe and demanding. For example, we are to love him over all other things and love even our enemies, and he warns that "whoever causes one of the little children who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck and be cast into the sea." I believe that Jesus always tells it like it is for our good and we should appreciate that. He reveals to us what we need to know. Without his teachings, we'd easily be lost souls. The truth may not always be pleasing to the ear, but once it penetrates the heart, we are set free. 

How Easy to Enter Heaven?

        If you believe that you are a great sinner and utterly need God's mercy to be saved, you will find entering heaven easier than you think, for nothing is impossible with God. On the other hand, if you believe that as a fairly decent person you pretty much deserve heaven, you may be shocked at finding entering heaven harder than you think, for whoever exalts himself will be humbled. Thus, being meek and humble before the Lord is essential for entering heaven.    

Safeguarding the Heart

        Today is The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, a glorious celebration! Although the church I attended just a block away was beautiful, the acoustics were on the reverberant side. As a result, the organ and the solo singer were overpowering and the reader with a foreign accent more difficult to understand. The easy thing is to blame all your negative experiences on the church, that Mass; but the Lord made me see that my focus must be on him alone who would soon enter me to become one with me, and not let anything else disturb me. That is, our heart is to be reserved for God alone and we should absolutely let nothing distract us from our primary focus upon the Lord. 

Security in Christ

        I always marvel at God's timing of things that happen to me. I'll be heading home the day after tomorrow and have not only recovered from my bad accidental fall, but also almost gotten over my cold. There is security in knowing that God makes things happen at the right time for him and you. And the greatest secure feeling is knowing that your soul is absolutely safe in him. Without Christ, I could enjoy the best health all my life and have things going well at all times, but not knowing where my soul will end up ~ this would be a worst nightmare.   

Fundamental Healing

        I have pretty much completely recovered from my recent fall, but am fighting a nasty cold. While taking it easy, I caught part of Dr. Phil, a popular TV show in the States. The doctor, a psychiatrist, attempts to resolve family problems on his show. While his approach might be effective, I can't help thinking that only God can fundamentally change us. Without him, all changes are only superficial. A fundamental change involves the change of the heart and only God, our creator, knows how to reach into that innermost part of us. It is in offering our heart to God that we are healed.

Our Biggest Challenge

        I have pointed out that with Jesus, it is all or nothing. That is, we must believe that he is either our God or no God at all ~ a simple true-or-false case. This is the biggest challenge all of us will ever have to face, for we shall be judged by our response to it.

How Real Is Jesus?

        This is a good question. If Jesus is our God and we absolutely worship and love him the most, then why is it that we never even think or talk about him much? We can go to Mass on Sunday and never say anything about him the rest of the week. If seems that if the Lord is truly real to us, we should be one with him at all times, aware of his holy presence every single moment, and do everything for his sake.           

Jesus Our King

        We all need a king, one to lead us, to protect us, to inspire us. There have been human kings, but they do not last and in most cases, people are better off without them. That leaves only one king that is perfect, and that is Jesus the Lord. He is all we need ~ gentle, wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, completely dependable, everlasting, and most of all, loving. You cannot ask for more.

False God Is Real!

        Satan is the false god that draws people to him by deceit. He basically fools people into thinking that there is nothing wrong with what he has to offer. For example, the TV commercials and sitcoms look innocent enough because the commercials are beautifully presented and the sitcoms amusing and entertaining. But those who know the true God can discern the subtle, underlying moral harm they do to the watchers. The recent overwhelming vote for same sex marriage in Ireland, a Catholic country, shows just how far the false god has mislead people around the world. Only those who stick close to the Lord will be able to stay on track and remain safe. The great tragedy is that people are not even aware that they are on the road leading to doomsday. What's coming will be more horrible than ever if people do not wake up and turn to the true God. It is our eternal souls that are at stake!

Heaven and Hell Considered

        You do not hear heaven and hell preached from the pulpit much anymore. I believe that hell is not brought up in order not to instill fear in the listeners. Nevertheless, it is a real place and heaven can always be mentioned at the same time for balance. After all, how can we separate God and the Evil One from heaven and hell? The world could certainly use a big dosage of healthy fear right now. I want to go to heaven because I love God, and avoid going to hell because it just goes against the will of God. Let's be realistic by thinking and talking about heaven and hell.

Jesus Is Right

        Once you know the Lord Jesus well, it does not mean that all your troubles will go away; it only means you now know how to deal with them (life) his way. Here is one thing that I truly appreciate: as I follow the Lord faithfully, he makes me see that all his teachings are correct, including those that are difficult for us to follow without him, thus drawing me ever closer to him.

Jesus, My Physician

        Still away from home, I attended the Vigil Mass of Pentecost Sunday at a local cathedral. After receiving Holy Communion, I felt that Jesus was the perfect physician I needed for an imperfect, sinful, sick, and weak soul like me.

What We Do or Not Do

        As I was praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary today, which are The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity, The Presentation, and The Finding of Jesus in the Temple, I realized that all these events are meaningful and significant because they were ordained by God in carrying out his plan. Now, how about the things we do? They may not be as meaningful, but whatever we do or not do does determine our destiny, as they affect our society and most of all God. Therefore, whatever we do, including wasting time by not doing anything, is significant.

Incredible Reality

        We are puny in the universe as finite and sinful creatures. After God chooses us, we become his adopted sons and daughters and heaven bound to inherit everything the Father has. This is the incredible reality that Christ has revealed to us ~ the power of love!

Going Through an Amusement Park

        The world is like an amusement park. This may be an old person's view, but I am old. When one first enters the world, all the rides and fun are found to be exciting because they are new. Seeking to gratify oneself becomes the prime goal. Gradually, fun and enjoyment wear thin, becoming even tiresome. As the time to exit the park approaches, one starts to wonder about the meaning of his whole trip through the park and what awaits him beyond if anything.  

Jesus for the Brave

        From today's Gospel reading, John 17.11b-19, we learn that (1) we who believe in Christ have been given to him by the Father so that we may be one with him as he and the Father are one, (2) Jesus protects and guards us so that we'll not be lost, (3) he wants us to share his joy completely, (4) the world will hate us for not belonging to it, (5) the Father will keep us from the Evil One, and (6) Jesus consecrates himself for us, so that we may be consecrated in truth. Note that he does not say that we won't suffer or be persecuted by the world.

For Fairness' Sake

        If we pray for the ones we love, those who are dearest to us, then to show that we are fair and love God, let's also pray for our worst enemies, those who are most despicable to us in the world. Then the world will be a better place.

On the Holy Spirit

        Today's Communion verse, John 14.26: The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of all I have told you, says the Lord. The Holy Spirit is not someone you see or hear, but the spirit that moves and shapes your heart almost imperceptibly until you know that he dwells in you. He is the great teacher, our advocate, and our protector.

God Who Died Once

        Today's entrance verse based upon Revelation 1.17-18: I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. Such awe-inspiring statements! What can I say but to believe in the Lord who died for me with my whole heart? (Today's Gospel reading John 17.1-11a, with Jesus praying as the Son of the Father, was also truly awesome.)

Dangerous Thinking

        Some believe that they are good enough that God is not going to punish them for what they are. This is dangerous thinking, for only God knows how truly good we are ~ we are no judges of anyone, ourselves included. Look at the great saints who considered themselves wretched worms before God. It is Jesus who said, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted," and thinking well of oneself is surely exalting oneself. When the humbling takes place, he may be in for a shock, seeing that he is not as good as he thought he was. It would be so much better to humble ourselves now and be exalted later.

God Is Bigger!

        Even though I saw sin as a big thing in my last post, I see even bigger the immensity of God's love, mercy, and willingness to suffer anguish for us. This should move and strengthen us to cease sinning against him. Seek union with him now. 

Sin Is Big!

        After morning Mass at this church I attended as a visitor, I entered the basement chapel to meditate and pray. Afterwards I checked out the Stations of the Cross. At the 7th Station, I read "Jesus exhorts the women to weep not for him but for themselves; weep more for our sins than his sufferings." Jesus really makes a big point here (cf. Luke 23.28). Sin is a big thing ~ it offends God and can destroy us. It is to be avoided at all costs! What we see happening in the world shows clearly what sin can do to us, let alone what it can do to our souls. There is everlasting life and there is everlasting death. The urgency to stop sinning is greater than ever! I am no doomsday prophet, just a present-day realist seeing what Jesus has lead me to see.   

To Follow Jesus

        Today's entrance verse at morning Mass, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1.8), made me aware that we are to be Jesus' witnesses. The Gospel acclamation, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3.1), reminded me that we have been raised with Christ. In the Gospel reading from John 16, the disciples said to Jesus, "Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God." So, as followers of Jesus we believe in him, are raised with him, and become his witnesses.          

My Lifeline

        Prayer is my lifeline. Without prayer, I am alone and doomed; with prayer, I am linked to God, my light, my life, my hope and my freedom.

Focusing on Jesus

         If I always center upon Jesus, seek him alone, turn to him for all my needs, letting no one affect my steadfastness, and even if the whole world with all Christians turn away from Jesus, I still remain with him, then I am the most secure person in the whole world.