Resting in God

        Communion experience. My eternal rest in God starts on earth now.

Blind Generations

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 11, Jesus said to the people gathered in the crowd, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah." What our generation, like all previous generations, has failed to recognize is that the biggest sign before us is Christ the Lord himself, the wonder of wonders!  

Dealing With Reality

        The bottom reality we face but do not always see in this world is the unceasing, ongoing battle between good and evil. In John 18.36, Jesus said, "My kingdom does not belong to this world." If we want to be with Jesus, we must not belong to this world either. So it is imperative that we overcome evil by being holy in this world so as to join Christ in his kingdom.      

Joy of Holiness

        In today's first reading from Romans 1, Paul reminded the Romans that they were called to belong to Jesus Christ, called to be holy. No doubt holiness pleases God, but anyone who is holy feels good himself too, being free and knowing that he pleases God. Anyone who does not feel any joy in the Lord cannot possibly be holy.

Purpose of This Blog

        The common means of fostering spiritual growth are reading good books, listening to inspiring speakers, attending various conferences . . . to name a few. I advocate that you go directly to the Lord to learn from him, that is, seeking union with him. Union with God has been sadly and mistakenly thought of as for the saints only. The fact is that it is for all of us and is what God desires the most from us! Seeking union is indeed the superior fast track to knowing and learning to be like God. The Lord made this clear to me six years ago and it is the central message he wants me to spread via this blog.

Parable of Love

        Perhaps the best known and most beautiful parable Jesus ever told is that of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15,11-32). We know that God loves us because he had given his only Son, but when Jesus told this parable, he had not been crucified yet. It struck me then that no one could have come up such a parable except the one who intimately knows God or God himself.

Great Feeling

        Communion experience. It is one of the greatest feelings to know that you have reconciled yourself to God and is ready to do his will. You get that home-sweet-home feeling.

Shakiness of Life

        Life is on shaky ground, for anything can happen to us at any time and we are gone. Wise is he who realizes this, prepares for it, and is ready. For him the shakiness of life is a nonissue when he is assured of having a rock-steady future for ever.

Life an Endurance Test

        In the Gospel reading from Mark 10 today, Jesus also said to Peter, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come." I see life as an endurance test. To receive eternal life, we are to given up everything, accept all persecutions, and live for Christ. The antithesis is to hold onto everything, reject sufferings and hardships, and live selfcenteredly, with no promise of eternal life.

God is Hope

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 10, Jesus said to his disciples, "All things are possible for God." This is saying to us that there is always hope in God.

God Knows and Cares

        I'd like to quote the last verse of today's second reading from Hebrews 4 at Mass: No creature is concealed from him [God], but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. God knows and sees everything about us because we must render an account to him after we depart from this world. If he doesn't care about us, there would be no reason for him to know anything about us.

God Calling

        Whether you believe in the God of Christ or not, he is calling you in everything that happens to you, good or bad from your point of view. To the believer, what happens to him is always a lesson to be learned and an opportunity to be drawn closer to God. Therefore, he continues to grow spiritually and enjoys peace and freedom. The unbeliever won't hear God calling until he is humble enough to turn to him for help.

Observing the Word of the Lord

        Today's Gospel reading from Luke 11 at Mass consists of just verses 27-28. When a woman from the crowd called out and said to Jesus while he was speaking, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed,” he replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." Indeed, the Lord makes everything simple for us ~ we only need to observe his word. When Mary understood from the angel that she was going to conceive in her womb and bear the the Son of the Most High, she said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done according to your word." When Jesus called the twelve Apostles to-be, they dropped everything and followed him. The path of observing the word of the Lord may not always be smooth, but you'll be absolutely secure. Why do we make it so complicated? Good question.

Unselfish Love

        God loves us unselfishly. I realize that when we fall in love with God, our love is equally unselfish. We just love him, period ~ no other motive. Sure, heaven might be in the very back of our mind, but loving him is only what matters. This is the Lord drawing you, so you love him with the love he has planted in you. This is the love that unites us to our creator and Father.

Holy Eucharist to Union

        If I have killed someone and feel sorry about it, I could repent directly to God, but it would be difficult for me to know for sure that he has heard and forgiven me. God knows our human nature only too well. The Resurrected Lord appeared to his disciples, breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (John 20.29.) Now we repent to the Lord before a priest. When the priest absolves us of our sin(s), we know we are being forgiven. The Holy Eucharist is to union with God as the sacrament of penance is to being forgiven by God. After receiving the Holy Eucharist, you know that the Lord is healing your soul to become one with you.

Mind for God Alone

        As we usually are influenced by the company we keep, we are affected by what we hear too. All the mundane or even gossipy things we hear can easily disturb our inner peace. It is best to let the mind receive inspiration from God, for only he can uplift our spirit. Avoid or let pass all that is uninspiring or clutters the mind to reserve our space for the Lord alone.

Communion Thoughts

        Three thoughts after receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist: (1) My life is now complete, (2) God has filled me to the full, (3) I am ready to go to him.

What Life Is Like

        You hear said "Life is like a dream," but I think it's more like a movie. A dream is rather ethereal, whereas a movie is a succession of scenes which you can direct and edit to achieve the desired ending. Watch this Catholics Come Home "Movie of Your Life" commercial to see what I mean.

Condition for Glorifying God

        God is glorified only by souls that are humble.

How God Answers Us

        "In today's Gospel reading from Luke 11, Jesus said to his disciples, "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find . . . ." The Lord is saying that when we ask, he hears and will definitely respond. He does not promise that we will receive exactly what we ask for, but whatever we receive will be good, as he later added: "What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?" Trust in God always to receive what's best for us.

Condition for Peace

        Today's entrance antiphon, Esther 4.17: Within your will, O Lord, all things are established and there is none that can resist your will. For you have made all things, the heaven and the earth, and all that is held within the circle of heaven; you are the Lord of all. Indeed, there will be no peace within or without us until we (1) acknowledge that the Lord has created all things, including us, and (2) submit ourselves to him unconditionally.

We Affect God

        Communion time thoughts. God hates sin, only because he loves the sinner. If we choose to remain in sin, he would feel great sorrow. On the other hand, if we want him to take away our sins, he would be overjoyed. It's our choice!

Highest Honor

        You may be honored by receiving honorary doctorates or the Nobel Prize, but no honor is higher than being called by God to serve him.

Most Moving Acts

 (1) Jesus laid down his own life for us.

 (2) Jesus gives his own flesh and blood for us to consume.

Our Advantage

        The disciples of Jesus in his days actually saw him, heard him, and touched him. We who follow him today do not see him, hear him, or get to touch him, but we do have an advantage: Jesus had said to Thomas who was not present when the Risen Lord first appeared to the other disciples, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." (John 20.29.)

God Our Fulfillment

        We lose inner peace because we live in a chaotic, imperfect world. I am thinking that even if for all my life I have perfect health and no financial worries, can do whatever I enjoy doing, and am loved by everyone, I still would not have true inner peace if I realize that I am mortal and do not know where I (or my soul) will go after death. It's clear to me that God is the missing piece of our life.

Goal of Life Made Simple

      God's desires that we simplify our lives by loving him alone and nothing else.

Goal of Prayer

        The primary and only goal of prayer is to glorify God, not to obtain what we wish for.       

New Existence in God

        Communion experience. Knowing Jesus begins our new existence in God; attaining union with him is reaching the pinnacle of that existence.

Happy With My God

        I am pondering over the act of suicide bombing which you practically hear about occurring daily somewhere in the world. As far as I know, the bomber believes that he or she is carrying out God's will by sacrificing his or her own life to kill others indiscriminately. It's impossible for me to comprehend that God would hate anyone to want them dead, as the God I know is the one who has died in our place to save us ~ a God full of love, compassion, and mercy, and who wishes us to always forgive others, never judging. You go figure. I am just completely satisfied with the God I know.  

Mary Over Martha

        Today's Gospel reading, Luke 10.38-42, is about the two sisters Martha and Mary. Jesus came to their home and Martha was anxious and worried about the serving, while Mary just sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Jesus made it clear that Mary had chosen the better part. Of course, we have to be Martha at times because it's necessary, but to be Mary is essential in order to serve the Lord well. In fact, choosing to be Mary turns our role as Martha into a joy.

Avoiding the Most Horrible

        Today's response to Psalm 130 at Mass read: If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? Indeed, it would be the most horrible thing that could ever happen to you to be so marked by the Lord! Then remember that he is infinitely merciful and he will never mark you if you let him take away your sins.

God Calling!

        I see God calling us at all times. Horrific crimes committed around the world (domestically, killings within the family are common), unprecedented natural disasters (South Carolina is currently experiencing catastrophic flooding after days of historic rains), personal tragedies, the emptiness of worldly living . . . all these are clear and loud signs telling us to turn and return to God. Suppose you live to 63 ~ you live almost 2 billion seconds. In any of those seconds, you have an infinite number of chances to turn to God. Waiting until Judgment Day will be too late.

Perilous World?

        Communion thoughts. The world is perilous only to those who do not know Jesus, for they can easily lose their way forever. For those who have Jesus, they are safe in a boat from all storms because the Lord is in the boat with them, sleeping peacefully (read Matthew 8.23-26).

Intuitive Knowledge

        The more I get to know Jesus, the less attractive the world becomes ~ I just know that God has made me in such a way as to make me want to return to him.

Intoxicating Love

        Communion experience. The Holy Eucharist intoxicated me with love, sweetening my soul.

Time for Giving

        I have my favorite charities and would like to leave them with part of what I possess after I die. Then I realize that this is not really being generous because it's as if I need everything of mine now and I am going to take care of myself first and others later when I don't need anything for myself anymore ~ this is putting my needs ahead of God's! Therefore, the time to help others is now if we can, not after we die.

Warning of Hell

        As you know, the more polluted the air, the more beautiful the sunset. In other words, looks can be deceiving. On a beautiful day in an upscale neighborhood, everything looks neat and orderly, but wait until you know what's in the hearts of those walking outside and those living inside the houses. Again, looks can be deceiving. Today's world has been completely tarnished by sin. Every day every moment, we see, hear, and feel things that tempt us ~ it's just too easy to succumb to evil. People have reached the point that they no longer want to know God and his love; they just want to have a good time, unaware that what they do can send them on their way to hell! I speak strongly because the world now needs to hear it, as hell is real ~ Jesus mentioned it. It's out of love that we should warn the world of the reality of hell, for it has already rejected God's love.

Serving the Poor

        I caught this Journey Home episode on YouTube and was impressed and inspired by Fr. Richard Ho Lung's coming-home story. He founded the Missionaries of the Poor order (http://www.missionariesofthepoor.org/) whose work reminds me of Mother Teresa. This video is worth watching for Fr. Richard's words of wisdom and his great humility.

Supernatural Healing

        Communion experience. I received the Lord and he was physically consumed by me, but the most important part is the supernatural healing of my soul as only he can bring about!

Soul Before Body

        We are alive because the eternal soul dwells within our physical body. After the soul departs, the body decays. Hence, do not be attached to the body so much, but keep clean and pure the soul which God treasures. Anyone who is concerned much about his health but ignores his spiritual well-being is being plain foolish.

Most Special Gift

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 10, the seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name." Jesus said to them, "Do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven." If your name is written in heaven, it means God has already chosen you and your future is assured for all eternity. There is nothing in which you can rejoice more! This encompasses being loved by God, becoming his faithful servant (and his adopted child), and receiving the pass to heaven. God gives only most special gifts.

Be Like Children Again

        Today is the memorial of the holy guardian angels. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 18, Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." We can all remember the time we were children. We put our entire trust in our parents, believing in everything they told us. We knew we were taken care of, never having to worry about what to wear, what to eat, or what's going to come tomorrow. We just focus upon playing and having fun. I believe that is how Jesus wants us to be like now that we have grown to be children of our Father in heaven. God can certainly rejuvenate us.

Peace and Security Among Chaos

        It's bad enough when people kill each other as if there is no God and no hell, and it's even worse when people start killing others in the name of God. Once a war has started, it's never easy for it to end. Our current world is embroiled in the worst mass killing and destruction we've every seen. Mankind is truly on the path of self-destruction on both levels, the physical and the spiritual. Today is the memorial of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, my beloved saint. After her, I also seek my peace and security in Christ the Lord who always delivers and never disappoints. How I love him!

On Praying for Others

        As I pray to God for someone, the Lord definitely knows what he is going to do, although I do not have a clue. At any rate, I must not guess or expect how he is going to respond, but trust in him completely as if it's not even my business. In this way, when I pray for someone, I am actually praying for myself too.

Only Freedom

        You are never free until you are free in God.

One Great Prayer

        Just say "I love you" to God the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit.

Prayer to Be Inclusive

        Pope Francis customarily reminds us to pray for him. We must pray for him and everyone else too, since God loves us all. To deliberately exclude someone from our prayer is to exclude ourselves from God's love.

Our Highest Accomplishment

        Attaining union with God has to be considered man's highest accomplishment, since it is all brought about by the Lord, thereby pleasing him very much.  

Freest State

        To be holy is to go deep into God. Within the infinite space of God's love, the spirit is set free. There is nothing more liberating than total abandonment in God.