Please Don't Hit the Bottom

        As I was conversing with a friend this morning, this old idea I previously blogged popped up. It'd be worth mentioning again in today's version. Absolute zero, -273.15 C (-459.67 F), has been determined by scientists to be the lower limit on the temperature scale, for at that temperature, all atoms are "dead," no longer vibrating. On the other hand, there is no upper limit to how high the temperature can rise. It's estimated that the temperature of the sun at its center reaches 27 million degrees F. I see an analogy between this and loving God. There is no upper limit to how much we can love God. That limit is God's love for us, which is infinite, and we can only approach, but never reach it. On the other hand, to not love God is easy ~ all you need to do is to reject him and you hit the bottom.  

Never Alone

        Communion experience. I was alone with God, but it turned that I couldn't be farther from being alone when I am with God.

Superior Draw

        Why didn't all the great saints enjoy the pleasures and attractions of the world? Answer: Because they had seen the beauty and tasted the sweetness of God. 

*Knowing God's Will

        We often pray to God for a sign when we seek his will, and often no sign appears. Today the Lord made me see that we must first be completely selfless, that is, absolutely allowing no ego to fool us into believing that what we want to do is God's will. Then whatever we seek to do to glorify God will be his will. In short, be selfless and you will is God's.

Wonderful Timelessness

         When you humbly rest in God, enjoying your oneness with the everlasting Lord who has no beginning nor end, you experience that same timelessness, all passing events no longer disturbing. 

Temptation vs. Joy in God

        All temptations keep us earthbound, only joy in God makes our spirit soar heavenward in freedom.

Highest Possible Honor

        In John 15, Jesus said to his disciples, "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit." You may be chosen as Person of the Year, the recipient of an honorary degree, or the gold medal winner in some competition, but all these notable honors are nothing compared to what you receive when God choses you to follow him now to enjoy eternal life with him later in heaven. Think about it.

How Well Knowing God

        Once you get to know God intimately, you can't help but fall in love with him. Now you have reached the top level of knowing God.

Exciting News

        Today is the Feast of Saints Phlip and James, Apostles. In the Gospel reading from John 14, when Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father, Jesus said, "Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." So, if we know Jesus, we know the Father. If we want to know what the Father is like, we only need to look at Jesus. Therefore, we can know about as well as know the Father. Exciting!

Most Favored Creature

        These realizations make me see that we are most special. (1) God made innumerable creatures. (2) He created only us in his image. (3) He became one of us. (4) And he laid down his own life as testimony that he loved us.       

Joy Complete

        At Mass this morning, I knew that I was not alone nor on my own, since Christ is with me. In fact, I now see that everything is happening for a reason. I am totally at one with God, my creator, and feel that through Christ, he has fulfilled my life and completed my joy ~ sort of a nirvana moment. At one time in my past, I was interested in abstract mathematics. Whenever I studied or worked out the proof of some theorem and saw how beautiful, clear, thorough, and complete it was, I felt great delight. It's the same feeling, but even deeper and more satisfying, when I come to know God. 

*"Shocking" Experience

        Communion experience. In receiving the Holy Eucharist, God humbly lowered himself to draw us all the way to his bosom, exalting us to the highest possible status ~ shocking, but most delightful! (Only our God, the God of Christ, can do this.)

Advice Not Quite Sound

        It's common to hear successful people telling others to persevere, never give up, believe in what you can go and go after what you want to do, and your dream will come true. This piece of encouraging advice sounds good, but is not sound. First, you are hearing from those people who happen to have succeeded. Secondly, in reality you can waste a lot of time pursuing a goal that's just not right for you; and stories of failure are never broadcast aloud for everyone to hear. Last, Jesus never taught thus. This advice might work in the secular world, but it in reality replaces trust in God with trust in yourself, which can never fill the void of one's life. Better advice is to follow Christ who alone can lead you to living a joyous and fulfilled life.

A Christian's Work

        Sitting in the family room, I looked up and saw the many books on the shelves. They were mostly travel guides, books on gardening and plants, and some collections of short stories. I thought about each author who must have put in a lot of work to get each book published. As Christians, what should we be busy with or work hard for? In Luke 2, when Joseph and Mary finally found the 12-year-old Jesus teaching in the temple after looking for him for three days, he told them that he must be about his Father's work. I thought this should be our mission too ~ to be busy with the Father's work, working in his house. It would be time smartly spent for a glorious future.

Precious Opportunity

        Communion experience. We must let the Holy Eucharist change us each time. The more we abandon ourselves, the deeper our union with God, and the more thorough our spiritual transformation. Rejoice when such opportunities still exist. 

Diametric Opposites

        In today's reading from John15 at Mass, Jesus mentioned the world's hatred of him and his disciples. For me, the very existence of this hatred from the evil world only proves that the Lord is truly the Holy One. Hatred and love are like Yin and yang. Both exist with one always pointing to the other.

Looking Farther Ahead

        People don't look too far ahead ~ they only look forward to attending events scheduled for the coming days one by one. For example, I have noted on my calendar such events as our church's pancake breakfast, funeral service of a friend, dental checkup, grandson's graduation from junior hi next month, etc. We are truly here today and gone tomorrow. No one knows when that tomorrow (or last moment) will be. The most important thing is to look far ahead to see where we are going. If we know our destination, then we do longer live from event to event, for the events are like receding telephone poles we see from a moving train as we travel toward our final destination. There is no comparison between knowing that you'll arrive safely at the end and not knowing when train might crash along the way.

Making God Your Refuge

        Imagine that you live in the country in a nice house among beautiful, peaceful surroundings. There are birds singing and a nearby brook running. Moreover, you have no financial worries and no one to bother you. Mostly likely, you would be too happy and content to think any evil thoughts. Now, let's thrust you into the working environment of a big city. You have a stressful job and you work hard, but no one appreciates you. You even have to fight for finding a parking space wherever you go. Besides, the cost of living is high and people do take advantage of you. Very likely, you would hate living there and might even devise ways of hurting your enemies. The point I wish to make is that our environment can greatly affect our behavior. My recommendation is to let God shield us from all evil. To be in union with God is to be immersed in him and have himself surround us completely. Making God your refuge is the way to go.

*Making Abandonment Easy

        Communion thoughts. Who am I that the Lord should die for me? Who am I that the he should feed me with his own flesh and blood? Paradoxically, when I am important to him, I lose my self-importance. Abandonment to God now becomes easy.

Big Question

        In today's Gospel reading from John 15, Jesus said to his disciples, "This is my commandment: love one another as I love you." Therefore, we should let love motive us in doing everything! Obviously, if that were the case, we would enjoy peace and joy in this life and this world. The big question: "Why don't we do it?" 

Greatest Deed

        I posted (on 3/31/2015) that premeditated sins are much more serious than spontaneous ones. By contrast, premeditated good deeds are much greater than spontaneous good deeds. The greatest premeditated (planned, if you will) deed has to be Christ's dying on the cross for our salvation. He knew in advance and all along the plan and carried it out in perfect obedience to the Father. The greatest and most amazing deed of all human history!       

My Everything

        At Mass this morning, I knew I was going to rest in Christ. Then if he is my rest, he is also my rock, my refuge, my protector, my brother, my friend, my confidant, my teacher, my physician, my counselor, my guide, and best of all, my Lord and God. 

Extreme Love

        Sometimes we don't even like ourselves (which shows the existence of ego), but God always loves us. He wants us to be happy not only in him in this life, but also for all eternity with him in heaven! His laying down his own life for us on the cross makes it amply clear.     

The Way to Live

        Suppose you are already living in heaven for all eternity with God, who has no beginning nor end, would you ruminate on your former life on earth or look into what's going to happen next or a million years from now? Of course not, because you'd enjoy God every single moment! Hence, while still living on earth, we should also not dwell on the past which is no more, nor ponder upon the future that's not here yet. Start living with God who is present with us every present moment.

Reason to Love

        Communion experience. Once again the Holy Eucharist purified and sweetened my soul ~ how could I not love my Lord?!

By God's Grace

        At morning Mass, I found great solace in knowing that Christ dwells in me, is my anchor, and guides me in all things. I felt so lucky, but it's all by the grace of God.

No Judging for Us

        In John 8, we read that the scribes and the Pharisees brought a women caught in adultery to Jesus. To test him, they asked him if they should stone her as Moses commanded to them in the law. Jesus said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." What a memorable response! It teaches us not to blame others at fault when we are imperfect ourselves. Only God can judge us, for he alone is holy and perfect.

Know Your Destination

        Communion experience. I am ready to go to the Lord, as I belong to him already. The world can not be our destination; it's merely a stopover in the course of our journey to the great beyond.

How to Be Holy

        God already wills to make you a saint. All he needs is your giving him the go-ahead and it's done.

Obedience First

        When you suffer and offer up your sufferings to God, you may still ask him to heal or relieve you. The important thing is to comply with what he wills.  

Getting Personal

        God is not some abstract concept, nor someone impersonal. Today's Communion verse, Romans 6.8: If we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Christ. To die with him, to praise him, to pray to him, to ask for favors from him, even to argue with or complain to him, and then to live with him is to form the strongest possible bond with him. It's this most intimate, personal relationship that make our life so fulfilling and rewarding. 

Care, yet Not Care

       There are many burdens in life. I am specifically thinking about some people who do not turn to God when the time for them to do so is urgent and now. I care about them, yet I shouldn't. This is what I mean. We care about others who affect the Lord and us. Yet there is only so much we can do. In fact, if we "care too much," we forget our goal of serving God and risk turning others off. Therefore, always remember that God is in control. Do the best you can and not be concerned about how things turn out as if you don't really care. This is trusting in God at its best.

         This morning's Gospel reading at Mass from John 14 echoed my feeling when I heard Jesus say to his disciples, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."

Contrasty Approaches

        In art, technology, and other fields, you must continue coming up with new creative ideas, innovations, and/or inventions, to stay ahead of the competitors. By contrast, in living a holy life, you surrender to the same God over and over again to foster spiritual growth.

Only Holy One

        Communion realization. God is the only one who can make us holy, for he alone is holy. 

Unique Sorrow

        In some religion, believers put to death anyone who does not accept their faith. In others, believers just do not much care one way or the other. In Christianity, believers feel great sorrow for those who reject Christ, for they love the Lord and know that he loves them. This is a sorrow only Christians experience.         

All Love

        From the example of Jesus, we see that God is pure love, incapable of feeling hatred. When we sin, he suffers great sorrow and pities us even more. 

On Glorifying God

        In today's Gospel reading from John 13, when Judas left the Last Supper, Jesus fully knew that he was going to betray him by handing him over. The Lord said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him." We see that every time we follow God's plan, we glorify him. Rejoice that we have the time of a whole lifetime to follow God! The tragic side is that there are those who rebel against the Lord their whole life ~ utter foolishness!

Sensible Choice

        All things came from God; therefore, we have nothing to give to him; therefore, just let him be our God and do whatever he wants with us.       

True Perfection

        Jesus wants us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. Since the Father loves all sinners who are imperfect, to be perfect we must at least completely tolerate all those who are imperfect. This is totally in line with the Lord's asking us to not judge and love our enemies.

*Questions and Answers

        If you do not believe in God (the God of Christ), you will never know the answers to many of the important questions of life. If you do believe in God, you have no more questions to ask, for Christ is the key to all the answers you need to know.

Nothing Lacking

        Communion experience. God has come to me! Psalm 23 feeling: "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack."

Reaching the Top

        In education, the more you advance, the more you become aware of your intellectual growth. In the early years when I photographed a lot, I thought I was pretty good. Later, after I had refined my vision, the early works appeared rather mediocre. It's the same in spiritual growth. Attaining union with God is like climbing a high mountain to get to the top where God dwells. As you ascend higher and higher, the view becomes more and more beautiful. Of course, the most magnificent view you'll see only after you get to the top. Therefore, aim high and never cease advancing. (Better advice. Take the fast track by surrendering to God and letting him take you to the top, eliminating all climbing.)

Learning from the Our Father

        The second half of the Our Father: "Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." I see that Jesus taught us to pray thus because he wants us to know (1) that we are to depend upon the Father for all things, (2) how the Father can forgive our trespasses and (3) that our Father is also the one to safeguard us spiritually.

No-Bypassing Reality

        In today's Gospel reading, John 14:1-6, Jesus must know exactly what he's talking about or he had to be delusional. In the last verse, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." If he was not delusional, then he must have spoken the truth. It follows that no one can possibly bypass him ~ something we must reckon with, the sooner the better. 

Most Happy Capture

        Let God capture you to be back in the bosom of your most beloved Father.

Seeking Fun

        The people of the world seek fun, excepting perhaps the refugees on the run and those living in poverty. In the USA, it's estimated that 80% of young Christian college adults lose their faith in the four years of attending college, as seeking fun becomes their priority. The entertainment industry invests in providing fun for the general public and profits richly. With so much fun to pursue, who can possibly feel his or her spiritual needs? On the cross, Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." I hear him praying the same now.    

Praying Unceasingly

        Communicating with God whether it's reciting a formal prayer, praising him in public or talking to him in private, or just thinking about or longing for him is prayer. Every time you pray (from the heart), you strengthen your relationship with God. Therefore, pray unceasingly, and you'll be richly rewarded.

Reason for Our Salvation

        Of course, God wants to save us from condemnation because he loves us. More specifically, he save us for wanting us to be holy as he is holy.

Steps to Heaven

        Realize that every creature, animate or inanimate, belongs to God and you'll be able to let go of all your material possessions and forgive even your enemies. Then do you very best to glorify God in every possible way ~ you are now ready for returning to your Father in heaven.   

Amazing Love of God

        God's love is so beautiful and powerful that it can move our hearts to the point of accepting suffering and dying for his sake, willing and joyfully ~ seeing it as a great honor.