You can love the Lord with your head or with your heart. Using studying the Bible as an example, let me illustrate the difference between the two approaches. (1) With you head first. You pick up a study guide with or without a video. There are guides out there on a single Gospel hundreds of pages thick, giving commentary on virtually every single verse. You learn a lot about history, pick up much background information . . . the amount of knowledge you can gain is most impressive. But after you learn all that, can you say that you have come to appreciate the Lord more personally? I am not sure. (2) Now with the heart. You go straight to a Gospel. Read the verses and place yourself in the scene with Jesus. Observe and listen. How does it affect your heart? Is Jesus speaking to you? The whole approach is contemplative in nature. You open your heart to let the Lord speak to it. This is the approach I prefer because it's getting to know him intimately. So use the heart always to know the Lord, but use the head only if you want to know more about him. I want Jesus to be my most intimate friend, not just a casual acquaintance.
Friday, June 3, 2016
Offering the Heart
Communion thoughts. On this Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, it's fitting that I again offer my heart to him, which is basically letting him enter to occupy my heart.
Love Incredible
Today is Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. From reading 2 from Romans 5, verse 6 struck me: For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. How incredible that God would die for the ungodly! Of course, that's because God is love.
Christians Already Know
You cannot find out what it's like after you die until you die yourself. Then the Christians have no need of knowing that in advance because the Lord has already revealed to them all they need to know.
Ready for God?
Not willing to listen to other people is a sign that you are not humble enough to submit yourself to God yet.
On Overcoming Temptation
Once on a trip to Medjugorje, a young man in my group confided in me the relationship he was having with a woman. Apparently, his conscience bothered him and wanted me to hear about it. He was getting so much pleasure out of this improper relationship that he felt helpless to sever it. I understand how one can fall into such a situation and feel the tug of war between God and Satan. As long as you hope in God, you will be freed by him, but it can take time and a lot of your resolve to turn around. Always hold onto what you know is right, as Satan loves to sow confusion in us. Once your burden is lifted, you'll experience peace and freedom as never before.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
*Best Gift for God
When your heart is pure and clean, you have inner peace. Therefore, give your heart to God, the only one who can make your heart pure and clean. This is the best gift you can possibly give to God. Now, follow your heart and you'll find your Father there ~ a most beautiful relationship!
Why No Inner Peace
You will have inner peace only if you have completely reconciled with God. If you do not have inner peace, you are still rebelling against him. (This is the wonderful way God has made us.)
A Very Clear Picture
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 12, Jesus gave us the two greatest commandments, on the basis of which all other commandments rest. The first one: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. We all carry the original sin. Having difficulty in following the second commandment is proof that we are sinners. But God so loved us that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish and might have eternal life (John 3.16). The way is now clear for us to return to God our Father; all we need to do to complete our heaven bound journey is to believe in Christ.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Don't Omit Sin of Omission
Sins of omission are easy to commit. Not doing anything bad is not good enough because we are not doing anything good. God wishes us to be either cold or hot, not lukewarm (Revelation 3.15). When Jesus asked Peter repeatedly if he loved him, Peter responded affirmatively each time and Jesus asked him to feed my lambs, tend my sheep, or feed my sheep. If we love the Lord, we must work diligently and bear fruit.
Not a Pretty Picture
Increasingly you read about in the news children murdering their own parents, and vice versa ~ this is evil at its best (worst). I envision a picture of billions of souls immersed in a vast sea, many of them still frolicking and having fun, not realizing that one day the sea will rage and take their life forever. Jesus is right there above them, but they don't see him. How I wish that they would know that all it takes is to raise an arm, signaling to the Lord for help and he will pull them right out of the treacherous sea to safety!
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
God's Mission
Is God around just to answer your prayers? What does he want from you? Know that God is with us to work on our souls. Everything he does to you, he does it to make your soul pure for your sake, so that you might have everlasting life. It is love working. So, be open and passive to let him prepare your soul for entering heaven. It is a most joyful, exhilarating process.
*Knowing the Truth
It is my personal conviction that Christ is absolutely the only one you can believe in and be saved for all eternity. How can I be sure? When you are one with him, you just know the truth in your heart. As simple as that.
Putting Vulnerability Aside
I hurt my shoulder joint and became instantly "disabled," for now I cannot lift my arm too high without feeling the pain, resulting in not being able to do many of the things I used to do with ease. We are vulnerable to so many things ~ something we don't think about when everything is fine. Of course, in some of the war zones today, you can get blown up by bombs or mines anytime. Natural disasters such as tornadoes and floods are destroying lives right now in some of the states. My greatest concern for all is whether we know where we go after we die. If we know that we are going to be with God in heaven, our present vulnerability will no longer be a matter of great concern.
Monday, May 30, 2016
Divergent Paths
A Catholic could do everything with love for God, thus storing up treasures in heaven, or keep on sinning, never thinking about going to confession. There can be no two paths more divergent.
No Entitlement
Almost everyone in today's world feels that he is entitled to receive whatever benefits within his reach. The Christian thinks differently. A Christian realizes that all things beneficial come from God, and if he receives some of them, it's not because he deserves them but because God is generous. When we only accept what comes freely from God, we are free.
Proof That Jesus Is Truth
When I believe in every word Jesus says, he makes me see and understand everything. That is, there is no contradiction in him ~ he makes complete sense to me.
God Provides Meaning
On this Memorial Day, we commemorate the dead members of the armed forces of all the wars. I am thinking that when we sing our national anthem and pledge our allegiance to our country, what does that really mean? What if we live under a government that's totally oppressive or in a society whose members are all secular and morally corrupt? Wouldn't pledging allegiance in such circumstances seem rather foolish? How can one express loyalty to anything he is not proud of? Governments come and go, regimes rise and fall, but God alone remains constant and trustworthy. My observation is that pledging allegiance to God is always appropriate and meaningful. Leaving him out of the picture and we miss the true meaning of life.
Certainty vs. Nebulousness
This morning at Mass, I just knew that, anchored solidly to the triune God, I couldn't possibly go wrong. With God, everything is certain. Without him, all become nebulous.
Why I Love Mary
- She is the mother of our beloved Lord.
- She is the greatest and most beautiful among all the saints.
- From the cross, Jesus made her our mother.
- She prays for us always, leading us to her Son.
- She is the gentlest and most loving of all the mothers.
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Treasures in Heaven
Jesus said in Matthew 6, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal." Every time we do God's will with love, we build up treasures in heaven, and whatever is there remains with God forever. It's like you are already buying up properties up there, and that's where you'll settle after this life.
Communion Leads to Union
How Far or Close Is God?
If you are deeply immersed in the world, you wouldn't even know that God exists. But for anyone who is in union with Christ, God dwells within his or her heart. How far or close God is depends entirely upon you.
*Wake Up, World!
Today's headline: 'Mass rape' video on social media shocks Brazil. This involves 36 men suspected of raping a teen age girl of 16. Why should that concern us? The great saints are acutely aware of their sins and are determined not to offend God in the slightest. On the contrary, today most people live only for their own pleasure, following their own desires, and still think that they are OK. People in this category place their soul in great danger and will be in for a rude awakening one day. They who offend God seriously have muddied their conscience, not aware that their souls are in far worse shape than they realize. If bad news shocks you, it's time to go holy before it's too late.
*What Delights God the Most
God delights in all his creations, but most of all, he delights in those of us, his children, who do his will.
Reciprocating God's Love
God loves us unconditionally. The best way for us to love him back is to follow his will. The only way to achieve that is to seek and attain union with God first.
Awesome Responsibility
I have posted many times: it all boils down to "It's between you and God." Since God does not change, it further boils down to "It's all up to you." That is, you alone are responsible for your destiny!
*How Not to Turn God Off
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 11, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders asked Jesus by what authority was he doing all the things. Jesus asked them a question and said, "Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things." They did not know the answer. Jesus said to them, "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things." What I learned here is that we must soften our hearts before approaching the Lord, for by his nature, he can not be open to anyone who approaches him without humility.
Yours for the Asking
Since God's love for you is infinite and his riches inexhaustible. Be confident that he will give you whatever you need for achieving union with him if you ask for it.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Contentment in Christ
People in general wish that they were more like someone else or have what others possess. They may feel inferior (or superior) to others. Knowing Jesus changes all that, for he and you take delight in each other and nothing can affect your contentment anymore. The peace of Christ now reigns in your heart.
A Less Obvious Sin
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 11, Jesus said to his disciples, "When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions." Normally, if I have knowingly committed a sin, I would repent and ask the Lord to forgive me. Now, if someone trespasses against me, I would hold a grievance against the person, believing that he is the sinner. Jesus makes it clear here that if I do not forgive that person, I too sin. This is good to know and remember.
A Wonder
Yesterday before I went to bed, I thought about how we need to rest the body daily and spend virtually one third of our lifetime sleeping. Then I saw that God gave us the night after each day, and thanked him for such a wonder.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
*Discernment Called For
There is a big difference between what God prompts you to do and what you want to do, to glorify him. You need to be sure that you are not in God's way. If you can discern this, rejoice, for you hear the Lord's voice in your heart.
On Hearing God's Voice
Let God dwell in you, then when you listen to your heart, you'll hear his voice.
Most Loving Expression
Today's Communion verse, John 15.9: As the Father loves me, so I also love you; remain in my love, says the Lord. What a beautiful, sincere, loving expression from the Lord! If you are not moved upon hearing this, your heart is too hard.
Most Sweet Calling
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 10, Bartimaeus, a blind man, called out to Jesus for help. Jesus heard him and asked to see him. The people called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you." Know that when you hear Jesus calling, it is LOVE calling you! Take heart and rejoice, for he wants to heal you to make you whole. There is no voice sweeter and truthful at the same time.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Intimate Knowing
Communion experience. God knows each of us personally so well that we don't even need a name.
How Jesus Draws Us
We all have our heroes and idols, whom we admire, emulate, and/or follow. Rock stars have groupies following them. Famous talents usually get a lot of fans. When I was interested in photography, a group of us met with a guru regularly, eagerly awaiting to hear what she had to say about our works. Then what has made Jesus a leader, someone to follow, respect, and/or love? Today's Gospel reading from Mark 10 reveals the answer. He said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." So it is his great love and willingness to serve that draws us to him. (At least we still know what's truly good for us.)
Just You and God
Basically, each of us stands before God alone. As Mother Teresa said, in the final analysis, it's between you and God. Only you and God know what's in your heart and mind, and there is only one you and that's you. We alone are responsible for what we do in this life and what we'll face in the next.
All About Surrendering
How well you pray to God, serve him in various ways, and bring others to him... it all depends upon how well you have surrendered to him.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
All Up to God
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 10, Jesus said before his disciples, "Many that are first will be last, and the last will be first." I am intrigued by this saying. For me personally, Jesus is telling me to trust in him, focus upon following him and not be concerned about how I do relative to others, for all is in his hands.
Make Peace, Not War
No nation should start a war unless it is absolutely the last recourse to preserve or restore peace. A modern war not only brings great sufferings to innocent civilians, but also traumatizes many of those who serve in the military. The suicide rate among US veterans has been estimated to be as high as one death every hour. Today's magazine article "The US veterans going back to live in Vietnam" on BBC News, http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36363537, shed some light on what some of the veterans went through after the war. Jesus blesses anyone who makes peace. We must start making peace in our own family, our work place, community... wherever we are, and with everyone we come in contact with and most importantly, don't forget, with ourselves.
Monday, May 23, 2016
Getting Close to God
Communion experience. The only way to get close to God when we are still on earth is to remain open to him ~ we cannot do more than that. The rest has to come from God alone.
To Enter the Kingdom of God
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 10, Jesus made it clear that to inherit eternal life, one must go beyond observing the commandments: You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not defraud, honor your father and your mother, and be detached from his material possessions also. For one cannot love God freely if he is not willing to part with his wealth on earth. This is precisely why one becomes free after surrendering himself to God.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Signs of Ignorance
Any time you complain about God, worry for him, give up on him, want to test him, or doubt his omnipotence, you only show your ignorance of the Lord.
Find Your True Worth
Standing next to a taller or shorter person, we get some idea about how tall we are. I recall that when I was a small child, I lived in a very large house with high ceilings. Many years later when I revisited the same house as a grown man, it appeared much smaller than I had remembered. Looking down at the earth from an airplane can definitely change our view of our planet and ourselves. When I look up into a star-filled night sky, I realize how immense the universe is and how minuscule I am, and I am humbled. By the same token, when we go before God, get to know him, and find out how much he loves us, we find our truth worth. (This is definitely worth doing because what you find will amaze you.)
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