We need God to make us holy, but this need is unaffected by how holy we become, for we need him for our existence and salvation. We absolutely need God, period!
Friday, September 16, 2016
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Keep Communicating to God
Sometimes because we are mentally occupied by various tasks or lack solitude, we do not hear God speak to us in our heart. Consider this to be a perfect time to pause and speak to him as often as you can. All the Lord needs is a quick word, glance, or thought from you.
Monday, September 12, 2016
Coming Clean
Today's thought. When so many of us just do what we want to do, ignoring God's will completely, it's time for us to come clean with the Lord about our duplicity.
Again, for the next three weeks or so, I shall not be able to attend daily Mass nor blog daily. To read new postings, please check back After October 5. God bless you all abundantly.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Who's the Complicated One?
Actually, God is simple and straight and we are the complicated ones. He has laid out the simple and straightforward plan for us to go to him in heaven, yet we make it labyrinthine because we do not listen nor obey. What a sad bunch we are!
Ready for Leave
Communion experience. Since Jesus and I were already in each other, I was ready to go to him body and soul, leaving everything behind.
Miracle on the Altar
Today at Sunday morning Mass, I realized that every time I attend Mass, the most wonderful miracle takes place on the altar when the consecrated bread and wine transform into the body and blood of Christ. I do not witness the change, but Jesus blesses those who do not see and still believe (John 20.29).
Empty Love
Love for God not translated into loving action is no true love, for we are judged by the fruit we produce.
*To Be a Fool
In the parable of the rich fool, the rich man planned to store up all his grain and other goods and then rest, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him,"You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?" To live as if you are going to live forever in this world is to be the greatest of all fools. It doesn't matter if someone calls you a fool, but don't ever let God do it, for he is always right.
Perfect Loving Father
Today's Gospel reading from Luke 15 included the Parable of the Lost (Prodigal) Son. For me and many others, this is the most beautiful and moving parable of Jesus, for it portrays the love of God for all of us so clearly as only someone who truly knows God intimately or is God himself can. Read and meditate upon the story to find out what a perfect loving Father we have and rejoice!
We Are VIPs
You hear "God loves us" said so often that it helps to see that it's really saying that "We are loved by one no less than God" so that we are important, valuable, and precious to one no less than God.
Flood Control by Us
The love of God flows like a flood and our heart is the floodgate. The trouble with most of us is that we do not open wide that gate to let God's love flood us.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Fighting Satan
Satan is an expert fisherman who tosses out bait to lure and snare human souls. If you take the bait, he will haul you in and you are in for a struggle. The loss of inner peace indicates that you have trespassed against the Lord. The proper action to take when you first sense the temptation is to nip it in the bud by running away to God immediately ~ never fight a temptation head-on. Once you are back in God, Satan no longer sees you. Remain in God always and Satan ceases to exist.
Making Jesus Our Foundation
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, Jesus talked about the two foundations. He said to the crowds, "Someone who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed." The lesson is clearly that we cannot have "all listen and no action"; we must do what the Lord commands to build a strong, firm foundation.
*Reality Check on Life
The people of the world either do not know God, or believe in him falsely, or know about the true God (the God of Abraham and the God who is Christ). Among those who know about him, many get to know him personally. It's fair to say that those who claim that they know him are at various stages of rebellion against God, for few become totally obedient. As long as one is not in complete union with God yet, he is, strictly speaking, still a rebel. Dare we say that life is all about whether we submit to God or not?
Friday, September 9, 2016
*Why Do We Make It Hard?
God has already loved us. So if we let him love us, we and God become one. It's all so very simple.
We Are No Judge
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, Jesus taught his disciples to notice and remove the wooden beam in their own eye first before attempting to remove the splinter in their brother's eye. Of course, the lesson here is that we are not to judge others. We are not even to judge sinners, yet there are many who still question or blame God, who is all holy, for various things. Sinners must realize their own state and their need for salvation or they are doomed.
Most Rewarding Experience
Our transformation by God into a new creature in union with him has to be the most refreshing, joyful, and rewarding experience we can ever have in this life, for it is all brought about by God.
The Jesus Effect
Why are so many Christians happy and eager to tell others about Jesus? I may feel happy after finding a good job or winning a free vacation, but there is no urge for me to tell others about it. My conclusion is that Christ has actually changed many of his followers into more loving and selfless persons.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
*Demanding Love
Jesus' greatest commandment for us is to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. Why? It's because he loves us so much that his joy will not be complete unless we love him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. Obviously, if God doesn't love us so much, he wouldn't mind how much we love him either.
Simple, Straight, and Clear
Communion thoughts. Today is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Communion verse was based upon Isaiah 7.14 and Matthew 1.21: Behold, the Virgin will bear a son who will save his people from their sins. I have a simple mind and see clearly that I am a sinner in need of salvation, and Jesus is exactly whom I need. There's nothing more to elaborate.
Natural Consequence
The more you let Jesus increase in you, the more you decrease and your love for God increases.
*Tell God Everything
When I woke up in the middle of the night early this morning, I shared my most immediate intimate thoughts with Jesus ~ I just poured my heart out. And I was greatly comforted. We all feel good when we find someone who's willing to listen to us. The wealthy pay big money to unload themselves before psychiatrists. Here we have the greatest psychiatrist and healer in the whole universe, who knows everything about us and can even take away our sins, what more can we ask? Tell God everything as often as possible and you'll enjoy inner peace. It's a most wonderful feeling to know that you have nothing to hide from the Lord.
Remain in the Light
It's easier to sin in darkness than in broad daylight because darkness falsely leads you to believe that God does not see you. When you close your eyes to get ready to fall sleep, impure thoughts easily surface in darkness. And in sleep, you can get nightmares. In both cases, waking up to light restores your senses and assures you that everything is all right. Remain in the light of Christ always and you'll remain clear-headed and vanquish all fears.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
*Gift From Heaven
Communion experience. The Holy Eucharist is a gift from heaven, the Lord himself. When it entered me, I was directly linked to heaven. I must do my utmost to keep the Lord dwelling happily in me.
*Worst Happening
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, we heard four of Jesus' Beatitudes. They are (1) Blessed are you who are poor ..., (2) Blessed are you who are now hungry ..., (3) Blesses are you who are now weeping ..., (4) Blessed are you when people hate you ... on account of the Son of Man. Let's remember that being poor, hungry, mournful, or persecuted in this life is nothing compared to being separated from God for all eternity! In fact, they are blessings! What we must not ever let happen to us is losing our God forever.
Rejoice and Be Glad!
Today's Gospel Acclamation taken from Jesus' Sermon on the Plain: Rejoice and be glad: your reward will be great in heaven. If you know that you have been chosen by the Father, that you hear the voice of Jesus your shepherd and follow him, and that the Holy Spirit is guiding you on your journey back to God, why shouldn't you rejoice and be glad in advance of receiving your reward in heaven? You really should be the happiest person(s) in the whole world. Let this joy overcome any obstacles you encounter along the way. Keep loving God and nothing will be able to stop you from winning your glory!
Joy in Christ Video
I was going through the videos on the recommended list displayed in the right margin of my blog to see if they were still running on YouTube. The video Infectious Joy in Christ was posted almost 6 years ago. I watched it again and was moved to tears of joy. In case you haven't seen it yet, you may enjoy watching it now. It's just under 6 minutes.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Recognizing Obedience
Communion experience. I had my own agenda, but I must let God have the final say. Again, obedience.
Obedience to God
From today's Gospel reading from Luke 6, we heard that Jesus departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. I am certain he did not pray to have God change his will, for he is God. As a human being, he must have prayed for others and himself to carry out the Father's will. This is a great example for all of us to follow ~ it's obedience to God foremost and only.
Back to Trusting in God
The many ungodly things happening around the world form a heavy burden on my heart. Then I realize that I myself am passing and definitely shall not see all these things turn around in my lifetime. I should care about what God wishes, not what I wish to see happen. It's back to trusting in God, something we must not forget.
Monday, September 5, 2016
Following Christ in Peace
Communion experience. I just let Christ lead me on, so that I would live without anxieties.
Avoid the Shock
Early this morning after midnight, I had a scary dream. I no longer remember the details, but the horrific shock I experienced in that dream has stayed with me. This shock brings to mind what we could experience after we die when we face the Lord. If we are judged not fit to enter heaven, the shock would be so great and terrifying beyond words! My advice is to be sure that won't happen to you at all costs. The time to believe in Christ and love and serve the Lord is now.
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Union With God Means ...
(1) God dwells in you, (2) you dwell in him, (3) you are completely open to him in every way and at all times, (4) both you and God share the same joys and sorrows, (5) his will becomes your will, (6) you seek and follow only his ways and thoughts (joyfully). Now you belong to God and are free in the world with its snares and traps; ready to be united with God the Father for all eternity when the time comes.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Avoid Getting Shocked
If you do not see a step in your path, you can get a shock if you trip over it or step off one you didn't think was there and fall. (This has happened to me enough times.) In the same way, if you do not see death coming, which is imminent, you can get a big shock, fall and be down forever when it happens. This is something to be avoided at all costs.
Jesus = Peace
Jesus is love. Jesus is joy. He is also peace! True peace (inner or outer) can only come from him.
Nothing to Everything
Communion thoughts. I am nothing without Christ. With him, I gain everything and become rich.
Stages of Finding Joy
Find joy in God first, then you'll find joy in serving him, and end up finding joy in living.
*Activating God
If you want to get close to God, do not struggle on your own, but remain passive and ask God to draw you. Likewise, if you want to become holy, do not struggle on you own, but remain passive and ask God to make you holy. Things happen only after you activate God.
Why Christians Rejoice
Today's Entrance: Blessed Gregory, raised upon the throne of Peter, sought always the beauty of the Lord and lived celebration of that love. I italicized the part I thought was beautiful. Indeed, God's beauty is to be sought and his love, celebrated.
Only Refuge
Today is the Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church. At Mass, I was going to rest completely in God. There was really no other place anywhere I can or would want to go.
Only One Focus
Always do your best to serve the Lord, never counting how many good things you've done for him.
*Most Beautiful Feeling
Jesus the Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son. You can get in on this too! Seek and attain union with Christ and you and God will be in each other. This is the most beautiful feeling you can possibly experience in life.
*Making Little Things Count
Every little thing, whether it's just a gesture or a thought, you make or have for the glory of God puts a smile on his face. He will never forget you again.
Fulfilling Your Life
You'll know that your life is fulfilled when you fulfill your role as a disciple of Christ. Only God can make life meaningful.
Rosary Benefit
Praying the Holy Rosary may appear to be repetitive, but when you say it from your meditative heart, every repetition is a step closer to the Lord, as Mary our Mother always leads us to her Son.
Making Life Meaningful
The God of Christ gives meaning to life. The more you cling to him, the more life becomes meaningful.
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