Without humility, God becomes unknowable. In our nation today, too many people play God and blame those who disagree with them. For one example, look at the politicians and their protestors. Remember what Jesus said to the scribes and the Pharisees who were ready to stone the woman caught in the act of committing adultery: "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8.7). Jesus is the Lamb of God and we have turned into wolves! Without humility, we have created a tragic situation for humanity ~ the ignorance of our creator.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Greatest Family
It feels great to belong to a loving family on earth, but even if you don't have that, you can belong to the loving family of God in heaven, including the Father, Jesus your brother, the Holy Spirit your teacher, the Holy Mother, and all the angles and saints ~ an infinitely greater family than any family on earth and for all eternity too.
Friday, November 18, 2016
*God's Joy
Communion thoughts. The Lord God created us in his image for his own joy. When we sin, we let him down. Let's be aware that he has also provided us the way to restore ourselves to become his joy again through Christ the Son.
Beating Suffering
Whatever you suffer in whatever way, don't feel down, for it will pass, especially if you know that your'll go to the Father in heaven after this life. See that each suffering provides an opportunity for you to enter God even deeper.
Ready and Willing
I've met so many people whose lives are "messed up" with personal problems, bad relationships with others ~ not always their fault, etc. They definitely need help. I am thinking of the Lord God awaiting, eager to lend help, only if they would turn to him and cry out for his help. It comes down to "God is ready, but are you willing?" By the way, God's help is always permanent, never a temporary patch-up.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Greatest Common Tragedy
We become so immersed in living our earthly life that we forget all about God.
Most Appropriate 1st Prayer
God wants us to remain humble like himself. Therefore, before we worship him by praising and thanking him, the most appropriate prayer would be to ask for his mercy on all of us.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
*Faith Transformation
I still remember when I first believed in Christ a long time ago, I was somewhat intellectually convinced that he is God. Once in a long while for a very brief moment, I did sense God's presence. But now he is as real to me as my own existence! The sun may not rise tomorrow, but Christ will be there. How did I get to this stage? Ask God, for all I know is that he knows.
Difference in Seeing
When we see others, we only see their outward appearance and if they move away from us, we lose sight of them eventually altogether. Besides, we can never know everything about those we see. But God sees us no matter where we are and he knows us inside out.
Haves and Have-Nots
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 19, Jesus told the parable of the ten gold coins. His message was that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This sounds like a law. It's true in the case that the one who has faith will continue to grow stronger in faith and the one who has little faith will lose it altogether. Seek union with God to continually receive more and more from him.
Joy of Worshipping God
In today's first reading from Revelation 4, John saw that day and night the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the Lord our God who sits on the throne. To an ordinary human, it might seem boring to do such a thing, but do you know that it is the great joy they experience that makes them worship God?
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Path to Order
There will be harmony and order in our universe when we subject ourselves completely to the Lord God of Christ.
*True Sorrow, True Joy*
Weep only for your sins (Luke 23.28) and rejoice only that your names are written in heaven (Luke 10.20).
Prayer Key
Today one of the Communion antiphon was based upon Mark 11.24, in which Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours." This is the key to having your prayer answered. Of course, what you ask for must be something you truly need or what your heart desires and not unreasonable or offensive to God. For example, I would not ask God to heal me instantly if I accidentally cut my finger a little bit. He handles cases that are too tough for us! Also, God may not answer you right away. If I pray for a loved one to return to the Catholic faith, it may not happen in my lifetime, but happen it shall.
No Loving Deed Goes Unrewarded
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 19, Zacchaeus the tax collector sought to see Jesus, but he could not see him because he was short in stature among the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a tree to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When Jesus reached the place, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And he came down quickly and received him with joy. The lesson for me here is this: The Lord knows everything we perform out of love for him and he will reward us for it.
*Reason to Believe
It's easy not to pay much attention to all the sayings of Jesus you read in the Gospels ~ after all, they are 2,000 years old. But it would be most difficult ~ impossible, I'd say ~ to say that they are all false. If you agree with me, then you have no choice but to believe in Christ.
Root of All Evil
We are all familiar with the saying: "Money is the root of all evil." To be more accurate, we must read 1 Timothy 6.10 in which Paul wrote "The Love of money is the root of all evils." Of course, the love of money is greed, a cardinal sin; so it comes down to "Sin is the root of all evil."
God's Will Must Prevail
When Jesus began to show his disciples that he must suffer greatly, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise on the third day, Peter rebuked him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." Jesus said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan. You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." This shows that we must absolutely get out of God's way and follow his will, no matter what we think might happen under all circumstances.
Monday, November 14, 2016
*What Truly Matters
In the final analysis, it's not what happens to you in this life that matters, but how you follow and obey God under all circumstances.
Obedience Pays
If you want to go wherever God wants you to go, you'll end up where you want to be. If you don't want to go where God wants you to go, you'll end up where you don't want to be.
*Beyond Repentance
Letting go in God is to trust God in all things. That means you no longer attach yourself to anything but God. That means you keep the word of Christ to the letter. That means you are no longer influenced by what others think of you. Letting go goes beyond repentance, made possible by God.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Obedience Makes Perfect
Communion thought at Vigil Mass. The only appropriate response to God for us is to obey him in all things, making us his perfect children.
Even Better Feeling
It's a good feeling to know that you and God are getting along, but it's a terrific feeling when you are in union with God, knowing his will and obeying him always.
*How God Teaches Us
The way the Holy Spirit teaches us is unique. It's not an intellectual illumination because it doesn't require any harding thinking or reasoning on our part. It is a spiritual illumination, as God speaks directly to the heart, bypassing the brain. Truly original and most refreshing.
Exploring God's Space
Communion experience. The deeper I enter the Lord, the more beauty I see, and the more I want to go even deeper. This is exploring the Lord's infinite space. It's excitingly peaceful!
No Way Around Jesus
Today's Communion antiphon is based upon Jesus saying in Matthew 10.39: Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. It is clear that whether we lose or find our life involves Jesus explicitly, which brings to mind Jesus' proclamation in John 14.6: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Therefore, Jesus is in our way, but the good thing is that he is our way.
Effective Praying
In today's Gospel reading from Luke 18, Jesus, via a parable, teaches his disciples the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. Foremost, prayer needs to come from the depth of the heart. Sometimes God tests your persistence, so do not stop communicating with him if you love him.
No Secret Way
When people find out that I am truly happy in the Lord, they congratulate me and are happy that I have found happiness. What I want to make it known to all is that what I have found is not something by luck I happen to stumble upon and happen to work for me. No, this is God's familiar, universal call to every one of his beloved children. There is no secret, and only your response matters.
How God Sees Us
When God looks at us as our creator and Father, he sees the beauty of each soul, but is grieved by the sins that have stained us. Say you have a favorite vase and it falls into mud and gets dirty all over, would you throw it away? Of course not, and this is how God sees us, for the sin is not the sinner. Mary asked us to recite the Fatima Prayer at the end of each Rosary decade: Oh My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. We are not to judge anyone, but pray for everyone.
*God's Beauty*
The beauty of God's creation we can see with our eyes, but the beauty of God himself we can only see with the eye of our soul. It's this vision of the soul that imparts great inner joy to the beholder.
God Has Made Us
As I headed for morning Mass today, I saw the blue skies, white clouds, and the colorful fall foliage in hues of yellow, amber, and red. Why weren't they in some other colors? I immediately knew that God was real, for he had made them beautiful for us to behold. We also understand what good and evil mean, and can feel joy or sadness ~ again pointing to his existence. All I can say is that God has made us this way. Don't forget that he has made us in his image so that we can choose to believe in him too!
Friday, November 11, 2016
Another Simple Fact
Jesus said in John 8: "Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin" and "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." So the fact about us is that, first, as sinners we easily become our own slaves. Then we hear Christ calling us, we believe and follow him, and we are set free.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
*Assured Facts
Those who live for the world will die with the world, and those who die for God will live with God.
To Be in God
When God and you are in each other, he and you become one. But since he is infinite and you are finite, it's difficult to see that you can possibly contain him. So, why not picture that you are in him, totally containing you? Surely, you are now one with him, since you now dwell in and belong to him wholly.
Power of Transformation
The Holy Eucharist, being the true body and blood of our Lord, is packed with grace to make you holy, new, and beautiful for God to behold. Therefore, consume it with complete submission to his holy will and wonderful transformation will take place in your heart and soul. In Matthew 8, when Jesus was ready to go to the house of a centurion to cure his paralyzed servant, the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." This is the kind of attitude and faith we should hold.
Be Alert and Ready!
Jesus will come again to judge us, but no one knows when that will happen. Therefore, we must absolutely be ready, for when he surprises us by his unexpected appearance, there will not be any time left for repentance.
Unobstructed Communication
The more you open up your heart to God, the more you hear his voice in your heart. It's such a great joy to have unobstructed communication between you and the Lord.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Sweet and Delightful
Communion experience. In life we experience agony, anguish, sorrow, bitterness . . . but there is one thing that is always sweet and delightful, and that's our Lord Jesus the Christ.
New Hope for America
The morals of any country or society that has cast God aside will inevitably degenerate, and that downslide in these last few decades of this nation has been rapid. If liberal Hillary Clinton had won the presidential election, the degeneration would surly continue. Talking about taking care of the people while giving no protection to the unborn is no true compassion, only hypocrisy. True compassion is selfless. With Donald Trump just elected to be the next president, there is at least hope that things can begin to turn around, for he is pro-life and promises to protect religious liberty.
This morning's entrance antiphon, Revelation 21.2, at Mass: I saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. How beautiful it would be to have a holy nation, a new America!
This morning's entrance antiphon, Revelation 21.2, at Mass: I saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. How beautiful it would be to have a holy nation, a new America!
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Agony and Peace
Can peace and agony coexist in one's heart? Yes, if you willingly accept agony for the sake of God. Our prime example is Christ the Lord himself.
*Jesus' Coming to Us
When Jesus promised that he and the Father would come to those who loved him and kept his word, do you think that he would just come to be next to us? Did he have distance in his mind? Of course not! When he spoke of coming to us, he's talking about coming to enter us to dwell in us as one.
Attitude of a Servant
Today's Gospel passage was Luke 17.7-10 in which Jesus describes the attitude of a servant. In the last verse, he says, "When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'" Yes, with God, we do not question or reason but only believe and trust. Without humility, God becomes unapproachable.
Memorable Interview
Yesterday I watched Dr. Paul Schenck being interviewed by Marcus Grodi on The Journey Home TV program. He was intellectually articulate and worth listening to. Telling how he became truly pro-life was a memorable experience for me. It should wake us up to the horror of abortion, the killing of innocent human babies.
Monday, November 7, 2016
Second Opinion
It's common that we obtain at least a second opinion when we are unsure about what we are supposed to do. Recently, some doctors advised a friend of mine to undergo surgery to solve her back problem, while other doctors advised against that. Our opinions are just opinions; they can be helpful or not. Then I thought of God. If we listen to him, we don't ever need any second opinion. Personally, I see the Lord God simplifying our lives.
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