**We Need God!

        Communion experience. The Most Holy Lord entered me, but I was relative to him a filthy sinner. How was union with him possible? The Lord showed me that I only needed to be open and submit myself to him, and he would take care of the rest. Again, it is our intention that counts, since we can never be perfect as he is. It is always the Lord that makes the impossible possible!

Prayer for Ending Abortion

        On the 44th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, today is Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Here is the call by Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life (www.priestsforlife.org) to pray for an end to abortion:

      Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, and for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself Never to be silent, Never to be passive, Never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, and never to stop defending life until all my brothers and sisters are protected, and our nation once again becomes a nation with liberty and justice not just for some, but for all, through Christ our Lord. Amen!

**How We Are Judged

        We are not judged by how good a person we think we are, but by how much we please or offend Christ. 

*Enviable Position

        If you have Christ, you would never feel that you are at a disadvantage or less fortunate or inferior to anyone anymore. This is because the possession of such a treasure as the Lord God himself is the ultimate fulfillment of life, putting you beyond the influence of the world.

*God Filling Us

        Communion experience. Once you have Jesus, your deepest desire is fulfilled and life is greatly simplified. Now desires for all other things lose their hold on you. In Buddhism, you learn to lose your greed to achieve peace. With Christ, not only you become detached to all things of the world, the void in your heart is entirely filled by the Lord God himself. It is this filling (union) that makes your life whole, enabling you to experience peace plus joy.

*Never Mind Being Out of Mind

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark, Jesus attracted the crowd around him, making it impossible for him and his disciples even to eat. His relatives heard of this and thought that he was out of his mind. Once some unbeliever saw that I truly believed in Jesus and thought that I must have lost my mind (gone overboard). In fact, when I first read about Mother Teresa going to Calcutta to live a life of serving the poor and the dying, I thought she must be somewhat out of her mind. Today, if you are extra devout, you may be regarded as being too serious, over-religious, or one who lives in his own world. Of course, we must never set any limit to how much we devote our lives to Christ nor care about what others think of us. Let's live exactly accordingly to how the Lord draws us so that we may remain in his freedom.  

*Levels of Learning

        I watched the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 46th president of the United States on TV today. Many speeches were given by various politicians. Stories about historical figures were told to inspire the audience. My personal feeling and experience is that while learning from other human beings can be beneficial, it can never fundamentally transform us with power, for we need someone greater than us above the human level to effect the change. And that someone is our God! Once he starts teaching you directly, you'll feel your heart burning and find that even the teachings of saints pale in comparison.

*Securing Our Life for Eternity

        My thoughts turn to the human life today. As I see so many of my friends fall ill or pass away unexpectedly, I become acutely aware of how fragile our life is. Physically, we are only made of soft flesh and brittle bones. As regards our health, catching a few germs can send us straight to the emergency room. By comparison, life forms such as trees and wild animals are much tougher. Then there are accidents that can take our life by surprise. So the brief human life is both precarious and vulnerable. Under the circumstances, I see that the best we could do, which is also the least we should do, is to secure our eternal life. This is accomplished by letting Christ into our lives to be our anchor. Once we have settled our eternal destination, the fragility of our life on earth will no longer be an issue.

To Great Height

        Communion experience. Every reception of the Lord in Holy Communion is a milestone in one's spiritual journey. I much prefer remaining lowly and letting the Lord uplift me to his level than climbing to the peak of Mt. Everest and feeling good about myself. 

*Humble Formula

        To remain humble, never compare yourself with your brothers, sisters, or neighbors, but see yourself in the presence of the Lord God always.

Opportunity for Perfection

        Communion experience. It was an opportunity to taste the perfect Lord for me to become a little bit more perfect.

Benefit of Union

        Being acutely aware that a sin is a sin.

*Sin and Inner Peace

        God does not worry, get anxious, fuss . . . he may rightly be displeased or get angry with us for offending him, but he still loves us and would suffer any pain we cause him patiently. Nevertheless, deep in his heart, he has perfect peace. Therefore, if we lose our inner peace, we should realize that it's because we are not perfect and have sinned – this would be the perfect time to turn to the Lord to repent and ask for his forgiveness to restore our peace.

God's Powerful Love

        The love of God is real. God has shown his greatest love for us by giving us his own Son so that we might have eternal life. Without God, we may still feel love for others, but it'll never be compelling and selfless. It's only by knowing Christ that we can love others as he loved us. And this love of ours is completely motivated by his love working through us who have been transformed by his love. Furthermore, the love of God binds him and us together as one, with the soul experiencing the sweetest intoxicating joy.

Puzzling Fact

        We all know 100% that we are going to die one day and no one can be sure that the soul does not exist, yet so many people don't think much about life after death. Are they all burying their head in the sand?

*What Life Is All About

        If we are totally obedient to God, the will of God flows through us unhindered and we will have peace in both our hearts and the world. Because so many of us rebel against God, blocking the flow of his will through us, we have created disorder and chaos in both our hearts and the world. In this universe, we are the only creature capable of disrupting the will of God. Simply put, our life is all about choosing to be with God or not. [Note: I am speaking about the God as revealed through Jesus Christ, who is love.]

*Difficulty in Changing Oneself

        Only God can fundamentally change a person, but there is a catch – you must give him the go-ahead first. Since you are still the boss, the transfer of power must be initiated by you to take effect. While God can do his part effortlessly, relinquishing your power is not always easy. This is the sticky part of the process. 

Most Private Moment

        Communion experience. I had my most private moment: I was one with God; I completely belonged to Christ; I settled in him; I existed in him alone!

*Long Range Planning

        Give your heart to God and let him completely take care of your soul and you are all set for eternity.

How Are You Spiritually?

        If you believe in God, do you live as if he is real and relevant? Can people tell? If you believe that nothing is impossible with God, does your faith make that clear to others? If you address God as Lord, how often do you obey him? If we are to love God with all our heart, how often do you think of him or talk to him? Last, how seriously do you follow Jesus' specific counsels and commandments and take his promises? These are some of the questions that can help you assess your spiritual condition.

**Making God Your Confidant

        Here's a way to get to know the Lord God intimately fast. Pour out everything in your heart before him. Share your deepest secrets and concerns, those you wouldn't even share with any other human or look into yourself, with him. Do not hold back your emotions either. Weep or laugh if you feel like it. Showing this kind of trust greatly pleases the Father, for it shows that you know that he knows everything about you. This will bring you great freedom and consolation, now that you have become one of his favored children.

*On Opening Up to God

        It is often not easy to start doing something for the first time, even though you know that you should. One good example is Christians having difficulty in opening themselves up to God. I believe that is because they still do not want to relinquish themselves yet. It comes down to the ego and lack of humility. All I can say is once you have opened up and tasted the new freedom, you will not ever want to go back to your old imprisonment again.

On Loss of Inner Peace

        Loss of inner peace is caused by others or yourself. If you are the cause, it indicates that you have sinned, unless you are so far from God that your conscience is already muddy. The closer you are to God, the sharper your conscience is and the more your heart experiences pain or even torture, alerting you to reconcile with God, which is a blessing. Those who already have a muddy conscience risk straying away from God even more. 

The Same God!

        God the Father brought the Israelites out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, delivering them from their bondage. God the Son came into the world 2,000 years ago to suffer and die to redeem sinners so that they might have eternal life, revealing God's greatest love for his children. And God the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles on Pentecost 50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus, sanctifying, enlightening, and strengthening the new Church. Since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, this is the God we have inherited!   

Unknown Thrill

        People seek to experience thrills in this life, not knowing that one single moment of intimacy with God is quietly more satisfying than a thousand thrills of the world put together.

Ultimate Living

        Communion experience. It feels good to be in complete harmony with God. I picture myself sitting next to the Lord in a green meadow, relaxing together and enjoy each other's company. By submitting yourself to him, your hear his voice intimately, for he dwells within your heart. Jesus fulfills our life to overflowing. It is ultimate living!  

Joy to the Soul

        Reading 1 at Mass from Hebrews 4: The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. Paul uttered these words in union with God. For it is in union with the Lord that you gladly let his word (and his love) penetrate your heart to help you discern your inner thoughts and learn his ways. Such intimacy brings great joy to the soul.

God Is Hope

        At this morning's Mass, I read all these sayings from the missal that gave me so much hope in the Lord. From the Entrance: Upon a lofty throne, I saw a man seated, whom a host of angels adore, singing in unison: Behind him, the name of whose empire is eternal. The Responsory from John 6.63: Your words, Lord, are spirit and life. The Communion antiphon, Psalm 36.10: With you, O Lord, is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light. An alternate, John 10.10: I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly. The God of Christ is our shining hope, our joy, and the cause of our optimism. Trust in him with all your heart to be uplifted by him.

Prepare Now for Eternity

        If you believe in the Second Coming of Christ upon which he will judge all the living and the dead, the time of preparation is now when you are still alive. Whether the Coming happens in your lifetime or later, know that your preparation time expires at the same time you do. 

Jesus Indispensable

        Jesus is most valuable, most desirable, in fact, indispensable to us, for only he can forgive our sins as he is God. He is the way and the truth and the life. To be more specific, only he can save us from eternal damnation and lead us to heaven. He is the one we need to go after, embrace, and follow with all our heart and our might. If you reject him, I will only respect you if you can solidly prove to me that he is false in some way, that you actually know more than he, or that your are a better person than he. My belief is that those who reject him are in reality running away from him, afraid of confronting God. How foolish it is to try to avoid something that is imminent!

Putting House in Order

        Yesterday in a post I mentioned that anyone in an emotional state may lose self-control. For example, an angry person may do harm to others or a person under stress may no longer consider the consequences of his action. We all make wrong decisions when we lose inner peace and clear thinking. Similarly, when we lose God's peace in our heart, we no longer hear him speak to us and start sinning. Union with God prevents all this. It is putting your house in order, a state for the soul to cherish and enjoy.  

Freedom That's Free

        "Freedom is not free" is a popular American idiom. We owe gratitude to our military for its sacrifices in defending our personal freedoms. By contrast, I think of the freedom God is ready to bestow upon each of us. It won't cost you anything and you won't have to fight for it either. All you need to do is to submit to God and humbly ask him to set you free.

On Practicing What You Preach

        To practice what you preach is usually harder than just preaching, for it is in practice that your theory is being tested. It is also a fact that anyone in an emotional state may lose his self-control. Therefore, if you are a spiritual person, it is all the more important not to lose your inner peace in order to practice what you preach as successfully as possible.

On Fearing God

        We should fear God so that we may not sin. After we sin, we should not fear turning to God immediately to ask for his forgiveness to remove any fear of being judged by him. 

On Not Judging Others

        Reasons for not judging others: (1) We are sinners ourselves. (2) Judging is not being kind. (3) To judge is to play God. (4) Last but not least, Jesus commanded us not to judge others. 

*On Following God's Will

        Jesus came into the world to spread the good news of God's love and our salvation, knowing well that not all would welcome or believe him. Nevertheless, he went ahead with God's plan. Similarly, we strive to be holy, knowing that we would never be perfect. Nevertheless, we should not give up and must continue on, following God's will. What we can actually achieve is up to the Lord.

In the Name Of Jesus

        We pray to God in the name of his Son Jesus. We can do everything, big or little, in the name of Jesus too. It's especially helpful when we find it hard to forgive someone who has wronged us; we can simply forgive him in the name of Jesus. In this way, we let the Lord handle the case and we are off the hook. In the name of Jesus, we can be detached to all things and become holy. For his sake, we should be willing to do anything. This is letting God be God with us out of his way.

Our God

        My God is my God, but he is our God. I treasure and cherish him as if he is mine alone, yet I gladly wish all to possess him. This is the Lord who can transform us into selfless, generous beings. This is our magnanimous, all-embracing Lord, capable of uniting all of his children as one in him. This is the exact Lord we need to complete our existence. Submit to him with all your heart and soul.

In the Light

        Today's Communion antiphon, Psalm 36.10 reads: With you, O Lord, is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light. Jesus is our light. Without him, we are in darkness. To know him is to be in his light, then we see and understand everything.

Doing the Will of the Father

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 1 at morning Mass, Jesus cured the sick and drove demons out of those possessed. In fact, in his entire ministry he always helped those who were helpless. Yet when he was persecuted by his enemies, got sentenced and put to death . . . throughout the whole ordeal, he never tried to lessen his own suffering ~ this is the amazing part. Obviously, carrying out the will of the Father was his overriding mission. Any of us who does the will of God likewise will be with him and saved, as the Lord had promised.

*Look at the Bright Side

        If we have perfect health and live in a completely stress-free environment, we probably wouldn't think about God at all. Therefore, see your physical problems and stressful encounters as blessings. It is easy to notice the gloomy side of things and forget to look at the much brighter side of them.

Powerful Sorrows

       Today Tuesday is the day for praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Why should the Passion of Christ move me so much? I believe it is because deep within I know that I am a sinner and need God's salvation. Otherwise, it would be just one of the myriad sad stories of the past. 

Salvation Without Cooperation?

        Salvation is free in the sense that God alone has made it possible, but we still need to cooperate with him to be saved. Otherwise, faith becomes unnecessary, Jesus didn't even have to come to us, and we can keep on sinning. God gave us the free will precisely for us to choose to believe in or to reject him. Note: Once you have chosen to follow Christ, your are free to retire your free will. (This post is prompted by a non-Christian friend who believes that he is going to heaven anyway.)

Only Way to Freedom

        How happy and free we are in life depends upon how we handle ourselves. If you play God, you won't be happy because you are not him. Those who are happy let God be their Lord and follow his will and see all problems as his problems. Abandon yourself to God is the only way to freedom. When you taste this freedom, you'll know that you have the truth.         

*God's Companionship

        God is always there for us. It is when we stray away from him that we lose his companionship. Of course, you need to get to know him first. Anytime I miss my intimacy with him ever so slightly, I know that I have strayed away, usually in thoughts. This is good for me, for it makes me want to go right back to be in full union with him. It is this intimate companionship that makes life sweet, satisfying, and worth living.

*Heaven and Hell

        Heaven exists because God is love. Hell exists because sin is real. Our free will exists because God wants to give us the chance to choose him.

*Do You Hear Yourself?

        It is easy for us to hear others talk and then criticize them, but hard to be aware of exactly what and how we speak to others. It is hard because when we speak, the intention to listen to ourselves is not there. So if someone criticizes what we have said, that person may have a point. If we do not hear ourselves, mostly likely we are not as perfect as we think we are. In sum, be sensitive to what you say and know that other speakers do not hear themselves well either. This can help us avoid unnecessary arguments.  

Entrusting Your Soul

        Communion thoughts. You can fully entrust your soul to Jesus, for he is the soul healer. Now, there are those who sell their soul to the devil for riches on earth. With Jesus, not only you gain eternal life, you also inherit all that the Father has in heaven.

Division and Unity

        Jesus said that he had come not to establish peace on earth, but rather division ~ you see that this has been happening to this very day. But let's not forget that he has also brought unity among all the faithful disciples, the communion of saints, and for many of us union with God. (Note that there is no unity on the other side.) 

*Revelation Amplified

        Revelation from God needn't be some new knowledge we learn for the first time; it could also be a confirmation that something already revealed to us is absolutely true.