Focusing on Christ Alone

        Christ has come to us in person 2,000 years ago. He, being God and love, is the perfect and most beautiful being there is. Therefore, worship him, adore him, praise him, love him, and listen to and learn from him directly, while following the teachings of the Holy Church. Disregard instantly anyone who claims that he or she has received new revelations about the Lord, for they are all false prophets.  

Best Kind of Help Is . . .

getting others to know Christ so that he might directly help them and save their souls as well.      

***It Will Be Forever!

        Today is Memorial of Saint Miki and Companions, Martyrs. The entrance antiphon: The souls of the saints are rejoicing in heaven, the saints who followed the footsteps of Christ, and since for love of him they shed their blood, they now exult with Christ for ever. Heaven is a place where you exult in joy. By contrast, hell is an abode where you wail in sorrow. What make the joy in heaven so great and the sorrow in hell so horrible is that they both continue on forever!

**No Cheering at the Second Coming

        I just saw in the news that the Philadelphia Eagles, this year's Super Bowl champ, got back home with the trophy held high, and the excited adoring fans that had waited at the airport cheered and applauded enthusiastically. I wonder what it will be like when Jesus arrives at his next coming. I believe that there will be only wailing and no cheering. Those who are saved will be overjoyed, but at the same time they will feel great sorrow for those who will be separated from them and the Lord forever. This has been quietly going on ever since the human race fell from grace.

***Living the Full Catholic Life*

        Ask Jesus to baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. The Holy Spirit is the fire that can set your heart ablaze with the love of God. Be completely open to the Holy Spirit and he will reveal to you with absolute certainty that God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit loves you and yearns to be one with you. And you'll never be the same person again! Those who say that God is hard to find do not know what they are talking about! The Lord is all yours if you let yourself be all his.

*More Than Recognizing Jesus*

        Today is Memorial of St. Agatha. From the Gospel reading from Mark 6, we heard that Jesus and his disciples crossed the sea to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. And as they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Recognition of Jesus drew the people to him. Do we also recognize the Lord? Of course, we do not see him today, but we certainly can get to know him most intimately. In fact, knowing him dwelling in us far exceeds recognizing him, for he is now one with us.

*Our Choice

        First of all, we are completely at God's mercy, for nothing can pass without his knowledge nor happen without his permission. And we can choose to rebel against or to obey him. You needn't rack your brain to figure out what we should do.

Minding Our Own Business

        Our business is to let God make us holy, and this is what we need to focus upon exclusively. We need not be concerned about loving others, as that will become part of us as we grow holier. You could say that we need to love ourselves first, but not more than others. The foremost aim is to become like Christ ourselves.    

The All-Encompassing God

        There are many religions, but there is only one God, the God of Christ. This is the God who has created and knows everything about us and upon whom we depend completely for existence! And it'd be impossible for us to hide or escape from him ever. Therefore, we might as well submit ourselves willingly to him. Especially, after he has revealed through his Son how much he loves us, there is absolutely no excuse for us to ignore him anymore.

*More on Either You or God*

        A beloved good friend just passed away and the church is getting ready to hold her funeral tomorrow. This got me thinking that we all live a relatively short life, so does how things go in our life really matter that much? We can want things go our way or God's way. To get to the point, we can choose to serve either ourselves or God. What's so beautiful about serving God is we get liberated from it! If you choose to serve yourself always, I don't have to tell you that you won't die happy, let alone how you would feel in your afterlife.  

*Either You or God

        Submitting yourself to God is the key to peace and freedom. You cannot serve yourself and God at the same time! Very clear.

**How Well You Know Your Savior

        In the Gospel reading from Luke 2, When Joseph and Mary brought in the child Jesus to the temple for his presentation, Simeon, a devout and righteous man in the Holy Spirit, took the child into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now, Master, you may let your servant die in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation." This brings up the question if we are ready to die in peace. We do not see our Savior, but certainly we can get to know him well. This is the test: If you are not ready to leave this life yet, you certainly do not know him well yet.

Rejoicing in the Lord!

        Today is Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The Response came from Psalm 24: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord. Anytime we recognize that it is the Lord, our heart should leap with joy. For it the Lord who loves us, who has redeemed us from sin, who wants to us to return to him in heaven, who is sustaining our life at this moment, who yearns to be one with us, who wishes to free us by forgiving my sins to make us clean, who can give us peace and joy, and so on and on. Let us recognize our amazing Lord and rejoice in him with great thanksgiving.

*In Each Other

      It is most helpful to be aware that Jesus dwells in your heart, serving as your personal guide. But it is equally helpful to be aware that you dwell in him, serving as your protector. Nevertheless, to be in each other is to be one in union, with benefits galore. 

R.I.P. Now

       Communion experience. R.I.P. is the abbreviation for "rest in peace," usually found on gravestones or in obituaries. But why wait until you are dead to rest in peace? Why not start resting in the Lord now? After receiving Holy Communion, I experienced profound peace when I rested in Christ.

Freedom awaits Us!

        This morning at Mass after the consecration of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, we all said the memorial acclamation: "Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free." I realized that God had already set us free! The door for leaving our prison is wide open. So do we want to remain where we are or step right out into freedom?

More on Union With God

        A sinner seeking union with God is analogous to a patient with a tumor seeking surgery. A sinner who prays hard and resolves not to sin again on his own is analogous to the tumor patient who eats right and rests enough, hoping that the tumor will go away. The sinner who seeks union with God to resolve his problem with sin is analogous to the tumor patient who goes to the surgeon to get his tumor removed. For the sinner it is a case of how much he chooses to depend upon himself or God.  

Asking for Authority

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 6, the mission of the Twelve began. Jesus sent them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. It struck me that we could ask the Lord to give us authority while serving him. With authority we can more effectively spread the good news and witness for him with great courage and confidence.

**Eureka Moment*

        Deciding to follow Jesus is only the beginning of a new exciting journey. It is in seeking union with him that the most exciting part of the journey begins. That is because you find out that the Lord can actually transform you step by step into a new creature, taking away your desire to sin and your struggle to become holy. You finally stop rebelling against him to let him do all the work to form you. It's a eureka moment, although it could take a while to get there, depending upon how readily you submit yourself to him. (Seeking union with God is the same as opening yourself up to God, putting all your trust in God, or abandoning yourself in God.)

**Union or Rebellion

        If you are not in complete union with God yet, part of you still wants to do things just for yourself. Only when you are in complete union with God, you want to do things for God and yourself, for now the two wills are one.

Enjoying the World Freely

        After you get to know God as well as possible, you are ready to enjoy the world freely (without attachment). 

**Proof Jesus Is God

        Any of us mortals does not have a clue as to whether we can or will come back to earth again after we die. In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly mentions his own coming again. This also proves to me that Jesus is indeed God.

**Never Lead God

       When we rush ahead of the Holy Spirit, we lose peace. Therefore, always follow God in all things patiently to let him accomplish his will in his time.

**Learning From God

        Romans 8.28: All things work for good for those who love God. I can elaborate to say that all things that happen to those who love God are lessons from the Lord to teach them to become like him.

Are You His Sheep?

        In John 10.27, Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me." The sheep always hear the shepherd's voice and follow him without hesitation. If Jesus is your shepherd, you would respond the same way. If you are still reluctant to follow him, then you are not quite his sheep yet.

**Learning to Be Humble*

        Today, very few of us are willing to listen to others, for we are so used to exalting ourselves and not wanting anyone to tell us what to do. Again, the Lord made me see clearly that all the disorder and unrest of the world and in us are caused by our lack of humility. Even as we grow spiritually, we tend to think less of those who are less advanced, and we are back to the lack of humility. The cure we need must come from God. Surrender to him completely so that we can become like him, and we'll be humble like him. 

Anticipating Death

       When you are young, you don't think about death, even though you know well that it is inevitable. It is being farsighted and realistic to prepare for anything that's inevitable in coming. Therefore, it is wise to be ready early for facing your eventual death. 

Contagious Sin

        I shudder at the fact that when we don't believe in God, we can cause others to turn away from him too.

How Great Our God Is

       Communion experience. The moment we humbly surrender ourselves to God, he exalts us to his level.

Children of One Father

        On earth we all have our own family. But in heaven, all earthly relationships will be gone when we become all children of the Father. I hope that realizing this will help you attach yourself to God alone and love all the people on earth.

Dealing With Our Thorns

        In 2 Corinthians 12.7, Paul wrote, "That I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me." We don't know what that thorn was. In a way, we can see all the trials and tribulations and problems in life as thorns. Let these thorns keep us humble and help us not to get carried away by anything but to realize that only God is perfect.

Security of the Soul

        Communion experience. I hang my entire soul on Christ, for my soul shall be safe in him.

Most Precious Is . . .

the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding.        

To Pray Obediently

        To pray the Lord's Prayer, Our Father, is to wish to follow the Lord. Therefore, to pray it meaningfully requires total obedience to the Father.

***Most Serious Offense

        Not believing that Christ can help you is equivalent to believing that Christ has died in vain! 

Understanding Unhappiness

        Not to get into the details, I had been unhappy about something I had been doing for someone, for it did restrict my freedom. So I asked the Lord about this at morning Mass and he made me see quickly that it was a case of helping someone and creating some inconvenience for myself. And I was OK with that. The lesson is that understanding what your unhappiness is all about can help you see that your unhappiness may be unjustified.  

**Gateway to Freedom*

        I know that when Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me," we can find it hard to accept. When I first heard it, I asked myself: Does that mean that I cannot do what I want to do anymore? and that I would be burdened down and perhaps even head toward martyrdom? Of course, I overreacted as a sinful human. Now that I know the Lord well, I can say that all the fear and concern were unnecessary. He has made everything easy and a joy, and made me see that this is precisely the way to spiritual freedom, leading to eternal life. Truth: Christ is the gateway to eternal freedom!

***Union for God Alone

        We can achieve union with God through his mercy. With saints, we can only be in communion, for they are fellow creatures and have no power over our souls. The most intimate union is reserved for God alone. Revere and cherish the Holy Eucharist.

Destructive Living

        God's mercy is infinite – if you submit yourself to him, you are saved. What is tragic is that people live with no or little regard for his mercy. They live the way they want to live, and this is living destructively. For they not only risk losing eternal salvation, they destroy their own peace and physical health in the process. The good news is that God can always turn us around if we let him. 

*How God Operates

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 4, Jesus calmed a storm at sea. His disciples with him in the boat were filled with great awe when they saw even wind and sea obey him. Here is the difference between God and us. When we try to tame something, we try to figure out a way to do it, thinking in terms of a method, a plan, technology, the laws of physics and other sciences, etc. whereas God merely wishes and it is accomplished. Our thoughts dash around in uncertainty, while the Lord knows everything and does all without effort. Understanding this can helps us trust in God even more readily. 

The Only One I Need

        Communion experience. The primary point of attending Mass is to receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. And the primary goal of receiving him is to attain union with him. I love the Lord because he's the one who can perfect me. He is truly the only one I need!

**Experiencing the Lord

        If you want to experience the Lord, ask and you'll have it. When I questioned the Lord about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in me, I received the gift of tears. When I prayed for Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Holy Scriptures became alive, and I felt exhilarated for months. I open my heart wide to the Lord and he deposits his voice messages directly in my heart. Yes, ask for zeal, ask for fire, and they will be yours too. Living in the Lord is living, while living in the world is drifting at best.

*Specially Blessed

        Before Christ came into the world, there were the Jewish people who had always believed in their one God and other peoples who did not know God or believed in other gods and idols. I know that since God can see what's in our heart, he must have judged each one of those souls justly. Nevertheless, I feel blessed that I came into the world after Christ. Now, I know all about God, his love, and how to get saved. Of course, we'll still be judged by our heart. 

*Best Policy for Living

       When a loved one of ours departs from this world, we easily lose our peace if we are not sure if he or she is going to heaven. For that matter, numerous other things get us upset. This points to our need to trust in and attach ourselves to God alone.

***Who Is Your Family?

        At morning Mass today, I knew that my "true" family are God and all his saints and angels in heaven. My family on earth is merely a temporary one I need for my existence on earth and to which I would belong only briefly. If you don't believe in God, you'll be absolutely left alone after you die. Think about it. 

**God Makes Things Easy

        Communion experience. God first enters us to be one with us, then he makes everything easy for us. What a terrific blessing! 

Power of God

        Today is Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle. Paul, the most notorious persecutor of those who followed Jesus, heard Jesus calling him, changed his heart, and became an Apostle. Here's the last person you would expect to convert. To me also, Jesus is indeed the Son of God. 

Taking God Seriously

        Some of my regular readers must already know that I like piano music from reading my posts. I still attempt to play the piano, but with my weaker memory and bent finger joints, it has become quite a challenge (struggle). Anyway, I think of how a professional pianist would intensely prepare himself before going on stage to be sure that the audience will be moved by his performance. The pianist must practice hard to learn the music thoroughly beforehand and focus upon expressing himself and overcoming stage fear at the same time whiling performing. Then I think of how we approach God. Do we take it seriously? Do we have enough faith in the Lord? Do we pour out our hearts with the intention of moving his? Surely, pleasing God is a lot more important than pleasing an audience.

Holy and Happy

        One becomes holy when he completely dwells in the house of the Lord. And one is truly happy when he is completely happy in the Lord.

***Why Did Jesus Die?

        This is Episode 3 of the Alpha series, titled "Why Did Jesus Die?" You should watch it. If you have trouble forgiving others, definitely watch it. To forgive is to not judge – these two go hand in hand. So we should always forgive and never judge.