God Forever Personal

        When I was sick in the hospital, the doctors did all they could do for me, and my family members just waited – it was God who was truly there with me. In reality, God is the only one who can be with us at all times. After I die, unless I rebel again him, I'll have him again with me always. Therefore, hold onto the Lord who will always be there for you and is all you need to have.

Clearing Our Way to God

        Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." It is the "denying yourself" that trips us up. If we can get past that first part, the rest of the way becomes smooth sailing. Again, we are our own greatest obstacle in journeying toward God. Surrender our free will to God is our only way out.

Direct Revelation From the Father

        Today's is Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 16, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father." If you truly believe that Jesus is the Son of living God likewise, then the heavenly Father has revealed this to you also – you've been chosen!

Happy, Happier, Happiest

        Happy is the one who knows what the Lord's mission for him is. Happier is the one who puts his trust in the Lord and strives to fulfill his mission. Happiest still is he who attains union with God to let the Lord do all things through him to accomplish his mission. 

**How to Vanquish Our Enemies

        Today's entrance antiphon contains part of Psalms 25.2: Let not our enemies exult over us, David prayed. As long as evil exists, we will have enemies. In fact, our worst enemies are ourselves. Thus, the way to vanquish our enemies is to submit ourselves totally to the Lord God first, then all our other enemies will no longer be able to defeat us, for we are now on God's side.

Feasting the Soul

        Communion experience. Receiving Christ in the Holy Eucharist can be likened to attending a heavenly banquet for the soul.

***Mankind's Greatest Challenge Is . . .

is not to land on Mars, solve the energy problem of or wipe out poverty in the world, or anything like that. Rather, it is to submit ourselves to God, our creator and loving Father. This tests our obedience or rebelliousness, and the result will determine our eternal destination. 

*Maximizing Help From God

        As sinners, to sin is easy – much like water running downhill on its own. But to become holy, we would need God's help – as simple as that. And it is in union with God that you receive maximum help, as you and God are now one.

**Getting Into Heaven Is Easier!

        Here is a fun video to watch. There are many such videos showing dominoes falling on YouTube. I have chosen this shorter one here and think you'll enjoy watching it. It is quite spectacular in its own way. It shows me that humans are clever, ingenious, and fun loving. I know that designs and detailed plans all had to be worked out in advance, but I am most impressed by those who must have spent hours or days to do the testing and then set up the tiles precisely where they should be. Afterwards, the show was over in just minutes. For me, getting into heaven is easier – I trust in the Lord and he does all the rest for me. Besides, the "show" never ends. 

***Process of Union With God

        Seeking union with God is a gradual process. We were born with the self-preservation instinct and are wary of anyone who should take control of us. Of course, the Lord God is not anyone, but we do sense that he'd be more powerful than any other being. Therefore, surrendering yourself to him is not an attractive thought. Normally, in seeking his help, we start to yield to him somewhat and discover that he could indeed change us internally. This experience which always excites and amazes us can continue until we begin to realize that God is not out to control us, but to free us! The key is not to stop now, but to push on actively instead. Then in time you are able to abandon yourself totally to the Lord God and experience peace and freedom in joy. You have now been completely lifted out of your self-imposed misery! 

*God Plans for Forever

        God exists forever and our soul will too. The Lord God does not want to solve our problems temporarily and leave us alone – he who loves us wants to save us for all eternity, since he is eternal himself. Understanding this should help us appreciate what he has already done for us.

Most Perfect Friend

        Communion experience. In life, we have the opportunity to befriend a wide range of people from those we find almost impossible to get along with to those we instantly click with. Christ is special. Once you get to know him well, you will find that he is the perfect friend you can have the deepest meaningful relationship with, for he is trustworthy and understanding, let alone the fact he is also your God and Savior.  

Becoming Heaven Bound

       Lent is the time to give up what we shouldn't be attached to. If you can give up anything, good or bad, for the sake of Christ, you are on your way to heaven.

Our Hope Is Here!

        In today's Gospel reading from Luke 5, Levi, a tax collector gave a banquet for Jesus in his house, a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained about Jesus' eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus said to them, "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners." We are all sinners, so Jesus has come to call you and me. That means that our hope is here! Let us prepare a banquet in our heart to welcome Jesus, our Savior.

Know When to Turn to Christ

        If you are not with Christ yet, but at the same time you cannot tell him that he is a total fake and dismiss him from your mind altogether, the Lord is still calling and waiting for you. It's time to turn to him to start your new life with him that will lead you to eternal happiness.

Best Free-Will Offering!

        Communion experience. As I joined the queue to receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist, I readied myself to offer him both my heart and my soul to him. 

Ultimate Relationship With God

        Union with God is the most intimate relationship you can possibly have with the Lord, for in union you and he become one, and you get to know him most intimately. 

Power of God's Holiness

        Know that the Lord is holy and let his awesome holiness dispel all the impurities from you.

Living for Christ Is All About . . .

letting the Lord condition your heart, pointing to seeking union with him.

Living With Joy

        This is today's Gospel reading from Matthew 9: The disciples of John approached Jesus said, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast." My thoughts are that now we have the Lord with us always, we should rejoice at all times. For those in union with the Lord, he even dwells within them happily. Indeed, Christian life is permeated with Christ our pure joy.

How to Hear the Lord

        To hear the Lord speaking to you, make sure that your heart is unruffled, content in him, and desirous of hearing his voice, for a disturbed heart with even minute intruding sinful thoughts can block your hearing.

***It's the Lord Speaking

        Today's Gospel reading consists of just three verses from Luke 9: Jesus said to his disciples: "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised." Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?" 

        The Lord here spoke definitively as God. He knew exactly what he was going to happen to him, laid down the precise conditions of discipleship for us to save ourselves, and asked the most poignant question that should make us realize that there is life after death. Listen to him.

Amazing Lord

        Communion experience. Christ died for all, so he belongs to all . He died for me too, so he is also mine alone. He is the only being we can all belong to, possess, love, and easily share with others and rejoice together in. A most amazing Lord.

Ash Wednesday Joy

        As I walked up the aisle to receive ashes to be placed on my head, I was deeply moved, realizing that I was made by the Lord, belong to him, and am on my way returning to him. 

To Be Rewarded Openly or in Secret

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6, Jesus teaches about almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. He let it be known that if we perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them, we have received our reward. But if we do them all in secret, the Father who sees them in secret will repay us. It shows again that any reward a hypocrite receives is short-lived and that our ego is our great enemy.

Lenten Giving

        This is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The Lord invites you to give all of yourself to him, for he loves you so much that he wants all of you to himself. During this season we are supposed to fast, be penitent, and give up things to which we are attached in preparation for Easter, so why not give all of yourself to him? 

*Seeking a Sign

        Today's short Gospel reading from Mark 8: The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seek from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore. Today's unbelievers also wish to see a sign before they would believe, so they say. I say that if they do not already believe that Jesus had healed the sick, the lame, the blind, the deaf, the lepers, cast demons out of the possessed, raised the dead, and performed so many other miracles, including the biggest one of them all, his own Resurrection, then they are not going to believe in him even if he shows up today to do another miracle. Remember that when the great 1917 miracle of the sun took place in Fatima before tens of thousands of people, critics still tried to explain it away, saying that it must be mass hallucination or something. Once the heart has hardened, it becomes a tough nut to crack. The next time you see the Lord doing a sign in person will be at his Second Coming, then it'll be too late for us to believe in him, even if we want to.

Reflecting on My Blog

        This blog began in 2009, but it's not until late 2010 that it started to take off, and the Lord made it clear to me that through his messages, he wishes to draw all to union with him via receiving the Holy Eucharist. This has continued on for over seven and a half years. It is clear that not everyone is receptive to this message. In fact, it creates a disconnect in many cases, for union with God is too far from what they would consider. I have personally met people who told me that they did know what I was talking about and others who, seemingly content in their faith, expressed no interest in furthering their spiritual growth. On the other hand, from the small number of comments I'd received, these messages did impact these readers. The number of pageviews and followers are also indications of how popular the blog is. But to go viral is never the objective, for we are called to fight spiritual battles, to tread on rough roads if need be. As always, we merely do what we are assigned to do by the Lord and trust that he will take care of the rest. 

**Mutual Waiting

        Death waits for us, but it does not wait for us to be ready, so we must be ready now and wait for its coming. For those who belong to Christ, it would be the Lord waiting for them and them waiting to meet him in person.

Appreciating God

        I am happy today because I realize that we all sin and our God knows that. Should he be absent, we would spin out of control and evil would rule the world. I am also happy that the Lord is all holy, setting the example for us to follow. Otherwise, we would have no guide to show us the way. He is everything we need, our indispensable salvation!

*God My Janitor

        Today I feel that the Lord not only cleanses, but also unclutters my heart. He casts out all the litter and rubbish and puts the rest in order. An uncluttered heart is a heart that enjoys peace.

**What Love Is

        Communion experience. Love is being one with God.

Our First Duty Is . . .

to submit ourselves completely to God, especially if you consider yourself to be a Christian, or we will not have peace in the world nor in our heart. There is no following the Lord, if you do not follow him completely and unconditionally.      

**God to Be Trusted

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 8, Jesus was moved with great pity for the great crowd that had been with him for three days and had nothing to eat. He was concerned that if he sends them away hungry to their homes, they would collapse on the way. So he took the seven loaves of bread and a few fish which his disciples had, said the blessing, multiplied them and ordered his disciples to distribute them to the crowd. I also recall that after Jesus heard that Lazarus whom he loved was ill, he still remained for two days in the place where he was before setting out for the village of Lazarus. When he arrived, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. And the Lord raised him from the dead so that all might see the glory of God and believe.  

         God always knows what to do and does test us constantly, while we always wish for instant results. Complete trust in the Lord is necessary. If God cannot be completed trusted, he couldn't have been God in the first place. If we were all sinless, we would be living in a perfect, predictably ordered world. Sinning throws things out of kilter so that the Lord has to deal with the chaos we have created as he sees fit without changing the goal of his overall plan. Because of this, we get confused about why things should happen this way or that way. Therefore, be holy, trust with patience, and do not question to the very end.  

*Only God Can Change Us

        We have little power to change ourselves fundamentally, that is, to change our heart. We can be determined and resolve to change, then we slip once and are back to where we were. Say there is someone who gets stressed out all the time and you advise him not to let anything bother him, even suggesting that he abandon himself in God. It's good advice, but if the person does listen, nothing will happen. I advocate seeking union with God, precisely because this is the way to let God into your heart to let him change your heart inside out. This is how you become a new work of God.

**Stunning Intimacy**

        Communion experience. In Matthew 9, the woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the tassel on his cloak, saying to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured." And she was cured. Surely, receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist is a thousand times more intimate than touching his cloak. Overwhelmed, I was speechless and could only exclaim in my heart "My Lord and my God!"

*Mind Takeover?

        The mind always follows the heart. But there are times when you are strongly tempted to do something that you know is sinful, and you feel as if the mind has taken control of the heart – the truth is that you've started out with a weak heart, for a strong heart could or would have prevented all these thoughts from occurring. Therefore, let the Holy Spirit keep your heart pure and strong, and leave your mind alone. 

Facing Death

        When you are young, death is a rather remote thought and that is understandable. But what about when you are already old? The common thinking is that since you do not have much time left, you'd better do all the enjoyable things, such as traveling, while you can. There is a point here, but it's still avoiding facing death squarely. Perhaps you already have faith in God and do not worry about death anymore – that's fine. But if you do not know what's going to happen to you after death and try not to think about it, that is not good. The best course of action is to always serve God first before serving yourself, no matter what age you are at, and soon you will have the most enjoyable time of your existence. 

*Whole Story of Humanity***

        God pleadingly wants us to go his way and we stubbornly want to go our way. In others words, we choose to rebel rather than obey. Let those of us who have chosen to follow the Lord do their best to help him make the ending less bitter and as sweet as possible!

Thoughts On Judging

        As we are all sinners, no one is "qualified" to judge others. It is ironic that a holy person should shy away from judging anyone, while a grave sinner readily judges everyone. Shall not we say that not judging others is a sign of holiness? Jesus tells me not to judge, period. For we have only one judge, the Lord God.

Be Ready for Appearing Before God

        In watching the news a little bit this morning, I saw some of the high-and-mighty politicians speaking for their own agenda, perhaps sincerely or perhaps for political gain. When they appear one day before the Lord, they will realize then that they are completely at his mercy. The best policy for us is to remain humble and be prepared for our day of appearance before the Lord.

*Moving God's Will

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 7, a Greek woman begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. Jesus tested her by saying to her, "Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She replied and said to him, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps." Then he said to her, "For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter." When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. We see and learn here that when the Lords wills something, it is done, and that faith can move God's will!

**God All-Knowing

        You can conjure up many gods, but there can be only one true God and he is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Lord God knows everything about us, his handiwork. If you do not know him, but mean to pray to him, he knows it. If you're misguided and have a false image of him but still mean to seek him, he knows that too. In other words, as long as you believe that there is only one true God and wish to know him, he will reveal himself to you. The Lord knows us before we were born. He sees what's in our hearts and understands us more than we can ourselves. It's such a blessing that we have an all-knowing God, which means that we are well looked after by him. 

Be Ruthless to Sin

        Realizing that you have sinned is good, but to not sin again is so much better. In fact, that should be your goal. Therefore, be absolutely ruthless to sin and become a saint. 

How to Live for God Effectively

        Get out of the way of the Lord, which means that ego must be absent, completely. 

God Our Liberator

        We on our own are easily shackled by all the material things of the world – a simple fact. The God of Christ is the only one who can shatter all our shackles and liberate us into eternal freedom – a simple truth. Submit yourself to God to make it happen – a simple act of will.

Cleaning the Heart 1st

        In today's Gospel reading from Mark 7, Jesus said to the crowd, "Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile." Jesus used such examples as evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly. These all come from the unclean heart. The first order of business of loving God is to let him purify your heart and keep it clean. Then you'll be ready to love your neighbors as God loves us, for he is all pure and holy.

God's Will Satisfies

        Matthew 5.6, one of the Beatitudes: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall have their fill. This tells me that if whatever you want is what God wants, then you shall have it. Therefore, follow God's will and you will be satisfied. 

Why Not Talk to God More?

        Most people love to talk. The moment Mass is over, you hear the buzz of conversations. Since the Lord God is supposed to be the most intimate one of all to us, it seems logical that we should talk to him more that to anyone else. Of course, with God, we can easily talk to him in thoughts, for he knows all our mind as well as our heart. 

Being Chosen

        Communion experience. It was God who had chosen and called me – I felt fully fulfilled.