Burglars shy away from bright lights. In general, sinners feel more comfortable in darkness when they are not seen. If something you do in darkness you wouldn't do in broad daylight, it must be sinful. But if you have Jesus as the light of your life, his light will shine upon you at all times and you'll remain holy night and day.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
A Major Concern
Went by a large cemetery yesterday. I immediately saw that every single one of us is just passing through, so our major concern should be where we're heading after this life. And this is precisely the Lord's major concern too. With us sharing the same concern, it can certainly be resolved through cooperation.
Stop Hurting the Lord
Yesterday's Communion experience. I saw how sinning hurts and repulses the Lord and we shouldn't sin, not even for a nanosecond. Seek refuge in the Lord and you'll be shielded from all evil and protected from all temptations.
God Asks for Perfection
In yesterday's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus really raised the bar ~ he commanded his disciples to love their enemies so as to be perfect. The Lord always challenges us and is ready to lift us up to his level, the highest possible level. Yes, he asks us to become one with him, so that we may be perfect.
Union Recommended Again
Accepting and believing in Christ is just the beginning. To truly get to know the Lord, you must get inside of him, and seeking union is the way to that discovery and fulfillment.
We Do Need Christ
Before morning Mass began yesterday, I was reminded in prayer that we are all dust, and we are at the mercy of God as dust is at the mercy of the wind. Like all things of the world, we are here today and gone tomorrow. Since both we and the world are passing, there is no point in talking about security in this life. However, dust or no dust, passing or permanent, the one who has entrusted himself entirely to Christ already has his eternal life anchored in God.
God Proved Himself
Yesterday I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. As you know, the mysteries are Agony in the Garden, Scourging, Crowning with Thorns, Carrying the Cross, and Crucifixion. The fact that Jesus, an innocent man, went through his life and these extreme sorrows without any complaint and still forgiving everyone, his persecutors included, to the very end is inhuman, as no ordinary human can achieve that. This further proves to me that Jesus is indeed our loving God.
Monday, June 17, 2013
On Finding Our Center
Today I watched Part 1 of Fr. Robert Barron's DVD on "Blessing, Three Paths to Holiness" at my church. It was on Finding the Center. I totally agreed with and understood what he said. That is, without Christ being our center, life is stormy and directionless and we get pulled in all directions by forces of the world and our own desires. When we have Christ at the center, all is calm because we are in harmony with God. It's the difference between Martha and Mary. It's the contrast between the disciples getting terrified at sea when a violent storm came up and the Lord sleeping calmly in the stern. So many people now are living a disordered life oblivious to God's existence until one day some personal crisis finally wake them up. Here we have crises and suffering manifesting the mercy of God.
Good Question
Today's Communion antiphon from Psalm 27.4: There is one thing I ask of the Lord; only this do I seek: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. What is the one thing you would ask of the Lord?
Love Not to Be Held Back
Today's Gospel reading at Mass, Matthew 5:38-46. Jesus talked about turning the other cheek to the one who strikes you on one cheek; handing your cloak to the person as well who wants to go to law with you over your tunic; going that extra mile if anyone presses you into service for a mile; and not turning your back on one who wants to borrow. The Lord gave these specific instances to teach us that we must not let anything upset us; instead, we must be loving always. Retaliation is out; patience and compassion must reign. Love held back is no love at all.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Lord, Save Us All
Communion wish. After receiving the Lord, his great love made me want every single soul in this world to be saved! Knowing that nothing is impossible with God, I fervently pray for this.
God Easy to Please
Today's Gospel reading from Luke 7 was about the Lord pardoning a sinful woman who showed great love for him. He said to all present, "Her many sins have been forgiven; she has shown great love." It seems that if we concentrate upon loving the Lord, we needn't be too concerned about our sins. You could say that love pleases God so much that he forgets your sins.
What Are You Waiting For?
God's intention for us is to be back with him in paradise after the fall of Adam and Eve. Jesus had come, died for us, making this amply clear. Ask to return to God and we can be back where we belong.
My Best Advice (Urgent)
In Luke 16, Jesus told to his disciples the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Both men died. Lazarus who used to be poor was carried away to the bosom of Abraham. As the rich man was suffering torment in the netherworld, he saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. He cried out to Abraham for help, but Abraham replied, "My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours."
Let's look at the message of this parable. What we receive in this life is nothing compared to what we shall receive after we die. We want to make sure that we receive the good later, not now. The separation between heaven and hell cannot possibly be greater. There is no crossing from either side to the other and the separation is for all eternity! Do not be so concerned about health insurance, life insurance, financial security, your burial plot and all that, but believe in and love the Lord Jesus to get you eternal future settled now. This is absolutely the best advice you can possibly get from anyone.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
"Dissolve" Is the Word
Today's Communion experience. The Lord lets me see that through the Holy Eucharist, he can dissolve everything negative and impure in my soul. I let him do whatever he wants to accomplish.
Accepting Inconveniences
One of the nose pads on my pair of glasses was gone. This means I must wait until Monday, the day after tomorrow, and go to my optician to get it repaired. No big deal, but still time-consuming. Then I saw that life is a life of inconveniences ~ it's one thing after another to be taken care of. Seeing this as a reality, I no longer feel bothered. Even if I can't get the repair done, it's all right too because life is also a life of unfinished businesses. Let loving God be our primary occupation.
Criticizing or Judging
Here is the difference between criticizing people and judging them. The test is whether you get angry or not. You can criticize others, often for their own good, and still have compassion for them. But if you get angry, then you have judged them.
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