Communion experience. I received the Lord in the Holy Eucharist and felt the strong bond between us ~ there is absolutely nothing that can break his love for me. I knew that he would always defend me.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
More on Free Will
I went to morning Mass and heard today's Gospel reading from Mark 6. Jesus was not appreciated in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house. In fact, many who heard him teach in the synagogue took offense at him. Because of their lack of faith, Jesus wasn't able to perform any mighty deed. Despite the rejection he received, he did not force anyone to believe in him. This confirms what I said in the previous post about not forcing anyone's free will. Naturally, God does create circumstances in which we willingly change our hearts to follow him.
Thoughts on Free Will
There are some religions in the world that force others to believe in what they believe in. If you don't go along, you are in danger of being charged with blasphemy and put to death. This made me think why God gave us the free will in the first place. With free will, faith becomes meaningful. If we are forced to believe, then there is no real faith. When Jesus preached his good news, whether we believe in him or not is our choice ~ he never browbeat us. So I see free will as a God-given gift we should leave each individual to exercise freely. To control it is to go against what God has intended. This means that we are to evangelize by example and not by force.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Acquiring Perfection
Communion experience. Perfection entered me ~ the perfect time to let the Lord rub off on me.
Praying with Faith
The Lord made me see at Mass this morning that praying with faith is praying with the knowledge that he will answer your prayer, but without any concern about how he is going to answer it.
God's Omniscience
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 5 at Mass, a woman afflicted with hemorrhages came up behind Jesus in the crowd and touched his cloak, and was immediately cured. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my cloths?" But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?" What's clear to me is that God is aware of everything we do. Darkness is no place to hide ~ in the light of Christ, all is exposed. This is of great consolation to me, knowing that all wrongs will be corrected in the end, since God sees everything.
Longing for God Is...
the sign that his love has penetrated your heart so that you have fallen in love with him.
Our Beautiful Hope
In John 10.10, Jesus said, "I came so that they [his sheep] might have life and have it more abundantly." God is the source of life ~ he creates new life or makes old life new. Therefore, we can always begin afresh in God ~ this is the hope we possess, a hope his sheep greatly appreciate and rejoice in.
Number One Reality
We live in a real world. Not facing reality can only be considered cowardly or foolish. We all are going to die one day; our sins rob us of peace; we question the meaning of life . . . these are just some of the realities we all share. But the most important reality is that God our creator is love as revealed through Jesus the Son. Upon our return to him, we'll have to give an account of how we dealt with realities in this life. Acknowledging the reality of God sheds light on all other realities, enabling us to face them with courage and understanding.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
One the Use of Our Free Will
God gave us the free will. Do not let it roam free; but put it to good use by choosing to follow Christ always. With the will of God being the same as yours, you may now retire your free will for good.
Only Perfect Way to Go
After posting over 4,000 times, there are not many new things for me to say. I now either say the same thing in a new way or see the same thing more clearly. This morning at Mass I saw most clearly that total abandonment in God (total immersion in his love) is the ideal, only perfect way to go. Anything falling short of that may not be good enough, for God deserves absolutely our best, our all. Whatever we do or wish for should be done or asked in total abandonment to him without anxieties. We are meant to surrender ourselves to God for him to accomplish all things through us.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Responding to God
Learning about God through others' writings, speeches, and experiences can be inspirational, but God is so magnificent, beautiful, great, magnanimous, and glorious that you need to "tackle" him yourself directly in order to taste him. Seeking union with him is the ideal way ~ we need to give our all in order to receive him in full. This is responding to his calling and his infinite love.
Correct All Wrongs
There is only one life for us to live on earth. If you have not loved enough, forgiven, or tried to understand others, get all your wrongs corrected before leaving this world so that you may face the Lord without trepidation. Better yet, seek union with God now so that you will know only how to love. All sins are deadweights that keep us earthbound. Drop them so that you may soar heavenward.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Living Unplanned
Life rarely works out exactly as planned. I had never thought that one day I would end up where I am living now. If six years ago someone had told me that I would be writing a spiritual blog, I wouldn't have any idea what that person was talking about. This morning I ended up having to wait a long time to get my car tested for smog and the car did not even pass, all unexpectedly, upsetting the schedule I had mentally planned. Therefore, the sensible way to live is to trust in God every moment, come what may.
God-Centered Living Is...
doing everything for the glory of God. "Everything" includes not only praying for others, serving others, and other good works, but also thinking, speaking, washing dishes, performing house chores, and everything else. Honoring God, the Alpha and the Omega, becomes our sole motivation. This is transcendental living!
Daily Cycle
All day long I know that God loves me. Even if you don't feel it, just read the Gospels and you'll know undeniably that Jesus died in our place so that we might enjoy eternal life. Then the morning comes around and I receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist at Mass and am completely reconciled to him again. There is nothing more I shall lack.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Complete Fulfillment
Today's Communion experience. How good it is to receive the Lord who has given me the gift of faith, wiping out all uncertainties! And how good it feels to know that I am loved by him!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Perfect Contentment
Communion experience. Having received Christ, my soul was ready to leave the world to go to him.
Foremost Life Aim
Union with God is meaningful for us because God has the power to heal and draw our soul. On earth, such union between two imperfect humans is just not possible. It is through union with God that we have communion of the saints and become all sons and daughters of God the Father. Therefore, seeking union with God should be our foremost aim in life.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Criteria for Choice
Do not look for a religion that merely makes you feel comfortable. Rather, seek the true God of Christ through his Church, who can transform you to fall in love with him.
World versus God
The world feeds our ego with temporary pleasures to enslave us, but God fills our heart with permanent joy that frees us.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Losing Jesus
I attended the late morning Sunday Mass today. After Liturgy of the Eucharist started, I suddenly felt what it would be like should I lose Jesus forever ~ the horrible feeling was absolute desolation, the worst ever possible gloom. Now I know what eternal separation from God would feel like. May no one ever end up in the nether world.
Saturday, January 24, 2015
God and Sin Go Together
It's easy for people to turn away from any sin they know they have committed, but not looking at the sin does not mean that it's gone, just as not looking at God does not make God go away. Delaying facing reality is nothing but fooling oneself. When one is ready to deal with sin, he is also ready to turn to God. It is because of sin that God came to us!
Our First Concern
Communion thought. The Lord doesn't want us to think much about how we can serve him; instead he wants us to focus first upon our own spiritual growth, for when we are holy, we shall clearly know his will.
On Being Meek and Humble
If you are meek and humble, you are perceived to be weak in this world. But Jesus himself said that "I am meek and humble of heart" and "The greatest among you must be your servant." Therefore, being meek and humble is not a matter of being strong or weak, but one of being right or wrong, as it's God's way.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Existence on High
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 3 at Mass, Jesus appointed the Twelve, whom he named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach. We who believe in Jesus have also been called to be with him and serve him. Any calling from the Most High has to be the highest calling. With it we now have the great responsibility to live up to the highest standards. If we remain faithful, we shall be rewarded highly in the end. All in all, following Jesus is the highest mode of human existence.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Our National Tragedy
This week Walk for Life is taking place in Washington, D.C. and on the West Coast. Today at Mass, we celebrated the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children on this 42nd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. The legalization of abortion has been the most tragic decision made by the Supreme Court of this land. Jesus said that the greatest love is to lay down one's life for one's friends (John 15.13). Abortion is the very opposite: to exterminate the life of another (in this case a totally innocent, defenseless child) at one's will. Since Jesus is the Word of life, whoever believes in abortion has to be anti-Christ. While I ask God to bless America, I am also weeping for her.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Obedience Brings Healing
Today the Lord made me see that as long as we obey him, he will continually heal us to keep us fit in serving him.
Awareness of God's Presence
Being aware of God's presence is a great gift from the Lord. In the early days when I first accepted Christ into my life, I did not in any way sense his presence ~ I was only intellectually convinced and emotionally ready. Later I did sense his presence, but those moments were brief as a flash of light. When I got involved in the Charismatic Renewal movement within the Church, the Holy Spirit made his powerful presence known to me for years. After I phased out of the movement, I no longer acutely sensed God's presence, but always knew that he was with me. Even through dark periods, I knew that God was just being silent, not absent. Now I happily enjoy the Lord's presence within and around me at all times, as certain as anything I see or touch.
Mutual Guarding
When your are aware that Jesus the Lord dwells within you, you remain holy to guard him in the sense that you do not want him to get offended in any way. You could also view this as the Lord guarding you against committing any sin.
Our Big Sin of Omission
The world is full of sinners. After I came into the world, I was greatly influenced by my family members, classmates throughout my school years, other friends, and later work associates. Of course, the news reports, secular magazines, movies and other forms of entertainment . . . had all affected me. In the end, I was as sinful as the average person. Sinning seems to be the norm now. But sin is to be abhorred if we ever want to honor God and be free. Nor waking up to let all know that sinning is OK is continuing committing this sin of omission.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Going Straight to God
Communion time thought. Since God is the sole creator of all things, we should go straight to him with all our problems and desires. He is to be our most intimate and trusted companion. Following him thus ensures rapid spiritual growth.
Another Look at God and Us
We should realize that all things come from God ~ our life, physical body, intelligence, reasoning power, aesthetic sense, humor, free will . . . and a conscience. Without God, we would be nonexistent! Therefore, we are to be grateful, reverential, and most of all, obedient to him ~ any other way would be wrong. If we do stray away from God, his gifts of conscience and freewill properly used will guide us back to him.
Monday, January 19, 2015
God Is Real!
Atheists claim that God was invented by believers to satisfy their needs. I know I did not invent Jesus Christ. Saying that he was invented by a bunch of people is like saying all the news I read today online were made up by a bunch of reporters. God, being spirit, cannot be proved scientifically, only my personal experience leaves me with no doubt that Christ is the Lord God. The fact that he can transform a sinner into a saint has to be sufficient evidence! Who else but God can take away all your ego?
Ego As a Cage
Ego seems to be my "favorite" subject that I must have mentioned over a hundred times in this blog. Today I see ego as a cage that imprisons us. As long as you remain in your ego, you are not free. To remove this cage, you'll absolutely need God's help. Once it is removed, you no longer are concerned about yourself and you are free.
What's Wrong with Us?
Man and God can fit together perfectly: we need God for survival now and living forever later, and God loves us and wants to renew us now in preparation for our imminent return to him ~ yet we still hold back, remaining stubborn and not giving in. Are we being hubristic or just plain stupid?
Sunday, January 18, 2015
A Plan for Peace
I attended a funeral earlier today. I suppose it's a worldwide custom to eulogize the deceased at his or her funeral. If we all speak well of each other while we are still alive, the world would be a much more peaceful place.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Loneliest Creatures
Today there was no thought to post; all the more I realized that the Holy Spirit had been the provider of all my thoughts. When he dries me up, it will be time to stop blogging. Only one quick thought came to me that made me want to do this post. It was that without God, we would be the loneliest creatures in the universe, no matter how busily we keep ourselves occupied in this life.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Solving the Riddle of Life
Life is all about reconciliation with God. If you play your own god, your life will be chaotic. If you surrender to God, everything settles down in peace. It's either you or God ~ your choice.
Fear Ourselves, Not God
In today's Gospel reading from Mark 2 at morning Mass, Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic for the faith he saw in him, and healed him too. In yesterday's reading from Mark 1, a leper begged Jesus to make him clean and Jesus, moved with pity, healed him. Here's our Lord who always listens to our requests and is always gentle and ever ready to forgive when we believe in him. There is really no need to fear the Lord but ourselves. For if we do not believe in him, we cut ourselves off from him.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Eucharistic Power
Today's Communion experience. The Holy Eucharist entered me, healing my soul by purifying him.
Formula for Peace
Jesus teaches us not to judge others. He wants us to examine ourselves first before criticizing anyone. Chances are once we see our own faults and sins, we'll be kinder to others. Some saints say only good things about others, never the bad. In sum, God wants us to mind our own business by becoming holy and blameless, and never attack others in any way. This is truly the formula for peace in the world for us.
On Entering the Next Life
If you know Jesus intimately in this life, he will be expecting you when you enter your next one and the transition will be joyful and smooth ~ of this I am certain. If you've been misguided in this world but are a good person, I believe that the Lord will still clear up your confusion upon your entrance and save you. But if you choose to remain lost in this life, you risk being lost forever.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
No Fear in Love
Today's Reading 1 at Mass came from 1 John 4. The last two and a half verses are beautifully true:
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not perfect in love.
Attain union with God and experience everything St. John has said here.
On Charlie Hebdo
I just read the latest news on Charlie Hebdo ~ the magazine has published a new issue depicting the Prophet Muhammad again, prompting fear of further attacks from extremists. All I can say is that there is a time to be defiant and a time not to, depending upon whether it glorifies God or not. Christians should at least remember Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in which one of the Beatitude reads: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)