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.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
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.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
*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.)
Monday, January 9, 2017
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.
Sunday, January 8, 2017
*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.
A Creation Secret
The more we give ourselves to God, the more we experience freedom. How so? Answer: God has created us this way.
*In God's Light
Today is the Epiphany of the Lord. In reading 1, Isaiah speaks of God as the light that shines upon us. Today, if you are not in the light of Christ, you are still in darkness, for only in him is your path to eternity made crystal clear!
*Sorrow Lined With Joy
Is the death of Jesus a tragedy? No, because the love of God triumphed. Of course, I feel sorry for the suffering Christ underwent, then I am even moved more by God's love for me. So it's great sorrow lined with greater joy.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
*A Plea to Turn to God*
What hurts me the most is to see so many of us continue to ignore God and go their own way, sinning as if there would be no consequences. To them I address the following questions and remarks.
Don't you know that you are hurting the very Lord, your creator and Father, deeply? What has he done to deserve all this? All he wants to do is to love you and give you eternal life! He has already died for you on the cross, so why do you continue to wound him mercilessly and unceasingly? Don't you realize that you are returning love with ingratitude, thus cutting off the only hope of your life? How cold and hard can your heart possibly get? Instead of offering it to the Father as you should, you have killed it. He is weeping for you, while you should be weeping for yourself. His mercy is infinite, but it's useless if you reject it all. Know that if you choose not to turn to him, you choose to be lost forever. Creating a tragedy with yourself being its protagonist is tragic indeed!
*Have Jesus, Have Your Way
Communion thoughts. Once you have Jesus, what you want is always what he wants, and you'll have all you want.
Need to Involve God
There are many human teachings out there advising you on how to think positively, to fulfill your personal goals, to live without stress, to make friends, etc., but without the involvement of God, they are basically self-centered and all efforts must still come from you alone – think of trying to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Only by doing whatever with God's help and for his sake will you have the best chance to succeed and have joy too.
Friday, January 6, 2017
Blessed During Consecration
During the consecration of the bread and wine when the Lord transformed them into his own body and blood at Mass today, I felt blessed to be present at this great miraculous happening.
*What to Associate with Jesus
This morning at Mass when I heard announced that the opening hymn would be #110 in the song book, Beethoven's great Op. 110 piano sonata popped into my mind, as it was one of my favorite piano compositions. So I wondered what we would quickly associated with the name "Jesus" when we hear it. I dare guess that many would say "love" or "forgiveness of sins." But there is one more perhaps less abstract thing we should always remember to associate with Jesus, and that is "eternal life." Jesus came into the world precisely so that everyone who believes in him might not perish and have eternal life! (John 3.16.)
*Exciting Spiritual Life
Is the spiritual life a tranquil life? An exciting life? I would say both. Tranquil, because you enjoy the peace of God. Exciting, because God speaks to your heart, teaching and guiding you. What spices up the spiritual life are the surprises the Lord springs upon you at various times, showing that he is with you and capable of doing wondrous deeds. This adds extra joy to the spiritual life.
Changed Outlook on Life
As we age and our physical health deteriorates, we can see that life overall is not as happy a thing as we thought it could be when we were young. But those who have Christ would see that he is the bright light in their lives and knowing him far outweighs all the other sad parts of life. In addition, they know that their yearning for the Lord will soon be fulfilled ~ a joy that no sadness on earth can touch.
God's Forgiving Mercy
There is no question that only God can take away our sins. It follows that only God can make us totally forgive someone we find it most difficult to forgive on our own. Since God's mercy knows no bounds, let that mercy infiltrate our hearts first so that we may be merciful to all others, friends and enemies.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
*Let God Transform Us
I remember in my youth, I rode with a friend in his British racing green MGB sports car. What impressed me more than the car was the manner in which he drove it. I had expected any sports car driver to push the vehicle hard, test its road-hugging capability, and enjoy the swift rush through the open air. But somehow my friend went the opposite way: he was polite at every turn, never revved the engine for speed, and made my ride silky smooth. He actually became a perfect English gentleman! This effect of the car on him has remained with me to this day. It gets me thinking that if we are clothed with Christ, we should also let the Lord transform us into his perfect disciples, showing love, humility, and more. If we are willing, certainly the power of the Lord can be greater than that of any car.
The Saving Eucharist
Communion thoughts. Receiving the Holy Eucharist is more than being in God's presence ~ we have God actually entering us for union. Whoever receives this sacrament with great reverence will be saved!
God Speaking
Matthew 19.29 is today's Communion antiphon: Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life, says the Lord. This saying would've been astounding if it had come from a human. But as it had been uttered by God, it completely makes sense.
Love We Must
In this morning's first reading at Mass from 1 John, St. John the Apostle urges us to always love and never hate others. Jesus laid down his life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. These are strong words. God has shown us the power of love and that only love can save us and the world. Saying all this sounds hackneyed, but it is the truth. Here we have the secret of peace and our salvation – there is no other way out. Since God is love, we must let love rule our hearts.
On Getting Up in the Morning
When you wake up every morning, what is your mood? Are you grumpy? Do you have anything to look forward to or would you rather go back to sleep some more? During one past period of my life, I did not look forward much to waking up each morning to face the day, for I hadn't let God completely take over my life yet. But now I am always joyful in getting up as early as possible with only doing what the Lord wants me to do, while leaving everything in his hands, on my agenda. I am acutely aware that for our happiness, we were created to love God alone. This has expelled all anxieties from and brought great peace to my heart – I thank the Lord for that.
*Being Self-Centered?
How important are your various desires to you? Even if all your desires are fulfilled, what do you really gain? Anyway, if your desires are more important than God's will, you are still living a self-centered life.
*Remaining Free
Do not let yourself be enslaved by anything on earth so that you may freely embrace your Father in heaven for all eternity!
Know Where We Are Headed
We should live with a clear vision of the overall scheme of things – how we got here, what our existence means, what life is all about, where we'll go after death ... – never live from one little thing to another, not knowing where we are headed.
Clear Vision of Life
First, realize that you are just passing through the world and will never be able to solve all the problems of your lifetime. Next, know that heaven is definitely where you want to be after you leave this earth. Then it should be clear that you should be content to live an unknown life devoted to serving and loving God only.
The Divine Christ
When we first believe in Jesus, our faith is weak. Then as we come to know him better, we come to believe in him more. Finally, when we attain union with him, all doubts vanish and we are more sure than ever that he is the Lord and God. So, if your faith is still not that strong yet, do not give up, for you are on the right path. By the way, anyone who tells you that Christ is not divine is being deceived by Satan ~ have nothing to do with them.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
*The Bread of Life
Today is the Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. John 6.51 was the Communion antiphon. Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." There is no doubt that the Holy Eucharist I receive at Mass each time is truly (not symbolically as many Protestants believe) the real flesh of the Lord. (If not, then the Apostles, the early fathers of the Church, the great saints throughout history, and all Catholics to this day have committed the sin of idolatry for worshipping a piece of bread!)
To Be Like Jesus
This morning I am thinking about how Jesus, the king of the universe, with whom nothing is impossible, came to us simply preaching the truth and performing great miracles with no hoopla or hype whatsoever, never bragging once about himself and remaining meek and humble through his death on the cross – this alone should inspire us to follow him. To be like him is to be like God and to be with God – there is no higher goal for us. Reach for him to help you succeed!
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
*Life on Fire
If your yearn for the Lord, then he has set your heart ablaze. Let the sweet flame totally engulf and consume your whole being to maximize your enjoyment of the Lord in this life!
Huge Blessing
Communion experience. Receiving the Holy Eucharist is one of the biggest possible blessings God can bestow upon us! Appreciate and treasure the opportunity with all your heart!
Hunting Down the Ego
The ego is most stealthy; sometimes you have to be like a detective to find it. For instance, I am happy blogging because I hear the Lord speaking to my heart, which brings me great intimacy with him. But if I am not watchful, the ego can fool me into thinking that I am the one doing a great job of spreading the message. As a matter of fact, I should leave the life of the blog entirely in God's hands, not ever wanting to keep it going in order to make me feel good. Being ego-free is being truly free indeed.
Christ, Our Must-Have
In John 15.5, Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing." This is absolutely correct. Without Christ who is God, whatever we do can not get us any closer to God. It is through bearing the right fruit with him that we can get to heaven.
*Humility Needed
Many of Christ's counsels are difficult to follow, depending upon how much we have surrendered to him. Nevertheless, we must be willing to do our best to follow, even though we may not succeed. It is this willingness that counts. If you say outright that you can't do it, then you are being outright rebellious. Only admitting that God can help you can help you.
*Unique Creatures
While the Lord gives his thoughts to those in union with him, all thoughts expressed through each recipient still bear the imprint of that person, for each of us is a unique creature of God. We do not become God's puppets; we just become parts of him.
*Heart for the Lord
Early this morning in bed, when I was still not quite awake, I sensed myself amid a huge crowd of the very rich, the famous, and the most learned. The Lord made me see that I should never feel inferior, for he looks only at our hearts. I already knew this, but the mental scene further impressed me. Anyone with a pure and clean heart can stand tall and be grateful before the Lord.
Monday, January 2, 2017
End of Search
Communion experience. I have found the one worthy for me to live and die for – my life is now meaningful, fulfilled, and made whole, and my joy complete.
Escaping Enslavement
How to gain freedom from enslavement? You can run away, but this does not eradicate what enslaves you. Also, if you are enslaved by yourself, it becomes even harder. Conquering what enslaves you may even be less feasible with you in your enslaved condition. That leaves the best and only way out: run to God and seek refuge in him (or surrender to him). This way you are shielded by him from all evil and become absolutely free.
*Get Baptized by the Holy Spirit!
You may wish to read my post "Be Einstein as Christians" of Dec. 31 again, for a key thought slipped my mind when I posted it. It has now been revised.
When I was actively involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement in the 1970s, I underwent baptism by the Holy Spirit in my prayer group and it changed my life. The presence and power of the Spirit became palpable. I now recall that in all three synoptic Gospels, John the Baptist when he was preaching, proclaimed to the people, "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire." So if you want the Holy Spirit to set your heart ablaze, why not ask Jesus directly to baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire? Ask straight from your heart and wait for beautiful things to happen! (It would be wonderful to hear your personal experiences. Feel free to share them as comments.)
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Just You and God
I see God our Father at the center and billions of us his children around him. The relationship between God and each one of us is what matters the most, for it determines our eternal destiny. This relationship is tested by how well we follow his commandment to love our neighbors. Ultimately, it comes down to how well each one of us obeys the Father. Therefore, think of just you and God, with you alone to maintain a good relationship with him as best as you can through obedience. Nothing else matters.
*Chasing After the New
We have a new year, 2017 in the year of the Lord. The world just celebrated with fireworks and partying. Why do we welcome anything new? I believe that we are not satisfied with the old and hope that the new will bring us better things. That is why we buy new cars, move into new houses, get married again, look for new jobs, etc., hoping that things would improve to make us happier. In reality, it never works out this way. The truth is that we are imperfect and will never be satisfied until we are perfect ourselves. Here is where God comes in, for he alone is holy and perfect and is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13.8), thereby remaining forever new and refreshing. When we become his obedient children and return to him, we'll be perfect and new like him. Only then will we be completely happy and satisfied with ourselves.
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