*Ashes to Saints

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 6 on this Ash Wednesday, Jesus teaches that we must live for God alone with zero ego. Let's remember that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. Yet the most amazing thing is that God can turn us into glorious saints if we let him. His teaching of today actually gives us the recipe. If we do everything for God with great humility and love, then we become saints. This is exactly what both Saint Therese of Lisieux and Saint Joseph Marello have learned from the Lord.

Sword of Mercy

       God's mercy is a two-edged sword. If you trust in it, you are saved. But if you reject it, you are condemned.

*Somber Thought

        The Lord gave me this somber thought on this first day of March, an Ash Wednesday: Anytime you judge someone, you endanger your own soul.

*God to Mend Our World

        We live in a world full of imperfections, but we can let God mend that part for us to make the world ideal for us!

*Salvation Depends Upon Us!

        Even though God is our Savior, salvation of the world absolutely depends upon us! Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few." As God's instruments, we must work hard to spread the good news, as the time is more urgent than ever! There is no time for snoozing, none to waste. Not harvesting for God is committing a serious sin of omission. The least one could do is to pray daily for the salvation of the world.

Unfair to God

        I was at a shopping mall. You could hear the loud music playing through the sound system and see the crowd busily shopping or eating at the food court. I was also aware that God was lovingly watching over us and hoping to get some attention from us. Yet how many shoppers even turn their thoughts to him for an instant? Probably very few. This is an unfair world.

Not Bored Anymore

        It's common to find people getting bored after retiring from work. I am retired and sometimes people ask me what I do with all my time. Besides attending Mass daily and blogging, I do not have enough time to do all the various other things I need to do. Anyhow, if you live for Christ, it's impossible to ever get bored. On the contrary, life becomes more exciting than ever – God had filled all the voids of life and made living purposeful. You are now on call, ready to serve the Lord when he calls you, and he does need as many servants as possible to help him save the world! It's a big task that comes with a big reward. 

A Personal Prayer

        I love you, Lord. Therefore, take away my sins; make me pure, make me strong, and make me yours.

Extra Appreciation

        When you are sick with fever, praying to God becomes difficult. Therefore, I appreciate extra when I am well and can pray to him from my heart with a clear and cool mind.

*One More Beatidude

        In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us the Beatitudes, all blessings. From my point of view, I also feel "Blessed are they who fall in love with the Lord and become one with him."  

Maker of Beautiful Things

        Know that saints are made by God. Our future resurrection is also made possible by God. The special joy we feel for him is given to us by him too. The list goes on and on and on – God is the maker of all beautiful things!  

Classy Calling

       In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5.38-48, Jesus certainly raised the bar high in teaching his disciples about retaliation and love of enemies. He concluded by asking them to be perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect ~ it had to be a great honor to receive such a classy calling from the Lord. And certainly he wishes to honor each one of us thus too.  

Sign of Abandonment

        The closer you get to know God, the more clearly you see how everyone is journeying toward God at various stages and become more tolerant of all believers or nonbelievers. This is a sign that you are abandoning yourself more to God.

*Crux of My Existence

        I woke up early in the morning and it was still dark outside. Again, I felt that I was not alone and it was the existence of my creator that matters most and only to my existence. Therefore, my relationship with my creator becomes the crux of my existence.

Perfect Rules

        Never let anyone's imperfection influence you to be more imperfect. Rather, let God's perfection alone inspire you to be even more perfect.

A Sweet Feeling

        It's a sweet feeling when you truly forgive someone from the heart, knowing that you've stopped playing God to let God be the sole judge.

*What Matters to Life:

Knowing and accepting that God is love.

Life Needs God

        First of all, without God we wouldn't be alive breathing and with a continuously beating heart. Then, without the Lord we wouldn't know how to live a joyful life in spiritual freedom. Last, without him we won't find the way to heaven.