*Becoming Mighty Through God

        Today's Gospel reading came from Mark 4. Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed, the smallest of all the seeds. Once it's sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade. This parable presents a beautiful picture to me. We humans are small like the mustard seed. When we allow God to do all the work through us, we accomplish mighty deeds in his glory.

**Learning Abandonment in God

        God does not always answer our prayers right away. As we wait, we tend to get discouraged and lose heart. That's human nature, right? Then I see that God wants us to learn patience and have complete faith in him, that is, to be less human and more like him. The Lord is infinitely patient and never gets anxious or lose peace. Christ always advised his disciples not to be anxious and wished them peace. Therefore, pray hard and let God work all things out. Total abandonment in God is the way to go. No more anxieties nor loss of inner peace!

*Only One True Father

        Today is Father's day. To me, there is only one true father and he is God the Father who created all of us. On earth each of us has his own father and many of us become father ourselves too. But when we go before God, we are all equal as his children. That is why I say that we have only one true father. 

Ultimate Intimacy

        Communion experience. Receiving the Holy Eucharist goes beyond meeting the Lord, shaking hands with him, or being embraced by him. It is becoming being in each other, inseparable!

A Sharpened Conscience

        Today's Gospel reading came from Matthew 5. Jesus told his disciples not to swear at all. And  that they should let their 'Yes' mean 'Yes' and 'No' mean 'No,' and anything more is from the evil one. It is easy not to be aware of what comes from the evil one and what comes from God. A sharpened conscience is what we need, and we get that as we grow more in union with the Lord.

**All About Letting God Win

        Life is more battling God than battling Satan. When Satan tempts us, we do not experience any direct threat, for he is tricky. With God, we always feel whether we should obey or go our own way. So you can say that life is all about whether you let God win or not. We become perfect when we let the Lord win each time, and the reward is most satisfying – we receive peace, freedom, and joy, contrary to what we'd expected. When we let God win, we win big too!

**Most Important Appointed Time

        Ecclesiastes 3.1: There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. Beginning with "a time to give birth, and a time to die," the author provides 13 more lines of examples. Let's realize that certainly there is an appropriate time for us to detach ourselves from the world and give ourselves completely over to God.

Great Calming Moments

        Communion experience. Receiving the Lord in the Holy Eucharist calmed my entire being. During those moments in which the Lord was being absorbed by me, I was completely worry free. And I realized that in heaven, I would be worry free forever. 

God Expects Our Perfection

        Most teachings we learn from the world are self-centered without consideration of God's will. In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus wants to us to do better by going beyond what we have heard that it was said. In fact, he wants us to be perfect. His ways are based upon love exclusively. Because our love is not great enough, our ways fall short of what he wishes. Now that we know his teachings, we know how we should live to be perfect before God. Since we cannot become perfect by ourselves, here is a calling for us to put our trust in God completely.

To Hear the Lord's Voice

        In today's first reading from 1 Kings, when Elijah went on the mountain to wait for the Lord to pass by, there was a strong and heavy wind, followed by an earthquake, and then a fire, but Elijah did not find the Lord in any of them. Finally, he heard a light silent sound through which the voice of the Lord came. To hear the Lord speak to us, we must get away from the constant bustle and hustle of the world at times to acquire some quietude for ourselves. Believe me, if you truly want to hear his voice, you will hear it in your heart. Get in touch with him first and eventually, you'll be ready to ask him to come to dwell within you. Life without our loving God is not worth living.

How to Possess God

        Communion experience. Jesus is the life. Possess him and you have eternal life. And the best way to possess him is to let him possess you by surrendering yourself to him.

*Facing the Inevitable Wisely

        We face judgment by God after we die or at the time of Jesus' second coming. Therefore, it is wise to live as if today is your last day on earth or the day of his coming.

Finder of Lost Articles

        Today is the memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, venerated as the Patron Saint of lost articles. In my past, I have lost things many times. After praying for his help, I always recover what I've lost, sometimes in an unexpected way. I ask the saint to intercede for my other intentions too.

Fulfillment Time

        Communion experience. I received my Lord and my God and we became one; I was completely filled and fulfilled, lacking nothing.

Cause of Inner Peace

        You'll have true inner peace only after you know that God has chosen you to return to him to dwell in his house forever.   

Focusing Upon Eternity

        Jesus said, "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" My similar question: "What profit is there for one to indulge in some temporary sinful pleasures on earth and lose his chance to enjoy eternal peace and joy in heaven?" So be smart.

Dispelling Darkness

        In today's Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus wants us to be the light of the world. The world is sick, filled with venom and filth, and only the pure light of Christ shines as a refreshing beacon among us. Let us be pure enough to reflect his light to dispel as much darkness around us as we can.

*Avoiding Jesus

        The Gospels tell about so many miracles Jesus performed, including his own Resurrection and Ascension. If you don't believe in them, is it because you don't believe that they ever happened? Without any solid proof, I don't believe anyone would have the guts to so believe, for it amounts to writing off the person Jesus altogether. Most likely, nonbelievers put off facing the reality of Jesus because of the sinful state they're in – further indicating that he is God who will be our judge.