How Do We Hear The Holy Spirit?

May 21, 2013 by 2 Comments

During the Pentecost Mass, our Blessed Pope reminded us to “Not Be Afraid To Follow The Holy Spirit.” Pope Francis said in his homily that the Holy Spirit can make people uncomfortable as “newness always makes us a bit fearful, because we feel more secure if we are the ones who build, program and plan our lives in accordance with our own ideas, our own comfort, our own preferences.” But he also gave the assurance that, “the newness which God brings into our life is something that actually brings fulfillment, that gives true joy, true serenity, because God loves us and desires only our good.”

Although the Holy Spirit wishes to guide us on our spiritual journey it is not a magical genie that comes to us whenever we say a quick prayer. So how do we hear the Holy Spirit? How can we hear the Spirit’s “still small voice” amidst this noisy and chaotic world that we are living in?

Well, I may not have the exact answers to these questions, but I know that learning to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice takes time, an open and willing heart, and a sensitive ear. Furthermore, considering that the Holy Spirit comes to testify about Jesus, I believe that knowing more about Jesus will help us better recognize the Spirit’s voice when he comes to speak to us.

So how do we hear the the Holy Spirit? I suppose that it’s up to the individual to find their own way. How do you listen?

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Allow God to Write Our Story

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

I read a very inspiring post this morning from Father Luke Long’s blog–Reflections and Ruminations–the post’s title was “Letting Our Stories Be Changed.” He wonderfully wrote about the human inclination to be upset with God when things in life do not go according to our plans. We look at happy and successful people and want to have nothing less than what they are having. When we don’t get exactly what we desire, we go to God with furrowed eyebrows and heavy hearts lamenting about why we cannot have what we want–what we prayed for. We do not consider that we should probably allow God to write our story, he’s pretty good at that after all.

Often, we are unable to realize that the tweaks that God makes in our lives are what will make it more beautiful. As it says in one of my favorite Bible verse, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) God knows the way to make our lives beautiful, so allow God to write our story as he sees fit.

I know that it is hard to see and understand where God is guiding us at times, but know that he has the best plans for us–plans that are way better than the ones we have made for ourselves.

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The Spiritual Significance of Pentecost

May 20, 2013 by 1 Comment

Yesterday (May 19) marked the end of the Easter season for Catholics. It is also the day we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus–the holiday commonly known as the Pentecost. While most Catholics know this day for the commemoration of the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, the Catholic Church also views it as the day on which the Church was started or the Church’s birthday. What is the spiritual significance of Pentecost though?

While the historical representations of Pentecost cannot be undermined, I would also like to bring up the spiritual significance of Pentecost on a personal level. What does Pentecost really mean spiritually to a modern-day follower of Christ? To me, I look at Pentecost as a day to renew my commitment to fulfilling my role in Christ’s ministry, and a time to ask God to fill me afresh with the Spirit so that I might serve him even better.

If you want to understand the celebration of Pentecost even more, this post would greatly help you: Pentecost: “The Coming of the Holy Spirit.” It gets more in depth about the spiritual significance of Pentecost.

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Money is a Modern Day Golden Calf

May 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Yesterday, Pope Francis’s message to the new ambassadors of the Church to Kyrgyzstan, Antigua and Barbuda, Luxembourg, and Botswana centered on money, and the role it plays in the economic crisis that is sweeping across the globe. At one point of his message, he compared the people’s attachment to and obsession of money as the new form of the ancient worship the golden calf–an act of the people of Israel in olden times that angered God so much.

Idolatry is a sin. We know this for a fact as the Lord clearly states in his 10 commandments, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” However, the problem is, a lot of people these days commit the sin of idolatry without even knowing it. Why? Because they hold this notion that “idolatry” simply means believing and worshiping someone else other than God.

While idolatry in the Old Testament primarily deals with worship of graven images of sticks and stones, there are many forms of idolatry today. Money is a modern day golden calf. People have become so obsessed with it, that I really do believe it is an idol. So how do we know if we are committing the sin of idolatry? Well, I believe that anything that takes away our devotion to God is an idol.

Take this passage from the Bible as an inspiration:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

If you want to read the message of Pope Francis that I mentioned above, here it is: ’Money Has To Serve, Not Rule!’ Money is the a modern day golden calf, and that was the point of this post. However other things can certainly play the golden calf role as well. Be careful about your priorities.

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Ways to Give Thanks to God

May 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

A post I read titled, “God, Forgive Me If I Don’t Thank You Enough,” reminded me of my own doubts of whether I am thanking God enough. There are many ways to give thanks to God, but do any of us do them frequently enough? Do you ever have these kind of thoughts? Do you ever feel as if you are not giving God the gratitude that is due him? On the other hand, is there really a way for us to thank God enough? Even the great psalmist King David has this to say about expressing gratitude towards God, “Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough.” (Psalm 106: 2) So while there are many ways to give thanks to God, I’m not certain any of them will ever be enough. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try our best though!

We can exhaust ourselves in radical thanksgiving and it still won’t be enough to thank God for all that he has done for us. So what do we do? Honestly, I don’t know, just keep trying. I find this quote from William A. Ward enlightening, “God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.  Have you used one to say “thank you?”.  Saying thank you to God, sounds like a good start to me.

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Why I Love Going To Mass

May 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

This morning, I read a post titled with a question: “Why do YOU skip Mass?” caught my attention. These lines from the said post especially struck a chord in me: “When you have skipped mass, why have you done it? If you routinely skip mass, why? What is not working, for you?” These questions remind me of the time in my life when I could barely find my way into a Church. More importantly, they reminded me of why I attended mass again, and why I love going to Mass now. Let me share with you my reasons:

1. At Mass God is able to talk to me in a way that I will not find anywhere else.

2. It gives me the opportunity to tell the world around me that I am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Catholic church.

3. It gives me the chance to feel a sense of fellowship and belongingness with other believers.

4. It is the only time that I get the opportunity to receive the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ.

5. It gives me the chance to commemorate, celebrate and perpetuate Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary.

Whatever your reasons are that is great! I just want to share why I love going to Mass. Why do YOU love going to Mass?

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Living Our Life as a Gift To Others

May 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Yesterday (May 14, 2013), the Pope gave all believers a reminder to “live our lives as a gift” to others instead of “buying into Satan’s temptation and living life selfishly“. The Pope’s message, although simple, really made an impact on me–and I hope it did the same to all those who heard it.  Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all started living our life as a gift to others?

As Catholics, I believe that one of the most important things that we need to remember is that we are merely stewards of our lives and of everything else that we have and own. Certainly, a good steward does not live his life however he pleases. Instead, a good and faithful steward lives his life in keeping with his master’s plan.

With our master being the Lord Jesus Christ, we should keep in mind that his challenge to every steward: “deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). This means that we ought to set aside our selfish desires and agenda for the greater good of the Kingdom and the world we seek to win. This is not an easy task, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can be good and faithful stewards of the Lord. Are you up for the challenge? Living our life as a gift to others is not a simple task, it is going to take hard work.

If you want to read the Pope’s homily that I mentioned above for motivation, you can do so here: “Satan Always Rips Us Off.”

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Figuring Out God’s Will For Your Life

May 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

A post I read this morning titled “Mystery of God’s Will” had some statements that reminded me of a time in my life when I was searching for the presence of God in my life–when I was struggling and figuring out God’s plan for me. For example these questions in the post seemed like questions that I personally mouthed a few years ago: “Lord, what’s wrong with me? Why are you not using me? Does your will even have a plan for my life?”  These are all questions that you will wonder on the road to figuring out God’s will for you life.

Figuring out God’s will for your life is not easy–it is confusing and worrisome. You may even think that God is hiding from you–that he does not want you to understand what he wants you to do. During my struggle, I have come to realize that God wants us to know his will even more than we want to know it.

While I had a really tough time understanding his will for me then, I would say that it was an experience I would still be willing to go through again if I had to.

If you are at a point in your life where you are struggling to understand the will of God for you, keeping in mind these promises will greatly help you:

“I know the plans that I have for you, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“We know that in everything God works for good for those who love him, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28). 

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Jesus Has Already Won The Battle

May 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

With all the horrible things that happen in our world and the temptations that we struggle to resist each day, we cannot help but wonder at times whether we are winning the battle against evil. We are surrounded by sin, and though we try our best to make a difference in the lives of others, it always seems as if nothing in this world is changing–that we are losing the battle!

A post I read earlier titled, “Jesus Wins Out,” reminded me that I need not worry about these things. I need not worry about the outcome because Jesus has already won the battle! As Paul the Apostle said in Philippians 3:12, “It’s not that I’ve already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me.”

The Scripture makes it clear that although we are part of the war, the battle is not our personal battle–it is the Lord’s. When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, he has already stripped Satan of his authority over mankind. So Jesus has already won the battle, now all we have to do is remain faithful and claim our inheritance in his return.

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The Faith and Strength of Martyrs

May 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Yesterday Pope Francis conducted (for the first time) the venerable rite for the canonization of  a group of martyrs–among which are the Martyrs of Otranto who valiantly refused to deny their faith in the risen Christ. Reflecting upon the courage of these martyrs, I could not help but ask the same question that our beloved Pope Francis asked in his message: “Where did they find the strength to remain faithful? Without question the faith and strength of martyrs throughout history has been truly outstanding.

I recalled this reading I had some time ago about a survey about Christian believers that asked the hypothetical question of whether they would be willing to give up their life for their faith in Christ. I do not recall the exact numbers, but thousands of people who responded said that they would gladly die for Christ. While my heart swells at this expression of faith, I believe that to die for Christ is easier said than done.

I am not saying that we cannot do it–that we are not capable of dying for Christ. All I am saying is that I believe it would take a lot of work and prayer to have anything close to the faith and strength of martyrs.

Let me quote St. Cyprian:

How can I find the words to praise you, most courageous brethren? How can I compose a speech worthy of the strength of your heart and your perseverance in faith? You endured questioning by the cruellest tortures right through to the glorious end. You did not yield to suffering, but the sufferings yielded to you. The tortures did not bring the end of your torment, but the crown of martyrdom did. The intensification of the tortures went on and on, not to break down the steadfast faith but to send the men of God the sooner to their Lord.

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