A new beginning

Epiphany

Yesterday was the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Epiphany is the manifestation of the Incarnation of the Christ. Christmastide is still not over yet. Back to the topic, I am grateful for the new year: the gift of life and new beginning. They come as the consolation from God to strengthen my faith and nourish my spiritual life. Although I persevered in the faith those days, I felt as if I was experiencing the dryness. Perhaps I was very moody and weary. Not long ago, when I was spending time in the adoration room, I decided to pray the Rosary together with Blessed Mummy Maria, all the Saints and Angels. While meditating on the mystery of the Nativity of Most Holy Infant Iesu, suddenly one nun appeared in my mind. It was Saint Therese of Lisieux who sat there together with Infant Iesu in the hay, and smiled at me, soothing my heart ache. My love for her had been rekindled at that moment. I was reminded of the importance of the simplicity and complete surrender of the heart as Saint Therese said, "Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity."

Prior to the first day of new year, I spent the last moments with the Lord in the adoration room. Suddenly a thought came to me that everyone celebrated the new year in the homes while Lord and Mummy Maria were left alone in the room. Then I made a small request of mine to give Them a proper hug as the consolation for Them. I felt the sensation of being hugged over there as I saw Them embrace me in my mind.

Yesterday, I was walking to the Church when I noticed the beauty of the clear sunny blue sky. My heart danced with joy and praise for the Lord God, the Most High. During the Holy Mass, I read the part of the Holy Gospel: "The sight of the star filled them (three magi) with delight, and going into the house they saw the Child with His Mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did Him homage." (Matthew 2:11) Then, I heard one question in Homily: "As three magi sacrificed all their fortunes in order to find the True Christ, then have we really sacrificed everything for the Lord God?" I remembered the quote of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori: "God wishes everyone to be a saint, but in accordance with their own state in life- the religious as religious, the person in the world as a person in the world, the priest as a priest, a married person as a married person, a soldier as a soldier, and so on for every other way of life." At that moment, I was simply nodding my head. During the Holy Communion, I kneed before the Eternal King in the Most Holy Host, and received Him into my heart. When I had returned to my seat, I was expressing my gratitude and praises to God who enthroned my heart, and then suddenly there was a great stirring of emotions down in my heart as I was being blown away. Back then, I did not really think of anything except God. Despite my much effort to stay cool and control myself, I cried my heart out. Thankfully, no one had seen my embarrassing state. In the evening, with my friend I visited the adoration room in another Church for a short moment, and still cried upon seeing the Hidden God in the Most Blessed Sacrament. 

"We believe in the love of God for us. To believe in love is everything. It is not enough to believe in the Truth. We must believe in Love and Love is our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. That is the faith that makes our Lord loved. Ask for this pure and simple faith in the Eucharist. Men will teach you; but only Jesus will give yo the grace to believe in Him. You have the Eucharist. What more do you want?" - Saint Peter Julian Eymard

God is really good all the time. I am forever grateful to Him for having saved my soul, and His gifts of the Sacraments. Praise the Lord, my soul. All my being, praise His Most Holy Name and never forget how Kind He is! Alleluia! Amen!