His Mercy endures forever

Recent news about deaf student named Dylan Quick stabbing people got me thinking. You can find the source here: [link]  From my perspective, I think he grew up in solitary and did not even associate with deaf people as he did not learn sign language in his youth, and even was home schooled as the child. Having almost similar experience, I understand that he was unable to find someone whom he could share his feelings, and thus fell prey to his impulse of fantasy, stabbing people. There is no way for healthy humans to harbor such destructive thoughts. It saddened me more than frightening me because of huge distance between himself and deaf people. I was told that if deaf person does not know sign language, he does not relate himself to the deaf cultures. Little wonder deaf people drew line between each other. But my determination was strengthened because there are many people whom the others cannot reach out to, and they deserve Heaven and to know Lord Jesus Christ. 

Surprisedly, the Gospel speaks to me today as if God is reading my thoughts. Saint John the Baptist said, 

"He who comes from above is above all others; He who is born of the earth is earthly Himself and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from Heaven bears witness to the things He has seen and heard, even if His testimony is not accepted; though all who do accept His testimony are attesting the truthfulness of God, since He whom God has sent speaks God's Own Words: God gives Him the Spirit without reserve. The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to Him. Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life: the anger of God stays on Him." (John 3:31-36)

Lord Jesus Himself is true God and knows no sin, but He chose to live like the full human when He was here on the earth. He even associated with all kinds of sinners, but never committed the sins Himself. Because He is Love, He wanted to reach out those sinners whom the public rejected. The Catholic Church taught that we, baptized or not, are all the children of God because we believe that God created everything in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. Technically, everything belongs to Him alone. As He respected our free wills, He let us take control of everything on the earth, and even we can choose to love Him or not. Remember, God is Love and always desires the salvation for every one of us. Truly, His Mercy endures forever.

My point is that I ought to be more courageous and make effort to reach out to every person whom I meet everyday because Lord Jesus also reached out to every sinner He saw. Recall that Lord said, "It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but sick... What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:12-13) One deaf Korean priest who told me that he visited deaf prisoners so as to educate them. They were jailed for stealing. Because they were uneducated and unable to make living, they did not understand that stealing for food was the crime. I neither see Dylan Quick as the bad person nor wish judgment upon him. I pray that the kind soul will help him to know Lord Jesus. I hope I will get to work on His Kingdom soon.

Be a light of Christ

Receiving into Christ's Body

Reflection on Gospel: "... though the light has come into the world men have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, for fear his actions should be exposed; but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God." (John 3:19 -21)

One thought just came to my mind as I was praying over those verses that struck me. I reflected that the man's decision is not definite till the very moment of death. So he is bound to change his will over the period of time. Time is the measurement of change. Little wonder Lord Jesus warned us not to judge the others in case our judgments would turn against us on that Day. Only the final vengeance belongs to God alone. So I believe there is a hope for the conversion of most hardened sinners. Yes, I truly believe and pray hard for it for nothing is impossible with God. As proved, many people, for the example, the saints, had transformed from the sinners into the saints because they had found God who art the Truth, the Light and the Love, and decided to pursue Him with all their hearts, minds and strengths while repenting. I realized that I had changed from the naughty boy into Catholic child of God but I am still learning. I reflected upon my past regrets and saw no point in crying over the split milk, because they were part of my sinful life which I had abandoned on the very first day of my full communion with God and my Mother Church. My old self had died as Christ lives in me and I live in Him. I should feel honored for that. I am so glad to bear my cross while being alive on the earth. I could die long time ago as the vehicles had nearly ran over me when I was young. Now, my eyes are refocused on that ultimate goal - the crown of eternal life. Why not striving for the sainthood without having passed through the purgatory? After all, mortal life is short, compared to eternal life so suffering is very small here. If you can bear pains from the exercises, why cannot we bear the pains of our sweet penances which pave the ways for us to Heaven? Those are less severe than the pains in the purgatory. My resolve is being strengthened because I know Mother Mary, my patron Saints and my Guardian Angel are praying hard for me to have longer life here on the earth so that I can have enough time to perfect all my virtues with the help of God's graces. Praise the Lord for the gifts of my solitary life and silent world which enables me to find God easily. 

"If we omit God, we do not see anything as it is but everything as it is not - which is the very definition of insanity." (Theology for the Beginners, pg.51)

Emmaus walk

Emmaus Walk: Two disciples recognized Jesus at breaking of bread

Yesterday's Gospel (3rd April) was about Emmaus walk. It spoke to me as I related myself very similar to the disciples who could not recognized Jesus as they met Him on their journey. 

Saint Augustine reflected on their dimmed perceptions, "They were so disturbed when they saw Him hanging on the cross that they forgot His teaching, did not look for His Resurrection, and failed to keep His promises in mind. (Sermon 235.1) Their eyes were obstructed, that they should not recognize him until the breaking of the bread. And thus, in accordance with the state of their minds, which was still ignorant of the truth (that the Christ would die and rise again", their eyes were similarly hindered. It was not that the truth himself was misleading them, but rather that they were themselves unable to perceive the truth." (From The Harmony of the Gospels, 3.25.72)

I was also blind that I failed to recognize Jesus in my life. What was my greatest obstacle on my path? Mainly it was my pride which often incited my self-centreness. How often did I fail to listen to God who spoke to me and open His Mind to me everyday? The humility of Christ's Broken Body where I found in the Holy Mass enabled me to see His Presence in my life. I heard God telling me, "Pray for the graces to remove the attachments from your heart and you will find freedom. Why? Because by then, you will be able to listen to My Words attentively and abide in My Truth. My Truth sets you free." 

Blessed be God forever and ever. Amen!

"If we want to enjoy interior peace, it is necessary to have one will and one desire: to love Jesus crucified, employing all our faculties and energies for this purpose. Different indeed is the peace resulting from this love - a peace that the world does not give." - Saint Francis de Sales