Many Dwelling Places

[JCnMe]

(((((((hugs)))))))))))- thanks for sharing…hope you are feeling much better now…May God bless you and keep you safe…

 

[InLight247]

Luke 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,
“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!”
And when he saw them, he said,
“Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
“Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”
Then he said to him, “Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you.”

In yesterday’s Gospel reading, one out of the ten lepers came back to show gratitude after being healed by Jesus.

Today is Veteran’s Day. Those men and women sacrificed their lives to protect our country so we may live in our freedom. They have undergone severe ordeals so we do not have to suffer.

Let us remember them and their families in our prayers. Show God and show our military force our gratitude so we may be that one leper, not the other nine.

God bless all men and women in our military service and God bless America!

 

[InLight247]

Phlm 7-20
Beloved:
I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love,
because the hearts of the holy ones
have been refreshed by you, brother.
Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ
to order you to do what is proper,
I rather urge you out of love,
being as I am, Paul, an old man,
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment,
who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me.
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the Gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
And if he has done you any injustice
or owes you anything, charge it to me.
I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay.
May I not tell you that you owe me your very self.
Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord.
Refresh my heart in Christ.

In his letter to Philemon of today’s first reading, Paul was talking about the slave Onesimus who was converted to a Christian.

These a few lines jumped out on me from the whole paragraph:

“So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
And if he has done you any injustice
or owes you anything, charge it to me.
I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay.”

Do you recognize the spirit of Christ in these a few lines?

It says to me that we should accept everyone as we welcome Christ. For everyone is created after God’s image and likeness. If we regard all as God’s children, we would welcome them as we welcome the Lord.

It says to me that we ought to forgive other’s trespasses as Christ forgives ours. Jesus has died for every one of us including those who have offended or sinned against us.

It says to me that Christ has paid our debt once and for all. Indeed Jesus went through his Passion out of his free will and love. The Passion of Christ is a fact, a reality for us to be grateful forever.

 

[InLight247]

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)

I joined YMCA as a member recently. In order not to waste my monthly fee, I push myself to go there everyday.  Y’s indoor track is on the second floor, overlooking a huge basketball field.  Twenty laps around the basketball field counts as 2 miles.  That’s my basic daily exercise goal.

I like to walk and pray at the same time.  Talking to God and watching the small world in the basketball field below, I suddenly realize that every step I am walking is a step toward eternity.  This thought startles me.  Including me, most people won’t dwell on this inevitable reality often: As soon as we are born, we are destined to die.  Even if we live up to a hundred years, we still die. With every day goes by and every step we walk, we are closer to eternity.  This eternity could be eternal life or eternal death. That’s why St. Paul said to “*work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”*

I thought about my recent catching flight experience.  Due to the delay of the previous flight, when I ran to the next connecting flight, the airplane door has been closed. Though there were still 8 minutes to take off, the airline staff refused to reopen the door.  That reminds me of the parable of the ten virgins.  The five wise virgins were well prepared all the time, the five foolish virgins took their lamps but brought no oil with them. When the bridegroom came at midnight, the five wise ones went to the wedding feast with him.  The five foolish ones went to buy oil and the door of the wedding was locked.  Afterwards the foolish virgins cams to knock the door saying, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’  But the Lord would not recognize them. He said, “I do not know you. *Therefore stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour*.” Missing a flight is not so critical; missing the eternal life is unimaginably serious and fatal.

It is true that not everyone says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom. We become God’s children after baptism. It’s like to obtain an admission to a school. However, there are lots of necessary efforts for graduation. We must rely on God’s grace and walk carefully every step of the way with frequent sanctification and renovation.

 

[InLight247]

Today’s Gospel
Luke 18:35-43

As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me!”
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
“What do you want me to do for you?”
He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”
Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

Lord, please let me see.

A few years ago when I experienced a period of intense illumination from the Holy Spirit, I thought I was greatly purified. But the Lord continues to shine his light upon me and pushes me forward. Walking with him, he always gives me a deeper self knowledge in a very subtle way. The realization is indeed subtle. Self knowledge is usually disclosed in a flash of light that all of a sudden I know exactly what the Lord expects of me. Often I don’t even know how to articulate it, I just know. All I can say is "thank God and praise the Lord. "

Due to the Lord’s acceptance to my weakness, I become more accepting toward myself and others. Self knowledge no longer frustrates me. I know with God’s grace I shall overcome. Other’s faults annoy me less. After all, don’t we all have something to work on?

I want to continue striving for a higher ground, never stop my climbing. If I cannot love as those who love in heaven, I am not fit for heaven. Therefore, there is no choice but keep on trying.

 

[InLight247]

**Revelation 3:20

“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
then I will enter his house and dine with him,
and he with me.**

When I read the above paragraph from USCCB’s 1st reading of today’s Scriptures online, the story of Zacchaeus climbing a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus came to my mind. Then I scrolled down to today’s Gospel, indeed it was that paragraph I thought of earlier!

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. He revealed his zeal in public. With his action and body language, he opened the door of his heart to the Lord. Jesus fulfilled his promise by entering Zacchaeus’ house and dined with him. Being with Jesus, Zacchaeus the head tax collector had a true conviction, repentance and conversion of his heart.

As God’s baptized children, we don’t even need to climb a tree to see Jesus. We don’t have to seek far. All we must do is turning inward to the indwelling Spirit and sincerely commune with him. Then Jesus will not only dine with us but participate in all things we do. Like Zacchaeus, being with Jesus we will have a true conviction, repentance and conversion of our hearts. How blessed that is!

 

[InLight247]

Luke 19:11-28

While people were listening to Jesus speak,
he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem
and they thought that the Kingdom of God
would appear there immediately.
So he said,
“A nobleman went off to a distant country
to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.
He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins
and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’
His fellow citizens, however, despised him
and sent a delegation after him to announce,
‘We do not want this man to be our king.’
But when he returned after obtaining the kingship,
he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money,
to learn what they had gained by trading.
The first came forward and said,
‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’
He replied, ‘Well done, good servant!
You have been faithful in this very small matter;
take charge of ten cities.’
Then the second came and reported,
‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’
And to this servant too he said,
‘You, take charge of five cities.’
Then the other servant came and said,
‘Sir, here is your gold coin;
I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,
for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man;
you take up what you did not lay down
and you harvest what you did not plant.’
He said to him,
‘With your own words I shall condemn you,
you wicked servant.
You knew I was a demanding man,
taking up what I did not lay down
and harvesting what I did not plant;
why did you not put my money in a bank?
Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’
And to those standing by he said,
‘Take the gold coin from him
and give it to the servant who has ten.’
But they said to him,
‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’
He replied, ‘I tell you,
to everyone who has, more will be given,
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,
bring them here and slay them before me.’”
After he had said this,
he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

When I read today’s Gospel parable, I see it’s parallel to Jesus’ going to the Father and his later return in glory.

The nobleman’s fellow citizens despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, “We do not want this man to be our king.” When the nobleman obtained his kingship and returned, he ordered those who did not want him as their king to be slain in front of him.

Many people consciously do not want Jesus to be their king. So, what does this part of parable say to us?

 

[InLight247]

**Revelation 5:8, 10

Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense,
which are the prayers of the holy ones.​

You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth.**

These two verses of today’s first reading from Revelation caught my attention.

*There are bowls in heaven holding our prayers! *

God knows our hearts yet he still wants us to pray. Ask and you shall receive. Even our desires are in line with God’s will, we still have to do our part of asking and praying. Prayer shows our humility and dependence on God’s provision. Prayer shows our trust and plea for God’s sovereignty. Prayer tells God the blessings we are to receive are not forced upon us, but the result of his loving response to our own petitions. God respects everyone’s free will to receive or reject his presents. He never force upon anything on us even the gifts are marvelous.

So we must pray with persistence. Our prayers show our long suffering in love and our pious wait on the Lord. The prayers of thanksgiving, praise, and contrition are all put into the prayer bowls in heaven, forming the constant communion with our Heavenly Father.
*
God made priests for his kingdom and they will reign on earth. *

Priests are the representatives of Christ. Without priest, there will be no Eucharist, no pardon of sins and no other sacraments. That’s why we are taught never to criticize any priest. If a priest falls, the only thing we should do is to pray for him. Criticism on any priest will hurt Jesus’ heart. And we don’t want to do that.

God bless all his priests!

 

[InLight247]

Luke 19:45-48
Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things, saying to them,
“It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,
but you have made it a den of thieves.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple area.
The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,
were seeking to put him to death,
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose
because all the people were hanging on his words.

How good it is that all the people were hanging on Jesus’ words.

But it is not so as we see today. Countless times I have heard people emphasize only on God’s mercy, but purposely omit God’s justice. They hang on Jesus’ words in partial.

Indeed God is extremely merciful, yet God is also absolutely just; otherwise, God would not have to send his only begotten Son to die such a brutal death for us on the Cross.

I heard people, including priests and nuns, say that all can go to heaven as long as one lives a life in good conscience. If Jesus’ death itself was enough for all to be saved without accepting and following him as our Lord and Savior, if a good life without salvation guarantees heaven, then Jesus would not tell us to preach the Gospel to all the nations. The narrow gate will become wide. Isn’t it black and white in the Bible that Jesus is the only way, life, and truth? And he is the only sheep gate to the Father?

I am not saying good people without Jesus won’t go to heaven. God solely decides who enters into the kingdom and who doesn’t. However, it is always our responsibility to evangelize and spread the good news. When we hang on to God’s word, let’s hang on to every part – both mercy and justice. While we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, we must also invite others with the truth. Truth will set us free.

 

[InLight247]

Years ago, a non-denominational Christian brother invited me to their church’s prayer meeting. It was held in a plain room. People sat in rows praying in tongues, songs, guitars, cymbals, or simply expressing out loud of their own hearts. All these took place simultaneously. Noise freely filled the air. It was something I had never witnessed before. This brother said to me: “Anything has a set form or regularity limits the Holy Spirit.”

I declined his further invitation since. That’s simply not my style. Our God is a God of order. Order, simplicity and regularity never impede the work of the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, order and regularity help us build our spiritual discipline. As a form of regularity, spiritual discipline is crucial in maturing our relationship with God.

We pray our morning prayers, read the Scriptures, attend daily Mass, and say our Rosaries as well as other devotions. We spend quiet time in front of the tabernacle; remain in solitude with the Lord. We do these day in and day out, as regular as our daily meals.

Once the spiritual routine is established, we will naturally realize God’s presence and enjoy being with Him more. There is always grace with God. With our disciplined prayers, we start to hear God better, and the communion goes on. A set form of spiritual practice helps us obtain the solitude of heart with Jesus when we live in a very busy and noisy world.

 

[InLight247]

out of the morning Mass, I learned the feast of Christ the King was instituted by Pope Pious 11th in 1925 when the world was recovering from World War I. The Pope saw human society abandoned Christianity and knew that without God’s grace, the human society would never perfect itself. To reject Christ either in private or public life is to reject hope. Christ the King reminds us where our true hope lies.

While driving home, I realized Christ the King has just come into me physically through the Eucharist. It’s a precious feeling that the king of the universe is within me. When we recite the Lord’s Prayer: “give us this daily bread”, it could refer to our practical needs but actually also points to the Eucharist. Eucharist is the critical and essential daily bread to our survival.

Christ indeed is the King. There are many religions in the world. But not all religions are the same. The Church encourages us to follow the one true God. If we believe our God is the one true God, we would take action to spread the good news. It is not that we force our faith upon others, but we do need to let Christ’s grace reach people through our efforts. Thus Christ the King may be known to the world.

 

[InLight247]

**“They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” **(Revelation 14:4)

Often times, the book of Revelation is not easy to follow. But the above verse seems to be straightforward.

When my children were little, they followed me wherever I went. They attached to me like glue. They sought my opinion for everything. They wanted my approval.

When they grew up, as independent individuals, indeed they became independent. And that’s the way it should be. They have their own lives. But we keep close touch. We talk to each other daily. They still ask my opinion for things. They try to meet my expectations.

God does not want us to be puppets but he would not mind us to be his close followers and copy cats. While each of us has our own identity and individuality, we are expected to commune with our Heavenly Father everyday, follow his decree, imitate the examples of his Son, seek his approval and meet his expectations.

To follow our Lord everywhere means to keep him in our minds and hearts all the time. With prayers and sacraments, by reading his words and sticking to his teachings, following the Lamb everywhere is a reachable goal.

 

[InLight247]

Psalm 96:13

Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
Before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
**He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy. **

The Lord comes to rule the earth, as Christ the King who was, is and ever shall be. The Lord shall rule the world with justice and the people with his constancy.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. It does not matter for the human civilization progressing into democratic societies and the majority put God under their beds with consensus. Christ the true God will rule the earth with justice no matter what. In a democratic society, people go with their consensus of rebuking Christian faith. However, God’s constancy always makes the truth prevail. God always rules.

Let’s stick to the Lord’s divine constancy instead of people’s secular consensus.

 

[InLight247]

Luke 21:12-19
Jesus said to the crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

It is getting close to the end of the year. Christmas is coming after Thanksgiving. We see “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” in commercial places. Santa Clause instead of baby Jesus becomes the major scene. Children are told by school not to sing Christmas Carols. Hush, people’s feeling may get hurt. How so? By celebrating the precious birth of the Holy Infant? Do Christians have feelings? Does it matter their feelings get hurt? When the atheists and liberals are yelling and shouting, where are the voices of the faithful?

“You will be hated by all because of my name.” Our Lord told us 2000 years ago. Jesus also said that “by your perseverance you will secure your lives.” The Church has been persecuted but persevered all along. Happy Thanksgiving!

And what I really want to say is an early Merry Christmas!

 

[InLight247]

Reading 1
Is 4:2-6
On that day,
The branch of the LORD will be luster and glory,
and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor
for the survivors of Israel.
He who remains in Zion
and he who is left in Jerusalem
Will be called holy:
every one marked down for life in Jerusalem.
When the LORD washes away
the filth of the daughters of Zion,
And purges Jerusalem’s blood from her midst
with a blast of searing judgment,
Then will the LORD create,
over the whole site of Mount Zion
and over her place of assembly,
A smoking cloud by day
and a light of flaming fire by night.
For over all, the Lord’s glory will be shelter and protection:
shade from the parching heat of day,
refuge and cover from storm and rain.

The first week of Advent has begun. In today’s first reading, Isaiah was talking about that day in Jerusalem. The Lord’s glory is our shelter and protection everyday. He is indeed the shade from the parching heat of day, refuge and cover from storm and rain.

We are ever changing in this changing world. The experiences of life whether good or bad, encouraging or depressing, have all impacted us and we are never the same. On this journey of learning, we may gain wisdom when we turn to our Lord and allow his wisdom and grace to help us.

It is the time of the year again to look back on the past year and make resolutions for the new year. God always has new things in store for us. In this Advent season while preparing the coming of the Holy Infant, I want to make a new commitment to my spiritual life and rekindle my zeal of serving our Lord and his church. I hope my heart becomes childlike, always loves, always rejoices, always be thankful, always has room to grow and is always growing. I pray by sticking to God’s grace, these resolutions may come true.

 

[InLight247]

Due to my volunteer ministry in the Parish, I always order seasonal spiritual reading materials for our congregation. This Advent, I have ordered eight different kinds of booklets.

I noticed the one titled “Waiting for God” still has many left on the shelf. Others such as the one titled “Embracing God’s Promises” was gone the first day. This is interesting. I wonder if this is a coincidence or it is true that we all like “promises” but dislike “waiting”.

I think it is our human nature. Especially in a society of instant gratification, the word “wait” is almost dirty. We want so much for what we want, and worry if our wishes won’t come true. In other words, we want so much “my will be done”, and have hard time of waiting.

But waiting can be beautiful. When we wait with God’s promise, with faith, hope, love, trust, patience and obedience, it could be beautiful. When we trust “thy will be done” is the best outcome, when we are convinced God’s wisdom is higher than ours and his will is always the best, waiting will be less anxious.

Advent is a good season of waiting. When we are waiting for God, God is also waiting for us. He is waiting for us to become.

 

[InLight247]

Romans 10:15-18
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
But I ask, did they not hear?
Certainly they did; for
Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.

This Scripture Reading on November 30 lingered on my mind.

My good friend’s mother is terminally ill. My friend dashed to her mother’s death bed oversea. The mother is not a Christian though her deceased husband and daughter are both Catholics. My friend was hoping her mother would be willing to accept Jesus and be baptized at the last moment. And I was praying for her.

Then she called me from the other side of the world saying the nuns in the hospice told her not to worry. Her mother wanted to ask her own god in certain temple about her illness. The nun even asked the mother to write down the question so she might help. And a priest also told my friend not to worry - because “God is so merciful”.

Yes, I know God is merciful. I also know God is just. I could not agree with the attitude my friend described to me. That Catholic hospice accepts people from all walk of faith. If the person is a Buddhist, they will play Buddhist chant for him. If the person believes in something else, they will also accommodate it accordingly. They don’t mention the good news of Jesus Christ.

The intention is probably to keep the patient’s peace of mind. They think they are doing a favor to them by not disturbing their belief. But is it so? Is such consideration a service or a disservice?

Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God. If we do not tell, they won’t hear. Do we believe Jesus is the only way, truth and life? Do we believe Jesus is the only sheep gate and unless through Him none will go to the Father? Or do we think it doesn’t matter what a person believes, all will reach heaven anyway?

Whether non-Christians get to heaven is for God to decide. Whether to spread the good news of Jesus Christ is for us to take on.

 

[InLight247]

**Mark 16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. **

Jesus said to preach the good news to all creation. Not only preach to other human beings but to all creation.

There is no question we are to share the Gospel with everybody. The question is how, especially to those on death bed who have believed in something else their whole life time. This question has been in my mind.

When I finished my prayer in front of the tabernacle and was about to leave, one of my Bible Study group member, a wise aged man walked in. We always chat a little when we see each other. Today he shared with me how he talked to his Jehovah Witness father on his death bed years ago. He said the Lord told him not to say anything negative about his father’s religion but simply share with his father all the wonderful deed the Lord has done.

That’s it. Without criticizing the other’s religion, we can give testimony by sharing how Lord Jesus has helped us in every part of our life - all the good news of love, intimate companionship, forgiveness, mercy, miracles and salvation.

Soul struggles a lot at the time of death. The devil who always wants to bring people away from God will work harder to grab the soul at that moment. How important it is to plant seeds of truth and cast the loving image of Jesus into people’s heart!

 

[InLight247]

**Romans 15:7
Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you,
for the glory of God. **

We ought to welcome one another as Christ welcomed us.
We also ought to welcome one another as we welcome Christ.

In this time of Advent, while preparing our hearts to welcome the coming of our Lord, we must also prepare our hearts to welcome our brothers and sisters.

Often times, love God above all seems easier than love neighbors as we love ourselves. After all, God is perfect, God is love. It seems not so hard to love the perfect love. But to love those who are not perfect, and not love, takes efforts.

Jesus taught us to love our family, our friends, those we disagree with, those we have a clash with, those who offend us, those we consider as enemies, those in need, and those we do not even know. In other words, we are to love everyone, the whole mankind. This is not easy; this is a supreme goal to reach.

Baby Jesus is soon to be born in the manger. He also wants to be born in the manger of our hearts. Jesus will be in the city of Bethlehem. He also wants to dwell in the city of Bethlehem in our souls.

I pray, dear Lord, please continue to shine your light upon us, cast your grace in our souls, sanctify our hearts, inebriate us with your spirit, hold our hands to run forward, help us receive you as we accept one another……So you will find us as pleasant places to reside.

 

[InLight247]

Matthew 3:1-3
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!

Our priest told us a true story he heard from a missionary priest who was in China.

A town was to be flooded by a huge lake periodically. Six months before the known flood time, all the improvement and repair work of homes stopped. They figured since the village will be messed up soon, there was no point to fix anything. The missionary priest said “*when there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.” *

That is like our society today. We are materially rich but spiritually poor. Material does not bring us happiness. Our morality is falling apart. But Christ tells us it does not have to be that way. Flood may come but his promise of future gives us hope in the desert. Blessed are we when we have God. God adopted us as his children and he promised he will never abandon us. To obey his voice in our conscience, to put ourselves safely inside the only boat guaranteed to heaven, we may have faith in the future and power in the present.

That’s a very brief summary of today’s homily. Just to share with you.