Today's readings - http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/123111.cfm
Today is the last day of the year 2011. I have so much to be thankful for, but the most of important of all is finding Jesus in a way that I can never really explain. And I believe I am just scratching the surface. I believe there are mightier things to come.
Today's readings are very fitting for the end of the year. The first reading opens up with "Children, it is the last hour". There is such an excitement waiting for the clock to hit midnight at the end of the year. For the past few New Years Eve, we have been attending the party hosted by a close friend to my wifes family. It was loud...trumpets blasting, there were rattlers, party hats, lots of foods...and the works. I can just imagine the end of times. I wonder if we have the same demeanor of expectancy and joyfulness when the end of time comes?
I don't watch TV anymore (am I starting to sound like I hate TV?), but when I do visit news websites, all I see is death, anger, hatred, lies, fornication, selfishness, vanity, idolatry, calamity...etc. It's bring me down, there is so much darkness out there. No wonder people loose hope. No wonder people are so depressed. And when someone speaks of Jesus Christ, that person is mocked and humiliated.
Today is the last day of the year 2011. I have so much to be thankful for, but the most of important of all is finding Jesus in a way that I can never really explain. And I believe I am just scratching the surface. I believe there are mightier things to come.
Today's readings are very fitting for the end of the year. The first reading opens up with "Children, it is the last hour". There is such an excitement waiting for the clock to hit midnight at the end of the year. For the past few New Years Eve, we have been attending the party hosted by a close friend to my wifes family. It was loud...trumpets blasting, there were rattlers, party hats, lots of foods...and the works. I can just imagine the end of times. I wonder if we have the same demeanor of expectancy and joyfulness when the end of time comes?
I don't watch TV anymore (am I starting to sound like I hate TV?), but when I do visit news websites, all I see is death, anger, hatred, lies, fornication, selfishness, vanity, idolatry, calamity...etc. It's bring me down, there is so much darkness out there. No wonder people loose hope. No wonder people are so depressed. And when someone speaks of Jesus Christ, that person is mocked and humiliated.
...and just as you heard that the antichrist was coming,
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number. (1 John 2:18-19)
so now many antichrists have appeared.
Thus we know this is the last hour.
They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us.
Their desertion shows that none of them was of our number. (1 John 2:18-19)
However, I don't despair for we have the promise in Christ Jesus:
"But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One,
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth
but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth." (1 John 2:20-21)
and you all have knowledge.
I write to you not because you do not know the truth
but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth." (1 John 2:20-21)
You see why this world cannot accept the truth? Because the prince of this world is Satan. This world rejects the truth in Jesus Christ. Now I see why the monks, the cloistered nuns, St. John the Baptist and all the holy people secluded themselves from this world. They want to be in tune with the Holy Spirit all the time. Now I see why they change the responses in the mass from "you" to "Spirit", the church wants to reject the flesh. But since we now know the truth in Jesus Christ...why then do we still remain with the world? Is it an attachment? Do we love the world more than we love Jesus Christ?
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him. (John 1:10-11)
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him. (John 1:10-11)
You see I could not reject my worldly desires before. I had strong attachment to it. I thought it was normal. I thought it was normal to treat everyone with an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I thought it was normal to hate those who don't agree with you or don't like you. I thought it was normal to go along with the norms of the society, the values that could not really please God...I was helpless back then. I could not get rid of them. And finally, I hit a wall, I have had a enough of this world, but I could not get rid of them without the help from above. I tried it on my own before, but I was defeated. But this time around I was victorious in Jesus Christ.
But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man's decision
but of God. (John 1:12-13)
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man's decision
but of God. (John 1:12-13)
For some people, they set their New Years resolution before the end of the year. Only to find out that it's broken the very next day. What I have learned is that it is not gonna work, if its not given from above. If we do not leave it at the foot of the cross it's not gonna work. We have to rely on God's grace, but also we have to desire to get rid of anything that is not of God.
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace (John 1:16)
grace in place of grace (John 1:16)
And so I pray, this coming new year. Shed your life of worldly desires, avoid every occasion of sins, forgive one another, help one another and announce his salvation day after day!
Wishing you all a Blessed New Year!
Jesus loves you!
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