I Take Off the Mask

Have you ever felt as though you were in a long distance relationship with God? I did. For quite some time, I never thought I was. But just recently, while I was reading “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence, I’ve realized the kind of relationship I’ve had all along. What’s a long distance relationship? It’s the kind when you and your loved one are separated by distance such that you have very less time together. If you could spend time together somewhat, it’s on very rare occasions. Most of the time, you communicate through letters, emails or phone calls. You may also use social media a lot. With my relationship with God, I couldn’t say that I never talk to Him, because I did. But those times were not as often as I should have. For instance, I do pray in the morning and at night. I also pray the rosary in the afternoon. Once in a while, I read the Bible or some religious books. I also remember Him whenever I listen to inspirational or religious songs, not to mentio...

“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practise and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive. It is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and because God would have us.” – Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God Have you ever had a phone conversation with someone you hardly realized you were speaking for hours? Have you ever spent a day with a dear friend feeling at the end of it that the time you spent together was too short? If we can have such thoughts and feelings with other people, could it be that we could also feel something similar when we are in God’s presence? And if we could practice sensing the presence of God each day, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to talk with Him during the day? We can talk with Him in the morning as we prepare ourselves for the day’s tasks. We...

One of the thoughts I need to set aside is that thought that God could be angry all the time. Angry for my failures. Angry for my stubbornness. Angry for my many sins. If I feel that God is always angry, how could I desire to sense His presence? God is love. There may be a lot of times when He feels sad and disappointed for my faults, but I must set aside my image of Him that’s angry all the time. After all, did He not want us to refrain from hate? Hate is a poison that kills the heart and soul. Hate is that which prompts a person to kill his brother. To hate is to already suffer the pains of hell even while on earth. Is that the kind of feeling then I must attribute to God? It is certain that He will never approve of my sins, but it is also certain that He is the God of Infinite Mercy and Compassion. He knows my weakness. He knows I’m but like dust. And He loves me. That’s what I must always keep in mind. Here’s one of the most beautiful quotes I’ve ever read from Julian of Norwich: “...

There’s a certain attraction one could feel about the concept of reincarnation. It’s that feeling of being able to start again, that thought that you can just leave everything and become another person. This is more tempting when one is undergoing a difficult time in life. When you feel so tired and hopeless, and when there’s nothing in your life that seems to be working well, it’s so tempting to dream of another life, a fuller life, the kind of life that reincarnation may offer you. But if we go back to the Christian faith, we could clearly see how the concept of reincarnation could never fully satisfy our hunger for a happy life. It is not one that could give us true freedom and satisfaction of heart. If we compare this concept to the kind of life God has made for us, both here and the one after, it would fall short of God’s goodness and generosity. In the end, the concept of reincarnation falls short of the Mercy of God. And here are just some of the reasons why: 1. The concept o...

I spent a day recently doing my research about mindfulness and meditation. I’ve long felt something uncomfortable within me about the said practices that seem to abound these days, though I just couldn’t pinpoint exactly what’s wrong with them. Wikipedia defines mindfulness as follows: “Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one’s attention in the present moment without judgment, a skill one develops through meditation or other training.” The American Psychological Association (APA.org, 2012) defines mindfulness as follows: “…a moment-to-moment awareness of one’s experience without judgment. In this sense, mindfulness is a state and not a trait. While it might be promoted by certain practices or activities, such as meditation, it is not equivalent to or synonymous with them.” I started by re-reading some posts by Connie Rossini who writes about Contemplative Prayer (and discusses more about it in her Facebook Group Authentic Contemplative Prayer ). She e...

Image by Himsan from Pixabay “The difficulties of life do not have to be unbearable. It is the way we look at them – through faith or unbelief – that makes them seem so. We must be convinced that our Father is full of love for us and that He only permits trials to come our way for our own good.” – Brother Lawrence I have been reacquainted with the classic book The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence , a 17 century Carmelite friar. He was able to find connection with God even in everyday tasks like working in the kitchen. I wanted to read this book because I wanted to acquire the same sense of God’s presence in my life. I wanted to be near Him not only when I pray or when I read the Bible, but even as I go about my ordinary tasks. While I could start on my own and try to call to mind God’s presence, I wanted to have assistance in this journey. On my own, I know that due to my weaknesses, it will not be an easy task. Because while it is ideal, the thou...

Traditional religion has had its share of criticism in modern times. It has been seen as stifling, domineering, misjudging and empty, a mere set of rules and traditions that never help one grow within. Not a few people have been hurt by those who claim righteousness and holiness. Not a few have felt condemned and cast away. Perhaps this is why many have been outspoken against religion and many would like to claim they are no longer religious but spiritual. Spirituality had been a new refuge for those who feel that their needs could no longer be satisfied by the traditional religions they knew before. This kind of spirituality has its advantages, and one of its first incentives is freedom. For the first time, one is freed from all the voices that seem to curtail one’s thoughts and actions. One is no longer told what to do. One can finally do as one wishes. This kind of spirituality is also convenient. You can take it along with you wherever you go. You can dig deeper into the unknown un...