Farmer of Hearts - How Not to Miss God’s Voice

Yesterday, we experienced the essence of God and how it revealed some enlightening truths to us. These revelations help us better understand why God has such high expectations of us and assist us in responding to His various invitations with the right mindset and actions.

One thing we must always remember is that no matter how high the expectations, no matter how difficult the path, the nature of God gives us a guarantee: that God will not allow us to pay a higher price than if we had to personally pay for our own sins. Isn't this a source of comfort God has given us?

Before we delve further into the cost of following Jesus, let us continue to draw greater wisdom from what is revealed to us about the nature of God. This wisdom will become our guide in fulfilling our mission as Christians and in responding to God's invitations in the future!

The first piece of wisdom is based on the first revelation of God’s nature. Remember that the focal point of the first revelation is "God loves us deeply". When you love someone deeply, you will focus all your energy on that person. And because the one who loves us is the Almighty God, we can rest assured that not only does He possess absolute integrity, but He is fully capable of fulfilling His promise. What is the promise of God? His promise, which is also the first wisdom, is that: "Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33). This promise is directed at our lack of confidence in God and our excessive anxiety about life's necessities. Yet, Jesus instructs us, saying, "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things." (Matthew 6:31-32). Therefore, as Christians, we must remember that the focus of our lives is not on what to eat, drink, or wear. Shouldn't our faith help us view these things differently from those who do not believe in Christ? Shouldn't our focus be distinct from those who have yet to embrace our faith? If we believe in God's words,  we should choose to focus on God and the Kingdom of Heaven first, as He has commanded, and let our faithful God take care of the rest!

The second piece of wisdom is based on the second revelation of the nature of God. The focus of this revelation is "God's salvation." God will go to any lengths to ensure that no soul is lost, firstly by granting us salvation and secondly by assisting us in preserving our salvation. Jesus has made this promise to us: "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20). Jesus primarily remains with us through the Church He established, accompanying us and walking with us. The primary means are through the seven sacraments administered by the Church, using tangible signs to continually pour forth invisible grace, so that we can obtain and preserve salvation and the promise of eternal life that it brings. Through this second piece of wisdom, namely the seven sacraments of the Church, we can strengthen our faith, enabling us to more effectively apply the first piece of wisdom, directing our energy towards what God desires us to focus on. Through the power of God and our cooperation, may His plan be fulfilled in us.

Reflections

Do you believe that the promises God made to us through the Bible are true? Do you have full confidence that God will fulfill His promises?

Do you feel that your focus in life differs from that of non-believers? Do you believe that God knows your needs and will provide you with everything you need?

Do you believe that Jesus desires to be with you through the seven sacraments of the Church? How will you become more connected to Jesus through partaking of the sacraments?

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, I thank You for this time of retreat. Not only have You continuously revealed Your love to me, but You have also helped me to straighten the path of my relationship with You. I thank You for allowing me to have a clearer understanding of Your plan, allowing me to know myself better and more importantly, to know You better!

Thank You for granting me two pieces of life wisdom through today's reflection. You have taught me how to learn to trust more in Your gifts to my life and reminded me of how much You desire to be with me every day.

Please grant me a steadfast and longing heart, a commitment to regularly receive the sacraments to be in Your company and to accompany You. May I never be separated from You.

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

Yesterday, in our reflection, we inferred three key points from the nature of God. For ease of reference, we will call these three key points as the Three Revelations of God's Nature.

The first revelation: Out of love for us, God is willing to do all things and become all things. This revelation reminds us that God is willing to bestow grace upon us unceasingly and boundlessly. The second revelation: God will do anything to save us at all cost. This demonstrates God's characteristic of being willing to "go to all lengths" and "have no hesitation" to save us. The third revelation: God has specific requirements for us, namely to deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Him – a demand that sounds easy but is challenging to fulfill. While this may seem like a demand from God, it is essentially rooted in our benefit. Instead of a demand, it is more accurate to say that God has given us crucial guidance, teaching us the key to attaining His greatest blessings! Most importantly, the third revelation plays a decisive role as it is the only key that can "activate" the first and second revelations.

Why is that? Because God has given us free will and will not force us to accept His love. Additionally, relationships are always mutual, so our willingness and cooperation are key to whether God can unfold His perfect plan in us. We need to understand that when it comes to achieving this goal, no one understands it better than God. However, as we have consistently emphasized, there is only one method, and it's not easy. But if we follow through, God's promises will manifest in our lives!

The key to victory, as we refer to it here, is precisely the advice Jesus gave to His disciples: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23). This is not only the key to unlocking God's infinite blessings upon us but also the first step in returning God’s love.

Please don't be intimidated by these seemingly high demands. After all, what does it mean to "deny oneself"? For the rich young man, Jesus' answer was, "Go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor." But for different people, God has different requirements on how we should "deny ourselves." One thing is certain – God asks us to let go of things that may seem important to us but are not so in the eyes of God. This is where it becomes most challenging for us.

These things we can't let go of have a captivating power over us, and they can blind our hearts and minds. What's more frightening is that they can prevent us from seeing the truth, hinder us from receiving the most crucial messages from God in the present moment, causing us to lose the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and make wrong decisions. Wasn't it because the rich young man couldn't let go of his possessions that he completely missed the crucial message that Jesus told him? And most importantly, these things we can't let go of can deprive us of the freedom that we have gained through the free will given by God!

Of course, in addition to tangible things, what we want to abandon also includes intangible things, such as our desires, our pursuits, our plans, etc. These things that we strive to pursue greatly hinder us from choosing God's tailor-made plan for us. Regrettably, these things not only take away the place God should hold in our hearts but also cause us to lose the "ultimate love" we should choose in our lives!

Reflection

Imagine if Jesus stood before you and said, "If you want to become my follower, you must deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me." How would you feel? Do you perceive this request as a significant burden, or do you see it as a special reminder and tip from God?

How do you think God wants you to "deny yourself"? I invite you to ask God in your meditation.

Are there difficulties or fears in implementing this invitation from God in your life? If so, why?

Today’s Prayer

Lord, I understand that through today's reflection, You invite me to see with new eyes and accept and embrace Your call to follow You. Please remind me not to view this request as a burden in my life but as a key for unlocking infinite blessings from You, an opportunity to love You as You have loved me.

Help me to act in accordance with this new perspective, to accept Your invitation on how to deny myself, and to face and renounce those things that captivate me and cloud my judgment.

Holy Spirit, please enlighten me, teach me to use the free will gifted by God wisely, and guide me in making the right choices, so that the Father's plan for me may unfold smoothly.

Lord, I willingly surrender myself to You...

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

In the reflection of the past week on the encounter between the rich young man and Jesus, one particularly thought-provoking point emerged. What Jesus asked of the rich young man is also what He asks of each of us Christians who long for eternal life. Jesus said to the rich young man, "Go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross." (Mark 10:21) We can’t help but wonder, "It can’t be that serious, right?"

Another important realization is that we didn’t take God seriously enough. To put it simply, we lack genuine interest in God and don't  take the initiative to care about His needs and emotions.

At the same time, we also recognize that God goes to great lengths to enter into our lives and connect with us through various roles, images, and other creations according to our individual needs. Besides revealing His true nature to us, the most crucial aspect is to enable as many people as possible to accept His salvation in order to win the most souls.

Having understood these key points, we further recognize the essence of God, which is that, out of love for us, He is willing to pay any price. Yes, for us, He will give up everything He has without reservation, regardless of Himself, so that we can regain eternal life and be with Him forever in our heavenly home! Therefore, when Lord Jesus asks you and me, "Who do you say that I am?" He not only desires us to understand who He is, His role, and image, but most importantly, He wants us to know His essence, the nature of God!

This "unreserved" nature of God reveals several key points to us. First, out of love for us, God is not only willing to "become all things," but He is also willing to do whatever is necessary for us. Hence, if it is beneficial to us, God will not hesitate to provide us with all our real needs and rescue us from danger.

Second, since God has paid such a heavy price for us, how could He possibly not use all His power and means to bestow upon us and as many people as possible the grace of salvation, and prevent all those who have received salvation from losing this grace for any reason?

Third, because God takes our relationship with Him seriously and desires its healthy development to fulfill His above two expectations, God also expects us to be serious about Him and hopes for a responsive love towards Him. His minimum requirement is that we follow Him. Yes, just like the demand He made of the rich young man – in other words, the minimum threshold for us to embark on the path to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Please note that after Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" (Luke 9:20), He told them, "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." (Luke 9:22) He then continued by saying, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) We can note that this request is similar to His request for the rich young man. Firstly, it involves "denying oneself," which is equivalent to what He told the rich young man: "Go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor." (Mark 10:21) The next step is to carry our own cross every day and follow Jesus.

This indicates that the path to the Kingdom of Heaven should be difficult, and there are no shortcuts! Although we may not fully understand why it needs to be this way, one thing we see is that Jesus not only asks us to do so, but He Himself indeed went through it! Everything happened just as He foretold how He would suffer, be killed, and rise again.

Yes, following Jesus is not an easy task. But one thing we can be sure of is that God will not allow us to pay a higher price than if we had to pay the debt of our own sins ourselves. Otherwise, how could He, for our sake, give up His own life as a ransom for many? (See Matthew 20:28)

Reflection

Have you ever put serious thoughts about how to follow Jesus that is up to His standard? Do you perceive yourself as earnest or lightly in your commitment?

Do you believe that you are worth the great sacrifice Jesus made for you? Why?

God paid a heavy price out of love to redeem and save you. Are you moved by this? How would you like to give back more to God?

Today’s Prayer

Lord, I have always thought of myself as a pretty decent Christian. I realize now that I haven't truly grasped the depth and breadth of Your love for me – a love so profound, so boundless. Your unreserved love prompts me to question why I can be so indifferent and heartless towards You. I find myself appalling in my own eyes.

Yet, You remain silent, patiently waiting for me. It makes me feel like the prodigal son in the parable, shamelessly piercing Your heart.

Lord, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me once again.

Thank You for allowing me to come home and rediscover the identity and love that You have always reserved for me.

Heavenly Father, please don't let me be separated from You again.

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

"Who do you say that I am?" This is a simple question that Jesus asked His disciples, and it is also a question that is constantly asked to each of us who follow Him today. This question reveals God's profound desire for a deep and unique relationship with each one of us. In the past, present, and future, there is no one else in the world who can take the place that each of us holds in the heart of God.

If, upon reflecting on yesterday, this question from Jesus still lingers in your mind, you'll know that the Holy Spirit is stirring within you.  Regardless if you can make sense of it or have the answer, rest assured that the Holy Spirit's work is relentless. Unless you actively hinder the Spirit from continuing His work in you, He will persistently guide you until your soul finds its rest in God.

An important reminder is that you won't find the perfect answer to Jesus' question because it's a lifelong journey of discovery. Life experiences and lessons will guide us, paving the way for us. Through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, our relationship with God will mature, enabling us to see more clearly who Jesus is for us. If we are serious about our relationship with God, we can be certain that Jesus, who is willing to interact with us in any way, will continue to pose this question at different stages of our lives.

When answering Jesus' question, there is a truth that we need to understand, that is, God is willing to pay any price for us. Firstly, in order to share His love with us, God decided to create us and all other creations for our enjoyment even though He knew that we would betray Him. Secondly, in order to interact with us in the closest way possible, God was willing to be born as a human being and humbly became one of us. Thirdly, in order to save us, the Heavenly Father did not hesitate to sacrifice His only begotten Son, which is equivalent to laying down His own life for us. Finally, to ensure that as many people as possible accept His salvation, God is willing to enter our lives in different roles and images for the purpose of winning the most souls.

Our God is a God who can completely forget about Himself for our sake! Ask yourself, is there any relationship in the world that can be compared to the relationship we have with God?

If we recognize and confirm that this "unreserved" God is indeed our God, we should no longer doubt that God would change His nature over trivial matters. With this correct understanding and interpretation, we should believe that when we encounter real difficulties, God will not let us hang out to dry; and when we have needs in life, our God will certainly intervene to help us and fulfill all our true needs.

Therefore, St. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, chapter 8, verses 31 and 32: “What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?” (Romans 8:31-32)

With these evidences of love, do we still have a reason not to believe in our God? Is there any reason not to choose God to be the ultimate love in our lives?

Reflection

Have you pondered in your heart the question from God, "Who do you say that I am?" Why?

Have you ever questioned in your heart the unreserved nature of God, who will do whatever it takes to love us?

Now, take a moment to reflect on some past life experiences. Were any of your past complaints caused by your failure to understand the nature of God?

Today’s Prayer

O God, thank You. Today, besides having a clearer understanding of Your essence, I deeply feel Your love that goes to the utmost, to the very end for me. Faced with all this, faced with Your love for me, what else can I say? What additional requests can I make? How can I be so discontent?

I ask myself, if You can make such sacrifices for my sake, what can I do? What can I sacrifice for You?

Your love for me is unspoken, but my complaints against You are always on my lips. Such a contrast makes me feel utterly ashamed and truly speechless!

Please grant me a content and grateful heart. May I not always be an unlovable child in front of You!

Abba Father, let me learn to love You more and more...

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

On the sixteenth day of retreat, you might have a question: why does it seem like we haven't yet touched upon the main topic, which focuses on "finding God in all things"? In fact, while this theme is important, it is not our ultimate goal. I hope that over the past fifteen days, you have realized that the ultimate objective of this retreat is to establish a true and intimate relationship with God through a deep and correct understanding of the God in whom we believe. Any misunderstandings, misconceptions, distorted images, incorrect expectations, as well as our human weaknesses and sinful nature, etc., significantly affect our relationship with God. If the image of God in our minds is distorted, even if we can find God in all things, what we find may not be the image that God wishes to reveal to us, and it will not bring us positive and lasting benefits.

So how can we know if the image of God in our minds is authentic? This is indeed a question we need to reflect on, and it is a key factor in whether we can benefit from this retreat. However, since the image with which God desires to relate to us is individual and unique, the experiences of others can only serve as references and cannot be directly applied to our own situation. Therefore, our only and most direct way is to personally approach God, engage in heartfelt communion with Him, and build a relationship with Him, which cannot be achieved solely through book knowledge.

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 9, verses 18 to 20, it is written:

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:18-20)

Here, Jesus purposely first asked His disciples, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" and then asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Jesus intentionally wanted them to differentiate between the two. Clearly, Jesus does not want them to rely on hearsay or popular opinions, treating others' relationships with Him as if they were their own. This is not the individual and intimate relationship that God desires. Just as Jesus not only wants to teach publicly as a teacher but also desires time and space to interact individually with His disciples. Of course, during His time, Jesus faced limitations of the flesh and the constraints of time and space, making it impossible to establish individual relationships with everyone. However, now, unrestricted by time and space, Jesus desires to build a unique relationship with each of us, lasting until the end of this world.

We should take note that after asking this crucial question, Jesus foretold the suffering, death, and resurrection to His disciples, and used different methods to strengthen them. This implies that if the disciples want to follow Jesus completely till the end, with unwavering loyalty, and persist through difficulties and pain, having a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus is absolutely essential. Otherwise, when faced with storms or even persecution, especially for the sake of Jesus, an unreal image of God in our hearts and a relationship not rooted in Him cannot help us withstand these challenges. Jesus, who is in the same boat with us, will not be able to rise up to rebuke the wind and the sea and calm the storm for us.

Reflection

Do you feel that your relationship with God is genuinely personal, or is it an impression you've gained over the years from others talking about God?

If Jesus were to ask you now, "Who do you say that I am?" how would you respond to Him?

Do you believe that your current relationship with God can withstand trials and challenges? Are there life experiences that can attest to this?

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for allowing me to realize, as I revisit and reflect on my relationship with You, that the various images of You in my mind are superficial and lack depth, as if they have no experiential foundation and lack a genuine connection between us. It makes me wonder if these impressions are merely hearsay.

Please strengthen me, don’t let me be shaken by this doubt. Guide me to seize this opportunity to clarify the relationship between us with a more earnest attitude, to face You more seriously, and to acknowledge the boundless thoughts and love You have poured into me. Do not let me deviate again from the image You desire to reveal in my heart.

Lord, please allow me a little more time to reflect on who You truly are to me…

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

Yesterday we mentioned that God interacts with us in different roles and images in order to meet our unique needs. What evidence do we have in the Scripture that this is the nature of God? Let’s look for some clues from one of the greatest apostles in the Bible!

In the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, chapter 9, verses 19 to 23, he says, “For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. “ (1 Cor 9:19-23)

This soul-stirring confession of faith by St. Paul the Apostle is probably familiar to many Christians and is also particularly touching. This proclamation makes us feel that St. Paul has such a broad mind. As an apostle, he does not demand respect from others to be one. He is willing to set aside his own status, freedom, and rights for the sake of spreading the Gospel. In order for Christ to win the most people, he is willing to accommodate the needs of everyone.  He vowed: "I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some." For Christians dedicated to spreading the Good News, St. Paul the Apostle is a perfect example of an evangelist.

Have you ever wondered where this exemplary apostolic demeanor comes from? St. Paul reveals it in his letter to the Galatians, chapter 2, verses 19 to 20, when he says, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:19-20) Here, St. Paul makes it clear that because Christ loved him and sacrificed Himself for him, not only is he willing to follow Christ and imitate his example, but he also desires that his life is not for himself. He does not want to live according to his own ways and abilities but yearns to completely follow Christ. When he realizes that he cannot fulfill this desire with his own strength, he earnestly wishes to put on Christ, allowing Christ to enter his life as Lord and King. This way, he can fully transmit the spirit of Christ, the will of the Father, and allow the mighty power of Christ to permeate his thoughts, words, and actions through the Holy Spirit. Thus, he can boldly declare, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."

This spirit of willingly surrendering oneself completely, allowing God to use and selflessly dedicating oneself entirely, is precisely the example set by our Lord Jesus Christ for the Apostle Paul and all His followers. The spirit that St. Paul desires to become all things to all people is a manifestation of his allowing Christ to be the Lord and master of his life, which is also the manifestation of the spirit of Christ. As the Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect image of the Heavenly Father, this most pure and flawless Heart of Christ is indeed the Father's affection for us! Therefore, the Father is willing to become all things for all those He loves, even willing to send His only begotten Son to take on human flesh and human nature in the most meek and humble manner. This is done so as to engage with humanity in the closest and most thorough way possible, aiming to win the most people. This is the essence of God, and it is also the ironclad proof that God loves us and is willing to surrender Himself unconditionally and without any bottom line!

The perfect image of the Father tamed the Apostle Paul and numerous saints throughout history, inspiring them to dedicate themselves to fulfilling the Father's project of love in them and for all humanity, as a way to return the Father’s love. What about you? Are you also willing?

Reflection

In your reflection, please try to sense the sentiments of St. Paul the Apostle: that due to the boundless grace of Christ, he was compelled to sacrifice everything for the sake of the Gospel, to share the promise of the Gospel with others.

In these 15 days of reflection and drawing closer to the Lord, do you perhaps feel a deeper understanding of how God spares no effort, willing to give up everything out of love for us all?

Are you willing to imitate St. Paul the Apostle and commit yourself to fulfill the work of love that our Heavenly Father wants to unfold in you?

Today’s Prayer

O God, thank You for touching my soul today through the confession of faith of St. Paul the Apostle. It deepens my understanding of how thorough and boundless Your love for me is. For me, You truly can set aside everything, regardless of Your own status, the treatment You receive, the physical and emotional injuries You endure. I don't understand; I truly don't. Is it for me? Why?

Heavenly Father, I thank You for being willing to encounter me in different forms and images, using the most tender and intimate ways to guide and fulfill me. Please don't let me only be a receiver but unwilling to respond to Your love. Let me, like St. Paul the Apostle, be melted by Your love and inspired by the example You've set.

Lord, I am willing to become all things for those You love and for their salvation!

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

Yesterday, we mentioned the importance of seeking and recognizing the role and image of God in our lives. One thing we need to bear in mind is that at different stages of our life, faith, and spiritual growth, God communicates and interacts with us in different roles and images, and this is entirely normal. Moreover, even the same image may be presented differently in different individuals. This variation is due to the unique circumstances of a particular stage in our lives, tailored to meet our current needs.

For example, when God recognizes the need to strengthen the virtue of trust in us, He desires to interact with us in the image of a Heavenly Father and Creator. If we are in a crisis of self-worth or harbour self-hatred due to our sinful nature, He will console and reassure us in the image of mercy. Conversely, if we are prone to sin and do not fear the Lord, God may use the image or approach of justice and righteousness to guide us. Of course, because relationships are two-way, our ability to see these images of God depends on whether we have any misunderstandings about the various images of God or personal preferences, leading us to selectively accept or reject them.

Additionally, due to our past experiences and personal tendencies, we may also "limit" or, in other words, fixate the image through which God communicates with us. Because God connects with us in various ways based on our current needs, if we fixate the image of God in our thoughts and hearts, we also limit the ways in which God can connect with us. Ultimately, this amounts to limiting the opportunity for God to speak to us and provide us with timely help.

An example that many might be familiar with illustrates this point. In a flooded village, a devout believer was trapped in his house. He firmly trusted in God and believed that God would save him. He prayed fervently, expecting God to personally come to his rescue. However, he stubbornly believed that God would save him in the form of an angel. Consequently, he missed three opportunities to be rescued by different people. In the end, he was drowned, losing his life in vain, while God helplessly watched on as the three messengers sent to help were rejected by the villager one by one.

Doesn't this seemingly absurd story depict certain attachments we have to the image of God, which have, at times, led to undesirable conditions in our interaction with God? In the past, the Jews anticipated the Messiah to come in the form of a king to save them. This attachment prevented them from recognizing Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, even though Jesus had performed countless miracles before them. Their blinded hearts could not be opened, leading to a dreadful outcome. They crucified the Messiah on the cross, thus personally forfeiting the opportunity to be saved by Jesus. We must take this as a lesson, not to let Jesus sacrifice Himself in vain for us and not to betray God's boundless love for us and all the painstaking efforts He is willing to make for us!

Furthermore, we tend to "tailor-make" an image of God that makes us feel comfortable and is non-threatening to us. We must be vigilant because this self-crafted and one-sided illusion is not the true face of God, nor is it the authentic image that He desires to reveal to us. Such a practice not only disrespects God but is also a form of self-deception. The greatest danger lies in creating a comfort zone for ourselves, a self-imposed illusion that not only deprives us of opportunities for breakthroughs in our spiritual life but also suffocates the space for establishing a correct and intimate relationship with the Lord.

Reflection

Looking back on your past experiences, have you ever made a mistake similar to the villager in the story, missing out on the assistance God offered or misunderstanding God in the process?

In your journey of faith, has the image and role of God in your mind remained unchanged, year after year? Do you think it's because you subjectively fixate on a particular image of God?

Now, I invite you to seek confirmation from God in your meditation. Have you ever tailored a "comfortable or non-threatening" image of God for yourself? What might be the underlying reasons behind this?

Today’s Prayer

Lord, thank You for the significant revelation and crucial warning You provided me today. It made me realize that the image of You in my heart is a fabrication, something I have constructed and even invented over time to protect myself. This discovery is truly surprising, and I now understand that subconsciously, I have been unwilling to let You enter my life, to guide me, and to transform my selfish behaviour.

I pray for Your help to immediately cease these disrespectful actions towards You and myself. May I no longer be swayed by the influences of the enemy, and may it not affect my genuine and sincere relationship with You.

As I stand before You now, I ask that You reveal Your true image to me. My heart only trusts in You, so please prevent me from straying from Your will and Your love for me!

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

As we build our relationships with God, we need to fully understand God's actual role in our lives. Mutual understanding of our respective roles and positions can help and guide us in establishing an appropriate way of interacting—how to treat, respect, accept, trust, understand and cooperate with each other. These principles of human interaction also apply to our relationship with God. On this basis, building an intimate relationship becomes much easier. With a good relationship with God, we can hear His voice more easily and understand His will, and consequently, discern and recognize our own identity and the mission He has given us more easily. Lacking any of these aspects can affect our ability to find the direction of our lives and live a meaningful life.

If the rich young man not only perceived Jesus as a "good teacher" but also recognized Him as the Saviour he had been longing for, the one who would bring him eternal life and the God who provides for his needs, he would have known how to interact with Jesus with the right mindset and attitude. Recognizing Jesus's role would have helped him establish the right and trusting relationship with Jesus. In that case, he would not have overlooked the personal promise from Jesus that, as soon as he responded to and fulfilled Jesus’ request, God would immediately bestow upon him treasures in heaven.

The way God connects with individuals and the roles and images He assumes vary according to each person's situation and needs. It is personalized for each individual for our greatest benefit. God interacts intimately with each individual. What is suitable for one person may not be so for another. Therefore, you will find that among the many saints in the Catholic Church, they have their unique ways of connecting with God, and because their personalities and callings are different, their paths and methods of responding to their callings are also different. How the saints lived out their faith is worth modelling after, but we should not just blindly adopt the exact way of living of a particular saint.

But there is one important foundation: understanding the primary role through which God connects with us. This is crucial in establishing a relationship with God. If we choose the role of God in our lives based solely on our likes and dislikes, it is not what God desires of us. Relationships are mutual, and we need to consider God's will and perspective. Through prayer and meditation, and by humbly listening to the prompts of God in our hearts, He will gradually reveal His image to us, enabling us to see more clearly who our God is.

God is the Creator, and He knows our makeup and our needs most intimately. The essence of God is love, and in creating us, He poured His love upon us. In fact, it is out of deep love for us that He desired to share all His creation with us, and that is the reason for our existence. But He is also a righteous and merciful God and cannot bear to see us lose the endless grace and eternal life that He wants to bestow upon us because of our sins. Therefore, He spared no effort, even sacrificing His beloved only begotten Son to bear the punishment we couldn't endure. Jesus endured humiliation and suffering on the cross, died and rose again after three days, gaining for us the identity of His adopted sons and daughters. This was all done so that we could regain the grace of God and the promise of eternal life. Our heavenly Father continues to provide for all our needs through everything He has created unceasingly.

In fact, all creation is a gift from God to mankind and can lead people to God. This is the first principle of Ignatian spirituality. Since all creation is God's handiwork, it should help us know the Creator better and, consequently, return God’s love more readily. If we can approach the various blessings and experiences in our lives with the right mindset, we will understand how to establish a proper relationship with God, respond positively to His invitation, and accept everything that happens in our lives as allowed by God.

Take the rich young man in the Gospel as an example. If he could recognize that his many possessions were blessings and gifts from God, through which he should give glory to God, we can imagine that it would be easier for him to let go of God’s unconditional gifts and accept God’s invitation to follow Him. As a result, the trajectory of his life would have changed, possibly turning him into a great apostle!

Reflection

You are now invited to meditate on your relationship with God. What roles has God played in your life?

Based on these roles that God has played in your life, what identities has God given you? Are there some identities that you were not aware of before?

Do these identities of yours remind you that God might have invited you to respond to certain missions in the past?

Today’s Prayer

Oh God, my Creator, Saviour who grants me eternal life, Teacher who guides me, Father who gives me life and provides for my needs, gracious Lord who calls me a friend, thank You for playing these various roles, not for any other reason but to love me unconditionally! What a blessing it is for me! How can I repay the sacrifices You've made for me out of love!

In Your presence, I am truly speechless! Looking back at my past, I feel deeply ashamed for the hurts I've caused You due to my disregard and misunderstanding of You. Now, I come before You to apologize for the grievances You've endured and for all the pain of being neglected and abandoned by me. Please forgive me!

Please renew me and grant me a new identity so that I won't let You down or fail in what You hope to accomplish in me.

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

The encounter between the rich young man and Jesus did not lead to a better outcome for him. Apart from the fact that he was unwilling to let go of his possessions, the core issue was that he didn't truly trust Jesus, the "Good Teacher" he had sought. Ironically, the person he longed for turned out to be someone he didn't trust! But why couldn't this trust be established? The reason might be that he firmly believed his many possessions were the result of his hard work, and have nothing to do with God. The contradictions here expose the dark side of human nature, which is selfishness, greed and pride.

Let's reflect on ourselves as Christians. Are our motives for seeking faith sometimes impure, similar to the rich young man? Do we often focus on our own interests, rather than desiring a relationship with the Lord built on mutual trust, love, and a willingness to give oneself to each other? We cannot deny that these are crucial foundations for establishing a healthy and lasting relationship. To be honest, just examining our usual prayers reveals that most of the time, we mainly hope for God's care, consideration, and provision for ourselves. We often pray for our needs and desires. But we have little interest in God Himself, nor do we care about His needs and feelings. No?

In front of God, we just keep asking Him for this and that. Of course we need to rely on God. But we cannot deny that this relationship also hides self-centeredness and even greed. In addition, we have not delved into the true requirements and standards Jesus has for us as Christians, so that we fail to see what we have failed to do. Instead, we may wrongly believe that God has not taken care of our needs and has not granted all our prayers. When we are dissatisfied, we are like a greedy child, very unlovable! And when God answers our prayers in other ways, we are too slow to understand and blame God for "not being able to deliver". Not only are we not grateful, we also lose faith in God! We have really misunderstood this "Good Teacher", this God who loves us so much!

If we realize that we have this tendency, we need to take heart. The consequence of the above problems is that we lack awareness and gratitude for the tangible and intangible gifts in our lives. Not only are we not satisfied, we also fail to recognize that these blessings are unconditional gifts from God. Instead, we attribute them to ourselves, as if everything depends on our own ability and our own merit.

And when one day, God presents us with a "demand", like asking us to give up everything, just as He requested the rich young man to sell all his possessions and give to the poor, it will be even harder for us to let go of all the things we think we have earned through hard work, whether it's material possessions, like wealth, or intangible aspects, like our health.

Under the influence of this kind of thinking, it is no wonder that the rich young man seemed completely unable to hear the important words that Jesus clearly told him: after selling all his possessions and giving to the poor, he would have "treasures in heaven"! However, the rich young man's attention was solely on losing what he considered his life's foundation – his many possessions. How could he not go away grieving?

From this example, we can see that the shortcomings of our character and sinful nature affect the image of God in our minds and our relationship with God. Please do not underestimate this issue because it can lead to erroneous understandings and interpretations of God or events in our lives, influencing our reactions and motivations for corresponding actions. This directly impacts the outcome of situations and creates obstacles in relationships! These are lessons we can glean from the story of the rich young man, and we absolutely should not overlook them.

Hopefully, you will agree that this less-than-ideal situation ultimately has a serious impact on our willingness to put God first in our lives and make Him our ultimate love. This once again explains why we need to diligently examine ourselves every day, reflecting on our personal deviations and sinful nature to straighten the path of our relationship with the Lord.

Reflection

Is the motivation behind your pursuit of faith and building a relationship with the Lord pure? Do you pay attention to God's feelings and needs, or do you mainly focus on your own needs and expectations?

Are you more inclined to make many demands of God while expecting little in terms of what you need to contribute?

Do you easily notice both the tangible and intangible blessings in your life? And do you attribute these blessings in your life to God?

Today’s Prayer

Lord, once again, thank You for giving me an opportunity to reflect today. It has brought to my attention many blind spots in my character, actions, and in my relationship with You. It has opened my eyes and made me feel ashamed. I realize that I have not been attentive and have not taken these matters to heart. I believe that I have hurt You in the past, perhaps even pierced Your heart.

Lord, I apologize for my selfishness, greed, pride, and the harm I have caused You because of them. I am sorry, my beloved God. Please forgive me.

Because of these blind spots, I have been unable to see and feel how good You have been to me. I pray for the grace to have a heart to examine myself daily, learn to empathize with You, and develop a sensitivity to care about Your feelings and needs.

Lord, I love You.

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya

At this stage of the retreat, especially after the reflection on the tenth day, I hope you can sense that in choosing Jesus as the love of our lives and in responding to and living out God's call, there is a clear disparity between our willing hearts and our practical actions. We must never rely solely on subjective feelings to determine whether we have established an intimate relationship with God, or use our own one-sided understanding to determine whether we have met the requirements of Jesus. We must seek confirmation from Jesus because relationships are not one-sided, and the standards are not set by ourselves. Not seeking verification only shows that we are not serious, or we have not understood clearly before jumping to conclusions, or when faced with God’s very clear demands, we continue to avoid facing God because we are unwilling to take responsibility. I believe that most of us know in our minds what we should do and what we should not do. God often speaks to us through our conscience, doesn’t He? Besides, God’s words, which reveal His mind, are clearly written in the Bible. That leaves us no excuses not to understand His will for us.

After all, it is very likely that we are not serious enough about this relationship, or have other preferences in life distracting us from establishing a normal and healthy relationship with God. Therefore, whenever choosing God leads us away from investing in our interests, we distance ourselves from God or avoid His gaze and gentle invitation. In our relationship with God, we often take advantage of Him and take His love and understanding for us for granted. Poor God is often neglected and mistreated by us, and becomes the victim in our relationship.

If we don't earnestly clarify these issues, how can we claim with a clear conscience that we desire to find God in all things? Wouldn't that be hypocritical and self-deceptive? Therefore, we really need to spend enough time in this retreat to examine our conditions, consciousness, understanding, and true intentions. Only then can we truly explore how to seek, see, and feel God's presence in the details of our lives. Otherwise, it's all just empty talk with little meaning.

The story of the rich young man provides us with a lot of room for reflection. At that time, Jesus was already on His way to Jerusalem, facing the suffering He would endure for the salvation of all people. That means, this incident did not occur when Jesus was actively calling people to be His disciples. Therefore, we know that Jesus’ invitation to the rich young man is the same as the invitation to anyone who wishes to follow Him – including you and me. What's noteworthy is that the rich young man's intention was not necessarily the same as that of other people in the Gospel who wanted to follow Jesus. Instead, he simply and intently desired to "inherit eternal life." Therefore, we can infer that Jesus’ requirements for His disciples and apostles must be higher than those for the rich young man. In other words, the demands Jesus made to the rich young man are the lowest threshold for us to embark on the path to the Kingdom of heaven.

You might think, "Isn't God too demanding?" This perception is related to the image of God in our hearts. Assuming that we firmly believe that God is all good and always looks out for our best interest, and because we are created by Him, so God knows our weaknesses and temperaments. On this basis, we can be assured that God will show us the most effective and direct ways for our salvation, and will not deliberately make things difficult for us. If we suspect that God has raised the bar unnecessarily, our image of God deviates from the essence of God. If God were truly so unreasonable and demanding, you probably wouldn't choose to find this God in all things!

When we are clear about all of this, we can make a serious and resolute response to choose God as the love of our lives. With this solid foundation, "finding Him in all things" becomes meaningful!

Reflection

How would you rate and evaluate yourself in your relationship with God and in responding to His demands? Do you think God thinks the same about you? Have you asked God for confirmation on this?

In your relationship with God, are there things you know, based on reason and conscience, that you should do, but you fail to do them? Why?

Do you think you are serious enough in your relationship with God? Are you more concerned about God, or do you think God is more concerned about you?

Today’s Prayer

Oh God, thank You for allowing me to face myself in today’s reflection. In my relationship with You, I really didn’t take Your feelings into consideration. I am so used to justifying my actions, and I have never thought of seeking any confirmation from You. God, why am I so self-centered and selfish?

Please help me, Lord. Enable me to think from Your perspective, to understand why You have such high expectations for me. Help me reflect on why I take my personal interests more seriously than my commitment to You. I truly don't want to see myself mistreating You and making You suffer.

I don't want to just ask for Your forgiveness… I only hope that You grant me strength and determination to put You as the first priority in my life.

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The following is the “Farmer of Hearts: Finding God in All Things” team, including FLL staff and volunteers. Please kindly pray for them. May God protect them and sustain their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Project Manager: Michael Lam
Writer: Paul Yeung
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: Bonny Chan
Mandarin Narrator: Rene Ren
Audio Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Fonte Ip, Sander Lee, Arnold Chan
Graphics: Francis Lai, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“Friends Only” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Watercolor Lilies” by Aaron Kenny https://youtube.com/@contactkennya