The ultimate proof

I’M referring to what could be considered as the ultimate

proof that we are true Christians. I imagine that it would be the

willingness to offer our life for others, for our faith, for the

Church, the way Christ himself offered his life as the ultimate act of

his redemptive love for us in full obedience to the will of the

Father. (cfr. Mt 26,39)

            Christ did many, countless good things from the beginning

of this earthly life all the way the end. He preached, he performed

miracles, he travelled extensively just to reach out to people. But

all these were not enough. He capped everything by offering his life

on the cross. And by so doing he assumed all the sins of men, past,

present and future, and conquered them precisely through his death and

resurrection.

            Now if our Christianity goes all the way to that extent, I

believe that would constitute as the ultimate proof of our

Christianity. That would clearly show that we are truly and vitally

united with Christ, since only with Christ can we go that far, i.e.,

for us to give our all.

            Of course, we can already be a Christian just by being

baptized and doing some good work. But if our life happens to involve

suffering, especially of the extreme type, and eventually death, again

especially a cruel death, and we still would be willing to accept and

bear them as part of God’s will for us, I guess that would be a clear

proof that we are completely with Christ.

            No wonder that in the different causes of canonization for

some people who are proposed for sainthood, those of the martyrs are

given a quicker and shorter pass for the simple reason that they have

identified themselves with Christ more clearly. Their heroic acts of

love for God are more patent.

            This was the case of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro

Calungsod. Though they did not write many theological books and the

like, their identification with Christ through their martyrdom can be

more easily seen. The cause for canonization for those of the pastors,

religious, etc., would require greater scrutiny and, thus, a longer

process.

            We should try our best that in our effort to be like

Christ, we develop that attitude of being willing to offer our life

for God and for others. Such attitude would clearly indicate that we

have that love that Christ has, the love which is the very essence of

God, as St. John said in his first letter—“God is love.” (1 Jn 4,8)

            This is the love that summarizes and perfects all the

virtues and all that are good and proper for man as a child of God,

image and likeness of his, meant to share in God’s very own life. It’s

a love that knows how to be humble, patient, compassionate, merciful,

generous, magnanimous. It’s a love that knows how to be completely

detached from earthly things to give our whole heart to God.

            It is the love that follows to the letter and the spirit

behind all of Christ’s teachings and example. It is the love that

brings Christ to life in us. Christ would not just be a historical

character or a reference point. With this love, Christ becomes alive

in us. He and us become one.

            We have to learn how to develop this kind of love in the

daily events of our life. In things small or big, ordinary or

extraordinary, we should see to it that we are willing to give our

all, including our life.

            This is not easy to do, of course, but neither is it

impossible. As long as our union with Christ is vivid and intimate, we

know that nothing in the world can stop us from giving ourselves

completely to him. Everything becomes a means, occasion and reason to

give ourselves to him.