Keeping an intense desire to see Christ

LET’S be like Mary Magdalene, a repentant sinner turned loyal disciple, who went early, even while it was still dark, to visit the tomb of Christ. When she found the tomb empty, she was, of course, heartbroken and went immediately to tell the other disciples. When the others came and saw the empty tomb, they could not do much, so they left. But Mary Magdalene stayed behind. That’s when she finally met the risen Christ. (cfr. Jn 20) 

 There is something in Mary Magdalene that is worth taking note of. More than that, there is something in her that is worth following. And that is none other than to have an intense desire to see Christ always, no matter what the conditions of our life are. 

 Like what happened in this gospel episode, Christ will always come to meet us and to give us some specific instructions. In this case of Mary Magdalene meeting Christ, she was told to tell the other disciples that he was going to ascend into heaven. 

 There should be no day, not even a moment, where we can have no concern about looking for Christ. This may require some drastic effort, but it really is something to learn since it is what is proper and ideal for our life. There is nothing in our life where Christ is not involved. 

 We have to be most wary of our tendency to think that in our life there are times and occasions when Christ can be ignored and left out. This usually happens in our daily affairs, in our routinary work, or in such human concerns like politics, business, recreation, etc. It’s precisely in these areas where we most need Christ, and where Christ, to be sure, is most interested to meet us and to guide us. 

 We therefore need to develop an intense desire to look for Christ. For this, we first of all should ask for God’s grace which is actually given to us in abundance. And from there, let’s go through some systematic plan of life that will nourish and strengthen our constant and intimate relationship with Christ, a relationship that should involve our entire self—body and soul, feelings, emotions and passions down to our very instincts, as well as our mind and heart. 

 It should be a plan that should obviously include prayer in all its forms—vocal, liturgical, ejaculatory, mental, contemplative, etc. Our life of prayer should be such that even when we are immersed in the things of the world due to our work and our temporal duties, we would still be aware of God’s presence, and it is doing God’s will that should always motivate us. 

 The plan definitely should include practices that will foster our spirit of sacrifice, penance and purification, given the obvious fact that no matter how much we try to be good, we would always be hounded by our weaknesses and the temptations around, and the possibility of falling into sin is high. This spirit of sacrifice would help us discipline ourselves in order to rally all our faculties for the service of God and of everybody else. 

 The plan should include a daily effort of ascetical struggle where, aside from fighting evil, we should aim at growing in our love for God and others, by developing the virtues as well as always strengthening them. It should help us to develop a growing concern for the others, doing personal apostolate wherever we are and whatever the occasion and circumstance may be.

The empty tomb

IN the gospel of the Mass on Monday within the Easter Octave (cfr. Mt 28,8-15), we are given a vivid description of the immediate aftermath of the empty tomb that gave rise to different reactions. 

 When some holy women discovered the empty tomb where Christ was buried, they immediately went to inform the disciples, joyful yet also fearful. But along the way, they were met by the risen Christ himself who made them literally ecstatic, overwhelmed with joy. 

 But the guards of the tomb were deeply disturbed by what took place. They also went to report to the chief priests who bribed them to fabricate the story that the disciples stole the body while they slept. 

 All this simply shows that the things of God will always cause different if not conflicting reactions of belief and unbelief with disbelief playing in the middle. It shows how this supernatural gift of faith can be received by us. 

 We just have to know where and who to believe and who not to. The episode of the empty tomb is actually a test of where to base our faith. Would it just be anybody who can appear to us as reasonable, or would we look for the one with real authority? 

 We know that the authentic authority to teach the truths of our Christian faith belongs to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church which is the living teaching office entrusted by Christ to the apostles and their successors, the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Pope. 

 This authority ensures the faithful transmission of the Gospel, guarding against error and providing definitive interpretations of Scripture and Tradition. No individual or community can claim this mandate for themselves. It comes from Christ through the sacrament of Holy Orders, empowering the ministers to “in persona Christi” (in the person of Christ). 

 The Pope, when he speaks “ex cathedra” (from the chair), that is, in fulfillment of his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians, possesses the infallibility promised to Peter when defining a doctrine of faith or morals to be held by the whole Church. 

 That is why, we should always make it a habit to refer ourselves to this teaching office of the Church to see if we are truly dealing with a truth of faith, and not something that is just a human invention. 

 Nowadays, we have to be wary of the flurry of false prophets and demagogues who make their own interpretation of the truths of Christian faith. They can appear and sound credible through a smart use of words and persuasive techniques. But if their teaching on truths of faith does not channel what the Church Magisterium teaches, then they can only be false. 

 A false doctrine can sound good and can come up with fair promises and assurances, but they actually lack the power to make things happen. They can contain many theoretical truths and can also be supported by a lot of data, facts and other so-called scientific findings, but they lack the most crucial element—the proper spirit. 

 A true doctrine is not some clever human wisdom that can yield at best some worldly results. It goes far beyond that, though it can be accessed and lived quite easily if one simply has faith. A true doctrine always requires faith! 

 Thus, in Psalm 119,100, we read these consoling words: “I discern more than the elders, for I obey your precepts, Lord!”

The best news of all time

HELLO! Happy Easter to all! 

 Once again, we are on this most resplendent and happy day when we commemorate and celebrate the final conquest of sin and death with the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 It marks the fulfillment of God’s salvific plan and forms the very foundation of our Christian faith. Remember St. Paul saying: “If Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also in vain.” (1 Cor 15,14) We come to believe what Christ teaches us because he conquered death through his resurrection. He must be God whose words we should believe. 

 This is the best news of all time. We are assured of victory in Christ as long as we show at least a little of faith in him and also a little of repentance for whatever mistake and sin we commit. 

 Let’s always remember that time when one of the thieves who was crucified with Christ expressed his desire to be with Christ in Paradise. He did not even explicitly say sorry for all the crimes he committed. But Christ did not delay in saying, “This day you will be with me in Paradise.” (Lk 23,43) That’s how magnanimous God is with his mercy for us! 

 But we should avoid tempting God by getting ourselves spoiled by his ever-available mercy. Rather, we should make use of that assurance of his love that can conquer whatever evil there is in the world, to do a lot of good, to fill ourselves with the love that is nothing other than the love of God for all of us. Tempting God would just be fooling ourselves and would surely earn us harsh punishments. 

 Let us process slowly this truth of our Christian faith that with Christ’s resurrection we have been made a new creation. His resurrection unites us with his death and resurrection, enabling us to die to our old sinful selves and live a new life in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit for transformation, purpose and hope in God’s coming new world. 

 As a new creation through Christ’s resurrection, we are given a fresh start where the old ways of sin pass away and are replaced by a divine life that is made possible by acquiring anew our identity in Christ. 

 We, indeed, need to meditate and process slowly this tremendous transformation that is given to us because, for sure, we would most likely consider these effects of Christ’s resurrection on us as just incredible. 

 We need to realize that Christ’s resurrection which came as a result of his passion and death on the cross can also take place in our life if we also experience the cross of Christ. St. Paul said something pertinent to this when he said: “If we have been united with him (Christ) in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Rom 6,8) 

 The death referred to in his regard is our death to sin. This means a spiritual transformation where we are no longer controlled by sin by identifying ourselves with Christ’s death and resurrection through faith and repentance. Death to sin means we offer ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness, actively putting our sinful desires to death while living only for God. 

 Of course, struggles with sin can continue. Death to sin does not mean an instant sinless perfection. It simply gives us a new direction in life. Thus, as a new creation, we should live our life, with all its drama, only with Christ and for Christ.