We need to suffer and die

WE have to be clear about this aspect of our Christian life. Yes, we need to suffer and die, just like Christ, who is the pattern of our humanity and the savior of our damaged humanity, suffered and died for us, for our sins. 

 In other words, we need to suffer and die with Christ, assuming the same reason and intention Christ had when he had to suffer and die for us. Only then can our suffering and death acquire a redemptive value. Only then can we be liberated from our sinful selves. Only then can we truly be identified with Christ. 

 We are reminded of this aspect of our Christian life in that gospel episode where Christ predicted his passion and death and moved forward to face it. (cfr. Mt 16,21-27) That was also when Christ told his disciples what they had to do to be able to follow him all the way to the end. And that is for them, and for us, to deny ourselves and to carry the cross. 

 We all know that suffering and death are unavoidable in our life. They are the consequences of our sins, starting with those of our first parents and then those of our own. But Christ has shown us how to deal with them so as to convert them into a way of our own redemption. And that is to suffer and die with Christ. 

 Remember what St. Paul said about death when it would happen to us with Christ? “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 15,55-57) 

 For this to happen, we obviously need to meditate closely on the life and death of Christ. Everyday there should be some progress in our growing identification with him. Thus, we have to realize that our life should be a life of constant prayer and sacrifice, supported by an appropriate plan of life that would keep that lifestyle going. 

 It should be an integral part of our daily life to have some practices of self-denial and mortification. It could be in matters of food and drinks, in the way we use the things of our work, especially these days when we are strongly charmed by gadgets and other powerful technologies, It could be in the way we guard our senses, our thoughts, desires and intentions, our imagination, etc. 

 Of course, this life of self-denial and mortification is lived when we wage a life-long ascetical struggle, knowing how to handle our weaknesses, temptations and sin, and growing in the virtues. We need to convince ourselves that it is when we live this kind of life that we can attain true joy and peace even while here on earth. That may sound incredible, but we have the Christ’s clear words to assure us of this truth. 

 For this, we also need to adjust our ideas of what is true joy and peace. We often peg them according to worldly standards alone that give us only so much but cannot go the distance. Let’s remember that Christian life, in spite of its sacrificial dimension, is a truly joyful life. 

 We need to overcome whatever fear of suffering and death we have.

Let’s be like the wise virgins

THE parable of the 10 virgins, 5 wise and 5 foolish, (cfr. Mt 25,1-13) reminds us that we should seriously take our duty to be always prepared to meet our Lord who can call us anytime. Let’s be wary of our tendency to be easily trapped in our earthly affairs, such that we take for granted what the real and ultimate purpose of our life here on earth is. 

 Someone I know, for example, was what may be considered as a gym buff. He was into sports and regular exercises. He was meticulous with his diet and other health regimen. He was even a doctor by profession. But then one day he was just discovered lifeless in his own room. Yes, we have to be ready always since God can call us anytime! 

 And the preparation for this eventuality need not involve anything extraordinary. It is enough that whatever we do in our daily routine is done with God and for God. That way, we would always be motivated to do things in the best way that we can, leading us to be more and more like God. And even if we cannot escape the limitations and imperfections of our work, God will always understand and would be happy to see us working with that intention. 

 What God would consider is the faith, hope and love that beat in our hearts as we do our daily activities. It is not so much the human success in our work that is important. Of course, if we do things with God and for God, it is very likely that our daily activities would have good effects and results. But these should not be the main consideration. 

 And so, it stands to reason that during the day we make many pit stops, so to speak, so we would know whether we are still on the right path, with the proper direction. We would have the chance to rectify and purify our intentions. 

 And at the end of the day, it would be good that we make it a habit to make a general examination of conscience that should end with a loving expression of sorrow for whatever mistake, shortcoming or sin we may have committed during the day. That way, we express our intention to be reconciled with God always. That in the end is what truly matters! 

 Let’s be always guarded against the tendency to fall into many distractions during the day, especially because nowadays there are many alluring and irresistible things that can take us away from our proper focus in life. 

 Also, since we usually suffer from a lot of pressures due to work and other concerns, we can easily fall into distractions as a way of coping with the pressure. But then, these distractions can become extreme and uncontrollable. They can become addictions. 

 We really have to learn how to find Christ in everything that we do. For this, we need to develop the habit of always looking for him consciously or deliberately. By looking for him, we can find him that can lead us to love him, which in the end is what matters in life. 

 And the secret, as always, is really to develop, to take care, and to make vibrant one’s spiritual life, one that is supported by an appropriate plan of life that nourishes one’s faith and piety. 

 It is to give one a global picture of things, making him realize where we came from and where we are supposed to go, and training him to relate the things of this world to our eternal destination with God in heaven.

What we need in these confusing times

CHRIST told his disciples to stay awake, that is, to be vigilant, and at the same time to be fruitful and productive, not idle and lazy. (cfr. Mt 24,42-51) It’s a call that is most relevant these days, given the very confusing times we are in. 

 We cannot deny that in spite of the many conveniences and amenities our new technologies offer us, we are actually thrown into an ocean of swirling elements, pushing and pulling us in every which way. To have focus is getting harder as distractions always get in the way. Many people do not know anymore what the proper priorities in life are. 

 And, of course, the sad effects and consequences are all so clearly shown. Many people are burned out. Cases of mental and psychological illness are growing. Addictions are increasing as many people do not know anymore how to be a master of their own lives. 

 We should always be vigilant, never letting our guard down. This is simply because we have enemies to contend with all the time. We should not be naïve about this. Our enemies start with our own selves, our own weakened flesh that will always lure us to do things against God’s will and against what is truly good for us. 

 Then we have the world with all its sinful attractions and temptations. And, of course, the devil himself. Never discount him. He’s always around, prowling like a lion looking for someone to devour. (cfr 1 Pt 5,8) 

 Without getting paranoid, we have to practice certain wariness while using and enjoying the many good things we have today. They can easily turn into sweet poisons. What we should rather do is never to lose touch with God. 

 Only then can we always remember the proper priorities in our life and live them. Only then can we be able to be a master of our own lives and be truly fruitful and productive. 

 Let us remember that in the Bible narrative of the creation of man, God told our first parents, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it,” (Gen 1,28) clearly outlining his mandate to them. It’s a mandate that continues to be repeated up to now. Christ himself said as much. 

 In his parable of the three servants (cfr Mr 25,14-30), a master clearly told each one to trade with the amount given to them. He was happy with the first two who gained as much as was given. But he was mad at the third one who did nothing with the amount given. 

 We have to realize that God has already given us everything that we need not only to survive but also to improve our lot that ultimately translates into realizing the fullness of our dignity as image and likeness of God, as children of his. 

 We should never forget the real purpose of our life here on earth, which is for us to forge our own identity as God’s image and likeness, children of his, meant to share in his divine life and nature while immersed in the things of this world. 

 We can only do that if we always have in mind our duty to follow God’s commands rather than being guided and ruled only by our own estimation of things and by our feelings, passions and the trends around.