True Church

As Jesus had said: “Search and you will find. The one who searches always finds” (Mt. 7:7). Hence it is important then we seek for the true Church founded by Jesus Christ, since there are a variety of groups claiming to be God’s true Church. After all it’s useless to make trouble out of this problem but to endeavor ourselves to be honest before God and seek for the true Church founded by Jesus Christ. We must remember that we all have that freedom to seek for the truth, especially in this present matter of our search for Christ’s true Church. Yes we have that freedom but we must be true and sincere with ourselves in ardently and faithfully searching and exposing the truth. Our freedom must ever be in the service of the truth. “The truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:32), while Jesus has clearly affirmed: “the devil is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn. 8:44). The more then should we strive to search for the living truth. And then let’s avoid the mistakes of the past, those hostilities and violence because of religious biases or differences in opinions, but let all be done in the spirit of love, freedom, respect, and truth. We are all in need of freedom, respect and peace to pursue the ideals of democracy and nation building.

A man of sorrows

I heard one description of Jesus as a man of sorrows. Certainly He had reason to be sad for the ingratitude of men who misunderstood His message of truth and salvation. His main mission in life was precisely to bring hope and salvation to ailing humanity. But for all His goodness and His many services, they had Him crucified. Being truly divine and human in nature, He rose from the dead three days after being buried in Calvary. His Resurrection, being truly the Son of God, is the greatest event in history ever. That only proves what St Peter tells us in Acts 4:12: “Of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.” It is then of paramount importance for our conversion to be closely associated to Jesus in our lives and prayers and endeavor to follow the way He lived. Like Jesus we too have reason to be sad while we still journey on this earth which many have described as a valley of tears, which certainly is so till we reach the destiny God made us for, which is the kingdom of Heaven with all of God’s Saints and Holy Angels.

Strength from above

At times we realize how weak we are, needing strength from above. That is what grace means—an aid from the supernatural sources, that is, from God and His angels and saints, conscious as we are of the innate weakness in us poor humans. That’s the very reason we need the humility to admit our limitations. No wonder God’s holy book, the Bible, warns us against such temptations to pride. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). The humble person turns to God above and seeks supernatural help through prayer. So it has been said: Prayer will make us leave off sinning, or sinning will make us leave off prayer. Turn to God and change your sinful ways. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk. 14:11; Lk. 18:14). Jesus often repeated this since it is really essential for success and eternal salvation, which is what matters after all is said and done.

Quest for truth

everyone who seeks always finds – Mt. 7:7) Like anything precious in life, we have to search for it, as a man searching for precious pearls or stones. The same thing we have to do in respect to the truth, especially the eternal truths which are connected with our achieving our very final destination and goal in life, which is life everlasting. Jesus reminds of that when He tells us in Mt. 16:26: “What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life? (Mt. 16:26). Think it over and be sure. Be honest with yourself, it will be worth enjoying all the advantages and privileges here on earth which is but a temporary life in exchange for an eternal punishment in Hell, just because we dared to violate one important command of God which asks us in His commands to respect all the rights of God and man. And in the cited verse above from Mt. 16:26, He is referring to life eternal in heaven which is the reward of those who truly keep God’s commandments which ask us ‘to give to everyone his due, namely, to God our total allegiance above all and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (cf. Mt. 7:12; Mt. 22:34-30).

Unforgettable experiences

It’s true there are hard to forget experiences, especially concerning our loved ones already departed from this world, who cared for us since our tender years, like our father and mother, brothers and sisters or other close relations. That’s only normal, because we experienced their loving care and protection. But God wants us to rise above all those fleeting memories of the past and give Him all the glory due to Him. “Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt. 10:37-39). As we go along our earthly life there are many relationships we encounter but these only remind us we have to thank God for them since He is the source of all graces and realities. We just have to pray for them since all these good people and relationships are only a part of God’s loving care for us His humble created human beings placed in the world to perpetuate and give to God almighty all the glory that belongs to Him as the Creator of heaven and earth..