THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST

Of all the people who have lived in our planet, the earth, JESUS CHRIST, I believe, is the Most Outstanding Person that requires some serious consideration from every human being who has been apprised of His existence.

For us Christians we have been told of some extraordinary events in the life of Christ, namely, His Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. The two last events (Resurrection and Ascension) are unique to Christ, for no other person has ever risen from the dead and ascended into heaven.

As a Christian my faith in Christ is based on the teachings of the Catholic Church which originated from the apostles. The veracity of these teachings have been validated by the life witnessing of some persons who have been canonized as Saints, as well as by some miraculous events in places like Lourdes at France, Guadalupe at Mexico and Fatima at Portugal.

To simplify my Faith I have asked myself a few questions.

First, “WHO IS CHRIST?”
This was answered by Peter when Christ Himself asked the question: “Who do you say I am?” Peter then answered: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt. 16:16)
Second, “WHY DID CHRIST BECOME MAN?”
This is the Mystery of Christ which is called “INCARNATION” – Christ, Who is God, becomes a Man. Why? The answer is given in John 3:16 which says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life.” Furthermore, Christ said in John 10:10: “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.”

Third, “WHAT IS THIS ETERNAL LIFE, AND HOW DO WE RECEIVE IT?”
Eternal life, I believe, is the Life of God Himself – the Divine Life. Ordinarily, this participation in the divine life of God is given to someone who gets baptized through the Sacrament of Baptism. In this sacrament one professes faith in Christ either personally or thru a representative, a parent or sponsor. We are told, however, that for one who may not have heard about Christ but who longs to do God’s Will may also be blessed with this divine life thru the so-called ‘Baptism of Desire’. Likewise, for one who gives up his life for Christ’s sake, may also be blessed with this divine life thru the so-called ‘Baptism of Blood’.

Fourth, “WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF RECEIVING THE DIVINE LIFE?”
Receiving the Divine Life makes one an adopted Child of God, or another Christ. This is precisely what Christ would want all men to be – to be like Him, live like Him, so as to attain the Destiny that God has planned for them, which is “to be happy with Him for all eternity”.

Fifth, “WHAT THEN DOES IT MEAN TO BE ANOTHER CHRIST?”
To be another Christ means to be a Disciple of Christ. And Christ said: “If anyone wants to be my disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and come follow Me.” (Lk. 9:23). He further said: “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6)

These reflections tell me that my life can only be meaningful if I become another Christ, a Child of God. To be a child of God means to be always ready to do the Will of God at any cost, even at the cost of giving up ones life, if necessary. It means a total surrender of oneself to the Will of God. It means allowing Christ to live and reign in oneself, just as St. Paul said: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” (Gal. 2:20)

This, therefore, is what the Mystery of Christ means for me – the Mystery of becoming Another Christ – a Child of God – so as to be happy with God forever.

By: Salvador B. Cagurangan
July 19, 2009

THE VIRUS OF SIN

daily As I was denying access to a Virus that wants to enter my computer it dawned on me that something similar happens to a person when confronted with the evil of sin.
Reflecting further on this similarity, the following insights came to me.

1. A Virus is destructive.
Sin, indeed, is destructive of a person’s health, physically as well as spiritually. Physically, sin can cause sickness in one’s body. Spiritually, sin can destroy one’s relationship with God.

2. A Virus can cause destruction only if allowed to enter a computer. Sin, likewise, can ruin a person physically and spiritually only if one yields to the temptation and willingly does something against the dictates of his conscience.

3. The destruction caused by a Virus to a computer could be total or partial. Similarly, sin can ruin a person partially or totally depending on its gravity, wether venial or mortal.

Now, how can we prevent the entry of any Virus to our computer?
There are two commands we can use: Deny Access or Delete.

In like manner one can protect himself from sin by denying access to it or deleting it.

So, the question is how to deny access or delete the virus of sin.

The essence of sin is disobedience to the Will of God. A person is usually made aware of the Will of God through his conscience, which is considered the “Voice of God” in oneself. Hence, sin comes in when a person would prefer to do his own will rather than follow what his conscience tells him.

In every situation, therefore, a person is confronted with the question: “Whose will shall I follow – my will or God’s Will.?” This is where one’s decision would greatly depend on one’s orientation or attitude in his relationship with God.

One’s relationship with God is a matter of Faith. Faith in God is what we accept of what we know about God. Faith, however, is manifested in the way we live. If we live what we believe, it becomes a Living Faith. But if our Faith is only with our lips and we do not put it into practise, then our Faith is dead.

A strong faith in God is, therefore, the antidote to the virus of sin.

Faith is a Gift of God that one receives when he acknowledges the Reality of a Supreme Being Who is the Creator of the whole universe. This faith, however, is like a seed that needs to be watered and cultivated in order to grow. It is watered by one’s sincere search for more and more understanding of the Mystery of God, and it is cultivated by one’s daily and meaningful practise of one’s faith.

For us Christians who believe in the Reality of Christ as the Son of the Living God, Christ challenges us if we wish to grow in our faith by these words: “If anyone wants to be my disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross , and come follow Me”. (Lk. 9:23).

By: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
July 12, 2009

THE MYSTERY OF THE CROSS

The greatest event in salvation history is the RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, THE LORD. This event, however, was preceded by CRUCIFIXION.

God in His infinite wisdom has allowed His Only Begotten Son , JESUS CHRIST, to undergo the greatest pain that a human being could ever endure – DYING on a CROSS. It was a pain that Our Lord Jesus wanted to avoid, and so He prayed: “Abba Father all things are possible to Thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what Thou wilt” (Mk. 14:36)

In spite of Jesus’ prayer, God still allowed Christ to undergo CRUCIFIXION. WHY?

There must be something good to come out of this crucifixion. This must be the reason why the day on which Jesus, our Lord, was crucified is called “GOOD FRIDAY”.

Good is the manifestation of God’s infinite Power to overcome evil – to overcome Death with a New Life, and thus the RESURRECTION.

Reflecting on our life here on earth, I realize that everyone has to bear crosses (great or small) that bring sufferings and pains. If possible everyone would like to be spared of these crosses and to have all their loved ones be spared of them. And so, Jesus taught us to pray to God: “Do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from evil”, but also included: “Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. This is the prayer that tells me how to bear the crosses that come during our life here on earth. It is the prayer that shows the right attitude towards whatever crosses may come our way.

Wherefore, I believe that when we are faced with trials, difficulties or problems, it is then that our Faith in God is tested; it is then that we feel and experience our helplessness and our complete dependence on God, Who alone can give the power to endure all these crosses and to hope for something good to come out of the ordeal.

God, Who is All Knowing and All Powerful will certainly bring about something good and wonderful in all the crosses we carry - our own RESURRECTION.


Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan

June 14, 2009

SOLO DIOS BASTA

“SOLO DIOS BASTA” (GOD ALONE SUFFICES). This comes from a Doctor of the Church, St. Teresa of Avila, the last verse of a short poem she wrote entitled: “Nada Te Turbe”.

Amidst the ups and downs of life, this verse kept on ringing in my ears. Hence, I have prayed and asked for further enlightenment on what it really means. After a long period of reflection I wish to share my humble thoughts to those who may lend me their ears.

Last year, on September 29, 2008, I have celebrated my 80th birthday. I thank the Lord for all the blessings He has poured on me during those 80 years of my life. Today as I reminisce the past I could not but ask these questions: “Why, Lord, have you brought me into existence? Why all the joys, sufferings, problems, difficulties, temptations, humiliations, exaltations, and all the events, joyful or sorrowful, that came into my life? Would it not have been better if I had not existed at all so as not to have gone through all these events? What after all have I been created for? Is it just to live here on earth for several years, 80 or more, and then vanish away when death comes?

Indeed, the vanities of life here on earth seems to have no meaning at all if after all “to dust I shall return”.

These thoughts kept lingering in my mind until the words of St. Teresa of Avila reached my ears: “Nada te turbe … Solo Dios Basta”. “Let nothing disturb you … God alone suffices”.
Who, then, is this God Who Alone suffices?

This, indeed, is the Greatest Mystery of life here on earth. Men, perhaps, can try to understand and fathom the significance of so many phenomena in this world, but the greatest of all the challenges that the human mind can ever explore is the identity and reality of GOD.

Our Christian Faith tells us that God Himself, in the Person of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, Who became Man, said: “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his own soul”. (Matthew 16:26).

This statement reveals to us that man has a soul and that this soul is of more value than the whole visible world. If so, what is this soul?

In John 3:16 it is said: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” This means that there must be something in man which cannot be destroyed by death and is destined to live forever. This something must be what our Lord Jesus Christ is referring to, which is the soul.

If man’s life is forever, where is the Source of the Power that can give him a life without end? And what kind of life shall await him forever? The answers to these questions, I believe, can only be found in that Greatest of All Mysteries, GOD Himself.

And so, while man can never fully understand the REALITY OF GOD, I in all humility must acknowledge together with St. Augustine: “Man has been created for GOD, and his heart is restless until it rests in GOD.” – “S0LO DIOS BASTA”.

By: Salvador B. Cagurangan
Jun. 7, 2009