THE MYSTERY OF THE CHILDHOOD CATECHISM –
WHY DID GOD MAKE ME??? –
GOD MADE ME TO KNOW¹ HIM, TO LOVE² HIM. TO SERVE³ HIM, TO NE WITH HIM HERE ON EARTH? AND ON HEAVEN? WHEN I DIE?
The CHURCH’S TEACHINGS/READINGS/CELEBRATIONS are chronological for easy/swift SALVATION of mankind. It is jeopardized If haphazardly followed/taught. And it is an indication of lack of understanding of both the READINGS/what the HOLY MOTHER CHURCH celebrates each day/in each LITURGY.
A typical example is teaching the CATECHISM of WHY DID GOD MAKE ME haphazardly – “GOD MADE ME TO ¹KNOW HIM, TO ²LOVE HIM, TO ³SERVE HIM, ?TO BE WITH HIM HERE ON EARTH AND IN HIS ?PARADISE WHEN I DIE.”
One who does not understand the CHURCH’S READINGS/PERSPECTIVE OF SCRIPTURAL INTERPRETATIONS might trivialize the importance/chronological value of this CATECHISM.
If so be the case that this fellow with shallow/moiety/understanding of the CHURCH’S perspective of the SCRIPTURE/SALVATION as demonstrated/exemplified/unveiled/availed HER LITURGIES/TEACHINGS (CATECHISMS/LAWS/DOGMAS/ETC), teaches this CATECHISM in their own way/perspective, they will end-up missing the mark and decimating the value/impact of the CATECHISM which jeopardizes both the Faithful and the catechumen’s spiritual growth/maturity.
Explanation Of The Church’s Perspective of The SCRIPTURE:
1. Realizing that the essence of the earthly life is to demonstrate the LOVE-NATURE OF GOD (to love GOD and neighbor), one might be tempted to think the CHURCH’S chronology is wrong and posits to love GOD should have been the first reason/step why GOD CREATED mankind.
It is true that to demonstrate the of LOVE GOD.on earth is the primary reason GOD CREATED/put mankind on earth, but Interestingly, no one can truly love GOD without first knowing GOD very well. As a matter of fact, the amount/extent of LOVE one has for GOD is a function of their knowledge about GOD.
in other words, the extent of knowledge one has about GOD is the extent of LOVE one has for GOD.
Mankind is a conscious/scientific/pragmatic/logical being. Mankind must know, understand – have reason for loving before they can love. They reason could be selfish though. But the bottom line is that they know/understand the reason – the selfish interest/s they are in pursuant/desirous of and they must know if you have the capability to offer/avail them these selfish interests before they can love you for whatever may be the reason for their loving you.
In like manner, mankind, being an empirical/logical being, they must first need to know GOD and deduce logically/empirically if there are adequate reasons to love GOD and if these reasons are actually veracious and not a fiction/mirage/dream/scam before they can love GOD.
Today/even in the past many people have not seen reason to love GOD and those who felt they loved GOD in the past have now realized that their reason for loving GOD is a mirage – the more you look the less you see – the more you pray/ask, the less answer to your prayers you get – the holier/more devoted/more charitable/more prayerful you are the less progressive/less wealthy and even the more sick, poorer you become and after many years of reassurance/hoping-against-hope in the name of it will be well/be patient with GOD/GOD’S TIME IS THE BEST/GOD’S WAYS ARE NOT human ways and all the binding/casting and even booking of the HOLY MASSES/a million-decade of the Holy Rosary/Novena to THE HOLY SPIRIT/deliverance/Infilling, yet things got worse, many people now openly denounce CHRISTIANITY and go to social media to allege both CHRIST and the HOLY SCRIPTURE are scams.
Why These Sudden Turn of Event:
This is partly due to wrong foundation knowledge about GOD. When the fundamental background/teaching are missed, one becomes everything-and- anything-goes.
The HOLY MOTHER CHURCH is wise to make this CATECHISM a foundation CATECHISM right from childhood so that children might from the beginning/at their earliest life be taught the right knowledge about GOD so that when they grow they will not depart from it.
Many times, the human reason for loving GOD is selfish. It is true that the only reason GOD CREATED mankind is for mankind to come to enjoy in HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM ETERNALLY, yet it is some-how selfishness to love GOD simply because one wants to go to HEAVEN to enjoy GOD’S KINGDOM.
It is selfishness to obey GOD/keep GOD’S LAWS/do GOD’S WILL so as to be qualified to go and enjoy GOD’S KINGDOM FOREVER.
THE REASONS TO LOVE GOD:
1. To ¹acknowledge/²demonstrate THE IMAGE OF LOVE (THE IMAGE OF GOD) mankind is created with.
GOD CREATED mankind in HIS OWN IMAGE OF LOVE AND LIKENESS OF IMMUTABILITY so that mankind can qualify to enter into HIS KINGDOM OF LOVE to enjoy HIS IMMUTABLE (UNENDING) GLORY.
GOD IS LOVE AND LOVE IS COMPLETE SELFLESSNESS. LOVE can be defined as the interest for the GOOD of the Other while CHARITY is LOVE in action (CHARITY is the action of LOVE). LOVE is demonstrated in/with CHARITY in total obedience).
IT IS THIS SELFLESSNESS (LOVE) – INTEREST FOR THE GOOD of the other THAT MADE GOD TO CREATE mankind to come to enjoy HIS OVER-AND-EVER-FLOWING SUPERFLUOUS GLORIES IN HIS KINGDOM OF LOVE/ETERNAL GLORIES.
GOD IS LOVE (PERFECT), AND HIS KINGDOM IS THE KINGDOM OF LOVE and consequently nothing impure /imperfect/without love can enter into HIS PRESENCE/KINGDOM.
To enable mankind come into HIS KINGDOM OF LOVE, mankind has to be LOVE LIKE GOD. Consequently, GOD MADE mankind in HIS OWN IMAGE OF LOVE so that mankind can qualify to come into HIS KINGDOM OF LOVE to behold HIS PRESENCE.
Again, GOD’S KINGDOM LASTS FOREVER. GOD IN HIS LOVING-MAGNANIMITY DECIDED THAT MANKIND SHOULD STAY IN HIS KINGDOM FOREVER TO ENJOY HIS GLORIES FOREVER. HENCE, GOD MADE mankind IN HIS OWN ETERNAL/IMMUTABLE NATURE – HIS LIKENESS so that mankind can live forever to enjoy HIS EVERLASTING GLORIES FOREVER.
culled from: THE PLACE OF GOD/SALVATION IN THE CURRENT GLOBALISATION/MODERNISATION by the same author
Mankind must love GOD since they have inherited the LOVE-NATURE OF GOD – being created with THE IMAGE (LOVE-NATURE OF GOD). BECAUSE GOD SHARED (UNITED) HIMSELF (HIS NATURE) WITH mankind, GOD IS OVERTLY INTERESTED in mankind. The PSALMIST saw this concern for mankind and shouted, “LORD, WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU KEEP HIM IN MIND; MORTAL MAN THAT YOU CARE FOR HIM… AND PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS CARE.”
culled from: DEI-NUPTIASIS OF ANTHROPODELOGY – DID GOD FORBID MARRIAGE IN CHRISTIANITY PRIESTHOOD OR AN OPTION – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM PRIESTHOOD – SCRIPTURAL PERSPECTIVE by the same author.
Mankind being made in the IMAGE/LIKENESS OF LOVE (IMAGE OF GOD WHO IS LOVE), mankind is love (gods) and so automatically have the ability, knowing-ability (love-know-how) to demonstrate love – to do good – to be holy.
More importantly, mankind being made with the IMAGE/LIKENESS OF GOD is from GOD and must appreciate his being WHO IS GOD IN WHOM we are/be/live.
Mankind must worship GOD in appreciation:
1. for being made in the IMAGE/LIKENESS OF GOD
2. for being given the privilege to come to enjoy in the KINGDOM OF GOD/FOREVER. This appreciation/worship is primarily in appreciation of GOD’S BENEVOLENT LOVE WHICH GOD DEMONSTRATED BY ¹HIS RESOLUTION TO BRING mankind to enjoy in HIS KINGDOM OF LOVE/ETERNAL GLORIES AND TO HELP mankind to be qualified to enter into HIS KINGDOM to savor HIS GLORIES THAT LAST FOR EVER, HE BEQUEATHING mankind HIS NATURE – HIS IMAGE/LIKENESS so that mankind can be LOVE (HIS IMAGE OF LOVE) and so that mankind can live forever (HIS LIKENESS OF IMMUTABILITY).
If mankind worships GOD in a bid to enter into GOD’S GLORIES to enjoy GOD’S GLORIES, it becomes pure selfishness even though this is the sole essence GOD CREATED mankind. GOD DID NOT CREATE mankind because HE IS IN NEED OF their WORSHIP just as the CHURCH teaches us that our worship of GOD does GOD no good but profits us for our own SALVATION.
It is true that GOD CREATED mankind solely to come to enjoy in HIS KINGDOM. However, if the intention/reason of mankind for worshipping GOD is to be able to qualify to enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD to enjoy GOD’S GLORIES, mankind have rather demonstrated selfishness. They failed to demonstrate their nature of love who is GOD – Your body is the TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (GOD) WHO LIVES in you/you are gods confirm humanity is reinstated by SALVATION and accessed in BAPTISM to their former nature of GOD as the PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT mankind receives when born again by the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baptism CONFIRMS that we are truly Children of GOD/members of GOD’S FAMILY (THE HOLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH) and humanity now has the boldness to call GOD, ABBAH FATHER.
Again, the sole reason GOD created the universe and put mankind in this universe here-below is to demonstrate their LOVE-NATURE and qualify to transcend back to GOD to enjoy GOD’S GLORY, yet. if the reason mankind worship GOD – lead a good life/holy is to qualify to go to HEAVEN to enjoy GOD’S GLORY, mankind has not demonstrated complete SELFLESSNESS – PERFECT LOVE (GOD-NATURE).
Since, nothing imperfect must enter into GOD’S KINGDOM, such imperfection must be purged of in purgatory prior FINAL BEATIFIC VISION OF GOD.
In other words, since GOD IS LOVE AND HIS KINGDOM IS A KINGDOM OF LOVE, no one who is not complete love can behold HIS FACE/enter into HIS KINGDOM OF LOVE. This is why GOD CREATED mankind IN HIS OWN LOVE NATURE so that mankind can qualify to enter into HIS KINGDOM OF LOVE to behold HIS BEATIFIC VISION.
It is true that original sin vitiated mankind and mankind consequently lost this NATURE OF GOD. Good enough, GOD IN HIS READY-MADE-MERCY/HIS EVER-AVAILABLE-AND-EVER-VALUABLE LOVE RESTORED mankind to HIS GLORIOUS NATURE through CHRIST JESUS’ DEATH/RESURRECTION and mankind is empowered again to be HOLY/PERFECT/LOVE GOD with all their heart and with all their mind and with all their might.
Anything short of this PERFECTION/LOVE/COMPLETE SELFLESSNESS must be purged here on earth with sacramental penance (SACRAMENT OF PENANCE), daily troubles of life, illness and the remnant purged in PURGATORY. Culled from: LIVING THE DIVINE LOVE IN THE UNIVERSE – THE HIGH-WAY TO HEAVEN by the same author.
Mankind must worship GOD in appreciation for their being and for the BENEVOLENCE (THE HEAVENLY GLORIES) GOD HAS PREPARED for them but not necessarily in a bid to go and enjoy those GLORIES. This is what St John of The Cross realized, and he decided to tell GOD that he would prefer (if it pleases GOD) to remain on earth to praise/suffer for GOD OF HEAVEN without coming to enjoy in HEAVEN.
This is the peak of LOVE (COMPLETE SELFLESSNESS) where one’s greatest desire/joy/fulfillment is to suffer for the GOOD of others. This is what CHRIST DEMONSTRATED IN HIS DEATH for mankind.
It is utter selfishness to serve GOD because of what one hopes to get from GOD – be it material or spiritual favor. The danger is that if one does not obtain these favors when/how they need them, they are discouraged and many times, because they understood that the worship of GOD is primarily because of these earthly favors and if these earthly favors are not achieved/delayed/deviated from their perspective/perception, they become disgusted/discouraged and backslide and many even abandon the SACRAMENTS and some would leave the CHURCH for places and many renounce CHRISTIANITY entirely and go in for anything/everything possible in pursuit of their unfulfilled “good” heart’s desires.
4TH ARTICLE:
TO BE WITH HIM HERE ON EARTH/5TH ARTICLE: AND TO BE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN WHEN WE DIE
The 4TH/5TH ARTICLES of this CATECHISM did not place focus on worshipping GOD for the purpose of going to HEAVEN to enjoy the ETERNAL GLORIES GOD PREPARED for mankind in HEAVEN. Instead, these ARTICLES of the CATECHISM placed emphasis/reason for worshiping GOD to being with GOD WHO IS OUR SOURCE WHO IS our being /IN WHOM we live and are – to be with GOD wherever we are – on earth or in HEAVEN.
The end-stage reason GOD CREATED/PUT mankind on earth according to these ARTICLES OF these CATECHISM is for mankind to be with GOD where mankind is and wherever GOD is – 4TH ARTICLE:
TO BE WITH HIM HERE ON EARTH and 5TH ARTICLE:
AND TO BE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN WHEN WE DIE.
Even though GOD’S SOLE REASON for CREATING mankind and putting mankind in the universe is to help to offer mankind a platform (the earth/the activities on earth – the good/bad) to demonstrate their LOVE-NATURE OF HIM, the reason for serving (worshiping) GOD should not be to go and enjoy the ETERNAL GLORIES GOD HAS PREPARED for mankind in HEAVEN. Rather, the reason for serving (worshiping) GOD should be to: ¹reunite back/²remain-in GOD FROM WHERE humanity came/live; ³accept/?validate our identity of being the IMAGE/LIKENESS OF GOD (LOVE).
The desire of our being is to ¹reunite/remain in GOD WHOSE IMAGE/LIKENESS we are – “DEEP IS CALLING ON DEEP”/THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (GOD) WHO LIVES in mankind – THE HOLY SPIRIT GOD BREATHED in mankind at CREATION.
It is compulsory, justified that mankind ¹returns/²reunites/³remains in/with GOD WHOSE IMAGE mankind is and in eternal GRATITUDE/THANKSGIVING-PRAISE/HONOR WORSHIP TO GOD WHO DEIGNED TO SHARE HIS NATURE with mere mortals and PREPARED ETERNAL GLORIES for mankind.
The reason/focus/efforts for worshipping must be in THANKSGIVING-PRAISE/HONOR.
A deviation from this is wickedness/grave ingratitude/foolishness. This UNION should be the sole reason of serving (worshiping) GOD even though mankind is aware of the ETERNAL GLORIES HE HAS ALREADY PREPARED for them which mankind must also remain immensely grateful for.
Uniting/remaining with GOD/appreciation of GOD’S LOVING KINDNESS should be the basis for serving (worshiping) GOD and not putting keen interest on the enjoyment of/in the KINGDOM OF GOD. The latter is selfishness. This is what these 4TH ARTICLE/5TH ARTICLES of this CATECHISM calls the attention of the CHURCH/indeed, the entire humanity to respectively –
TO BE WITH HIM HERE ON EARTH:
AND TO BE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN WHEN WE DIE
And CHRIST JESUS is already living here in the universe with mankind – EMMANUEL (GOD WITH US) WHO DWELLS IN THE TABERNACLE and humanity perfectly united with HIM through BAPTISM, THE HOLY EUCHARIST, and all other SACRAMENTS and constantly/daily serve/worship HIM IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST – RAISING THE CUP OF SALVATION WHICH IS THE MOST PERFECT/BEFITTING WAY TO WORSHIP GOD WITH SELF-GIVING THANKSGIVING-PRAISE-AND-HONOR WORSHIP GOD (CHRIST) OFFERS TO GOD (THE BLESSED TRINITY) THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO THROUGH the Blessed Virgin Mary BEARS all mankind again to GOD IN BAPTISM AND EMPOWERS mankind who are Baptized (CHRISTIANS/CHILDREN OF GOD) CALL GOD ABBAH FATHER WHOSE SELF-GIVING-THANKSGIVING PRAISE-HONOR YOU OFFER TO THE TRINITY IN GROANS/LANGUAGE human mind/language do not comprehend.
The best/most perfect way to worship GOD is the HOLY MASS WHERE GOD (CHRIST JESUS/THE HOLY SPIRIT) WORSHIPS GOD THE FATHER (THE HOLY TRINITY) on behalf of mankind who represent GOD (THE BLESSED TRINITY) by a Priest who CHRIST HIMSELF INITIATED INTO HIS SELF-GIVING (SELF-OBLATION – CELIBATE) PRIESTHOOD, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK WHICH IS A SPIRITUAL/SACRIFICIAL PRIESTHOOD and not a consanguine (blood/generation/family/procreation) human priesthood who represented mankind that offered bulls and goats as sacrifices on behalf of their fellow mankind to GOD.
THE HOLY MASS IS A PERFECT/UNBLEMISH SACRIFICE OFFERED BY GOD (CHRIST) AS THE HIGH PRIEST WITH HIMSELF (GOD) AS THE VICTIM on behalf of mankind to GOD for the SALVATION of all mankind unlike the sacrifice of Judaism that was offered to GOD by a fellow mankind with blood family ties with fellow mankind/for fellow mankind (only Jews/Judaism worshippers) and with an animal victim – goats/bulls which cannot wash away sins/appease/offer BEFITTING THANKS-GIVING PRAISE/HONOR THAT IS SELF-GIVING (CELIBATE) TO THE HOLY TRINITY for the entire mankind without bounds.
THE HOLY MASS is offered for the entire mankind. It is a universal (catholic) SELF-GIVING-THANKS-GIVING PRAISE/HONOR ¹SACRIFICE OFFERED TO GOD for the universal (Catholic) world in SELF-GIVING-THANKS-GIVING PRAISE/HONOR ²WORSHIP to THE BLESSED TRINITY by the universal (Catholic) world and not just for the Jews/only Judaism.
The best form/means/way any individual/group can praise/thank/serve/worship GOD is in/through the HOLY MASS. This is why it is very important/indeed compulsory to attend/book the HOLY MASS as often as possible, especially, on SUNDAYS/HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATIONS since it is obligatory/justified to WORSHIP GOD in a bid to acknowledge in appreciation of our IDENTITY; being made in the IMAGE OF GOD and in appreciation for GOD’S BENEVOLENT LOVE – “IT IS RIGHT AND JUST AND OUR SALVATION TO PRAISE YOU.”
Having a sound knowledge of GOD and why it is compulsory every human person must worship GOD is the first thing humanity must be thought.
When one knows GOD and the reason they must love HIM, they can now love HIM. It is until one knows GOD/the reasons they must love HIM before they can love HIM, otherwise, it is difficult to love GOD without first knowing HIM even though there are few cases when people worship GOD without first knowing HIM. Yet, their worship/love for GOD is a moiety and their LOVE for GOD does not grow steadily/speedily.
Generally, people preach/place focus on sin/virtues/holiness without first helping their congregation to know GOD so as to love GOD. Until people know GOD and love GOD based on their sound knowledge of GOD, both holiness and sin will not make meaning to them.
People can feel sober/feel sorry for their sins and even weep because of their sins and make firm resolutions to be better – to abandon their sins, adopt/adhere to a holy life/virtues, that would last only temporarily simply because they have not really known GOD or their knowledge about GOD is destructive – if you repent/avoid sin, GOD will bless you – earthly life will be favorable/riches will abound/there will be no suffering; people suffer because of their sin/lack of faith in GOD and all sorts of destructive lies about GOD/human SALVATION.
People will make frank efforts to avoid sin/become committed/devoted, not because they truly love GOD (since their service/worship is not inspired by LOVE stimulated by sound knowledge of GOD but rather their worship/services are goaded by their selfishness – what they want/hope to achieve/get from GOD borne out of wrong knowledge about GOD/the essence of human life.
Unfortunately, once, these class of people are not able to achieve their aim(s)/purpose(s) of serving/worshipping GOD – their “good” heart’s desires, they backslide and commit more sins/lead worse lives than they did prior their claimed conversion/commitment.
This is why the HOLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH does not lay emphasis on preaching sin. Instead, they focus on teaching about GOD/the LOVE OF GOD, cognizant that when the Faithful are grounded with right knowledge, about GOD, they will love GOD and this LOVE for GOD will be demonstrated in the service/worship of GOD in a neighbour without compulsion.
People fill the pews on SUNDAY MASSES, especially, in Africa, where CHRITIANITY is thought to “strive”. However, to ascertain if truly CHRISTIANITY strives in Africa/the earth/those places pews were filled on SUNDAYS, a visit to those places on WEEK-DAY MASSES, will expose the emptiness of the whole thing termed spiritual growth.
People attend SUNDAY MASSES for different reasons – mostly to fulfill the THE LAW OF SABBATH for the sake of being HEAVENLY-BOUND and not necessarily for SELFLESS LOVE-OF-GOD. The scanty congregation on DAILY MASSES exposes:
1. the ignorance of the sound knowledge of GOD in the community/PARISH/DIOCESE/country/globe
2. immense level of wrong/destructive knowledge about GOD which is built/pinned on selfishness – if one serves GOD, they will be blessed; people suffer/are poor/sick/fail in business because they are not born-again/holy; people’s problems of life – sickness, childlessness, poverty, failure, late marriage are caused by fellow human beings who used diabolic means to hold the former down not to progress and people are not prospering because their parents/neighbors/colleagues and even siblings/parents are witches/witch-hunt them or are held bound by deities their great grand fathers (20th to 50 generations) served/initiated into and one wonders the value of BAPTISM that liberates people from the original/ancestral sins.
The popular destructive knowledge now about GOD/the SCRIPTURE in CHRISTIANITY is that people are not doing well because someone somewhere exchanged their destinies and sometimes these people accused are close relatives/life partners thereby sowing seed of discord. pitching people against another. Any sin against LOVE is a sin against GOD – pitching people against GOD.
All this, showcases the reason people do not love/serve/worship GOD genuinely. This lack of love is made paramount in the attitude of lack of fervent worship of GOD.
The HOLY MASS is the HIGHEST/PERFECT WORSHIP GIVEN TO GOD on earth and people will refrain from attending THE HOLY MASS as often as possible (daily) as CHRIST INSTRUCTED – “AS OFTEN AS YOU DO THIS YOU CELEBRATE MY MEMORIAL”/DO THIS TILL THE DAY OF MY RETURN”/PRAY WITHOUT CEASING”.
The same people that will never return back during the week to attend DAILY MASSES with varied excuses will fill the same pews and even more than a SUNDAY MASS if one popular “miracle performing” “man-of-God” is coming to either celebrate the same MASS they deserted with excuses or to anchor a crusade on a week-day.
It is funny that the same people that gave the same excuses like the people invited for a wedding that gave different reasons to be excused will travel miles for days to attend “miracle” prayer sessions simply because they fulfill/appeal/promise answers to their prayers/aspirations/good heart’s desires which is why they are Christians/go to CHURCH/worship GOD. If going to CHURCH/worshiping GOD does not fulfill these aspirations, then it does not worth it to be a Christian/go to CHURCH/worship GOD.
At first, they might feel the fault why they are not receiving the fulfilment of their desires/requests is themselves. After working to improve themselves by going back to the SACRAMENTS, committed, charitable, join societies/avoided sin and improve in their prayer lives – consecrated or did life in the spirit seminars/prayed-over and things remain the same, the next step is to think is the Parish Priest who is not charismatic.
They would visit other parishes/places where there are acclaimed charismatic priests and if their situation did not improve – their heart’s desires were not achieved, they will think is the fault of the HOLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH where they claim is not prayerful enough and they will leave the CHURCH for a so-called bible-believing/visionary church where they can see vision of the cause of their problems and pray them out.
Unfortunately, many times, this is when their real problem begins. The problem they were running away from many times are normal life hassles associated with human daily life/living like sickness, indebtedness, demotion, business stagnancy/failure which are mild to bear. In the churches they ran to solve their problems, they will become entangled with the worse problems – both spiritual and psychological problems which are dicier to cope with/solve.
The fake visions they craved for will end up destroying their marriages, homes, businesses, families, friendships as many of their acquaintances, partners, relatives, will be accused of being responsible for their woes. And these falsehood in the name of visions will begin to spur their actions/thoughts which will begin to hunt them in no distant time and leave them more devasted than ever besides the fortune/time they will loose in the course of the excessive/lengthy prayer programs that do not put the other human needs that need to be attended to in picture and the scarce financial resources that will be drained in the name of one seed-sowing/the other as a collateral for God’s blessings/to bribe/compel God to grant their “good” heart’s desires.
3. Selfish service/worship of GOD misconstrued to piety. Because the HOLY EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION does not offer the fake miracles/Salvation Babysm peddled/common in Judaism/other denominations (if celebrated according to the RUBRICS – without the abuses common in Africa), people attach less importance to THE HOLY MASS/seldom attend DAILY MASSES. They attend the SUNDAY MASS to fulfill the SUNDAY OBLIGATION in other to fulfill all righteousness.
People only attend the CHURCH’S programs/devotions they feel satisfy their aspirations or grant their prayers like the Stations Of The Cross, EASTER/CHRISTMAS VIGIL MASSES where they believe GOD WOULD GRANT their prayers. And after these days, they refrain from attending DAILY MASSES which they felt do not satisfy their needs.
The lack of the genuine understanding of the MYSTERIES OF SALVATION taught/celebrated in the HOLY MASS DAILY is majorly the reason people will attend Stations of the Cross but will not attend THE HOLY MASS after the Stations of the Cross – they leave once the Stations of the Cross is over. But if there is a prayer of exorcism/deliverance/miracles, they will stay for another 3 – 5 hours without bothered reaching their homes late night.
When one knows GOD, they easily love GOD and their love grows steadily/speedily. One who loves/worships GOD without knowing GOD much – without a sound knowledge of GOD easily backslides once met with some challenges/troubles of life.
Lack of the knowledge of GOD (sound knowledge of GOD) – caused by misinterpretations of the SCRIPTURES/ignorance of what the CHURCH celebrates through the LITURGY OF THE WORDS which forms almost all the TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH/THE MAGISTERIUM is responsible for a good percentage of the problems of mankind while adherence to the PERSPECTIVE of the CHURCH’S INTERPRETATIONS of the CHURCH’S LITURGY OF THE WORDS which prescribes/guides/guards other LITURGIES and intertwines/nourishes with the LITURGY OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST is a solution to all earthly problems.
It is good to bear in mind that daily life challenges/necessary efforts of daily living are not problems but needed/needful efforts that must be made to live-out/achieve objectives of life in accordance/obedience with the WILL OF GOD in selflessness. These are but not limited to suffering, poverty, sickness, exhaustions, disappointments, failures, indebtedness, rejection, homelessness, separation, early/perceived shameful death like CHRIST’S DEATH.
These different life experiences at different times/places/with different people are meant to help.mankind demonstrate their love-nature (selflessness) and be rather appreciated as a means/opportunity/privilege to learn, discover, and even realize both one’s weaknesses (vices) and strength (virtues) and sit-up and consolidate them respectively.
Those who know more about GOD – (sound knowledge of GOD), love GOD more and are not discouraged with the turn-out of events. They do not serve GOD because of the favors they want to obtain from GOD. They worship GOD solely as a duty for being the SOURCE of their being/in WHOM they live/are in appreciation.
3RD ARTICLE: GOD MADE ME TO SERVE HIM:
Until one loves GOD they can never serve HIM just as one can never love GOD until they know HIM.
Troubles of life expose those who claim to love GOD that they never loved GOD because they do not know GOD. Their knowledge about GOD is wrong, distorted, selfish, destructive, devilish.
It is a very destructive/devilish knowledge to believe that the reason one should love/worship GOD is because of the earthly “blessings” (favors) GOD WOULD GRANT one. And to prove that this kind of knowledge about GOD is wrong/destructive and infact from the devil, once people with this mentality (knowledge) encounters serious troubles of life and nothing changes/without help or relief after “fervent prayers”/fasting/”holiness”/binding/casting and even booked/votive MASSES/novenas, and after going from one parish/”man-of-God”/church denomination to the other, they will become angry with GOD and backslide.
If they had sound knowledge about GOD, they would not backslide. They would rather know that those troubles of daily life/living were meant to chastise, strengthen, train, help them – expose their weakness (vices) so as to work-on/exterminate them; unveil their virtues so they can consolidate them. Those troubles of life were not meant to make them backslide but to help them in their spiritual growth/maturity. They are P.E. (PROMOTION EXAMINATIONS) for Spiritual Growth/Graduation (SGG).
One who knows that they are love (GOD’S/gods) being made in the IMAGE OF GOD, would know that:
1. they must remain in GOD – “IF YOU CUT-OFF FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. A BRANCH THAT CUTS OUT FROM ME WITHERS AWAY AND DIES”,
2. they must Love GOD. And this LOVE is COMPLETE SELFLESSNESS that is demonstrated in wilful/grateful acceptance of the WILL OF GOD presented many times in suffering. This LOVE is therefore the readiness to suffer/to accept pains while making frank efforts to avert/avoid/ameliorate the pains/suffering for oneself/others in accordance with the necessary/available/justifiable resources at one’s disposal/capacity but with the openness to resign to the unavoidable suffering/pains in thanksgiving to GOD for the privilege, GRACES HE AVAILED which are enough to bear the pains which are not limited to being endured but the GRACES to bear the losses, shame/disgrace, permanent disability – debts/poverty, terminal ill-health they leave behind and even death which are no evil themselves but means of human chastisement – “WHAT FATHER THERE IS WHO DOES NOT CHASTISE THEIR CHILD FOR A GOOD FATHER CHASTISES THE CHILD THEY LOVE.”
3. they must worship GOD
When one loves GOD, they automatically worship GOD.
Virtually everybody seems to be worshipping GOD. Even those outside the CHURCH appear to be serving GOD since they too are charitable, do good deeds and lead good lives at one point or the other and realize there is a higher being that CREATED them and the entire universe WHO IS ALMIGHTY and they thank HIM when they feel good/encounter good things/situations and they seek help from from HIM when in a danger/dire need.
This is an acknowledgement of GOD even though it is unconscious and even though they claim there is no GOD, they are aware there is a SUPER/UNSEEN/SPIRITUAL POWER WHO ALONE IS RESPONSIBLE for the activities in the unverse.
Nevertheless, it is easy to know those who are actually serving GOD. Troubles of life/unfulfilled aspirations/good heart’s desires often expose human lip-service.
Those who really love GOD are not pushed-over/shaken by troubles of life. They are rather strengthened by them. It is LOVE that goad people to serve (worship) GOD. When people truly love GOD, they are not compelled/chased about to serve GOD. On their own, they are committed. They give freely/cheerfully/even anonymously when they become more mature as they continue to grow the more in the sound knowledge of GOD, they love GOD the more and as they love GOD the more, they serve/worship GOD the more in selfless services to fellow mankind.
Humanity can never know everything about GOD. THE BLESSED TRINITY CONTINUES TO REVEAL HIMSELF /gradually/everyday to humanity THROUGH GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT – “THERE ARE STILL MANY THINGS I WILL TELL YOU BUT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND/ACCEPT THEM NOW BUT WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES. HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS.”
4TH ARTICLE: GOD MADE ME TO BE WITH HIM HERE ON EARTH:
The more we know GOD, the more we love HIM and the more we love HIM, the more we serve HIM, and the more we serve HIM here on earth, the more we are preparing to be with HIM in HIS HEAVEN/the more HE WOULD ACCEPT US to be with HIM in HIS HEAVEN.
Being with GOD in HEAVEN starts with being with GOD here in this universe. And there is no way we can be with GOD on earth without first serving (worshiping) GOD. It is in worshiping (serving) GOD that we are with GOD. No one would really be with GOD in HEAVEN (enter into THE KINGDOM OF GOD) without first being with GOD here on earth.
The HEAVENLY LIFE begins here on earth. CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF said, “THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ALREADY IN YOUR MIDST.” CHRIST JESUS IS GOD AND WHEREVER HE IS THERE IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD. And being with HIM is being with GOD.
Interestingly, HE LIVES with mankind here in this universe in HIS KINGDOM on earth – the CHURCH where HE CONTINUES TO FEED humanity with HIMSELF in CONTINUAL RE-UNION with mankind IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST WHO LIVES in mankind and mankind IN HIM – “WHEN YOU EAT MY BODY AND DRINK MY BLOOD, YOU LIVE IN ME AND I IN YOU.”
In this way, whether we are alive or death, we are IN/WITH HIM. This is why we live even though we die because HE IS THE LIFE/RESURRECTION.
5TH ARTICLE: AND TO BE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN WHEN WE DIE:
Like explained earlier, it is difficult to be with GOD in HEAVEN without first being with GOD in this universe. The thieve on the cross did not spend all his life-time being with GOD on earth before being with GOD IN HEAVEN (before going to HEAVEN). Nevertheless, it was obvious that he encountered GOD (CHRIST JESUS) here on earth before he was PROMISED being with GOD in HIS PARADISE.
The brief moment the thief had with GOD (CHRIST JESUS) at the eleventh hour reunited him with GOD prior his death. And so, he was with GOD here on earth – even though it was for a short time like those laborers that worked (served GOD) at the eleventh hour and got paid full day wage.
It is imperative to reiterate here that it was the knowledge the thief has about GOD (CHRIST JESUS) that his colleague did not have that stirred his love for GOD and it is this love for CHRIST that stimulated his service (worship) to CHRIST demonstrated in standing/speaking up in defence of.CHRIST/condemnation of his own colleague who calumniated CHRIST and being on the side of CHRIST here on earth automatically granted him being with CHRIST in HEAVEN.
It is very possible to live a near-HEAVENLY LIFE here on earth in every vocation – cleric/married/unmarried vocations. THE PEACE CHRIST GIVES the Faithful in BAPTISM/other SACRAMENTS is meant to help Christians live in near-HEAVENLY equanimity of the mind and congeniality of the soul even in the midst of pains/thorns of daily life/living – “MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU. NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES. BUT THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM HEAVEN.”
This HEAVENLY PEACE is a peace that is not dependent on earthly/material gains/acquisitions. It is a peace that is not decimated/annihilated by troubles of earthly daily life/living. This is a peace one has and continues to have irrespective of the turn of events – sickness, disappointment, bereavement, failure, calumny, poverty, imprisonment, childless, unmarried, and even death cannot stifle.
This quietude of the soul/mind is disjointed from physical events/pains. It is not affected/diminished by bodily pains. It is rather reinforced/demonstrated/appraised even the more in these earthly unpalatable events.
Until one reaches this level of spiritual maturity, they are still at the brink. Nevertheless, this level of maturity is not achieved overnight. It is a gradual process achieved over time with steadfast/fervent efforts to ¹know GOD more (sound knowledge of GOD) which inspires ²greater LOVE-FOR-GOD. And this greater LOVE, no doubt, stimulates SELFLESSNESS. This SELFLESSNESS crystallizes/amplifies this PEACE one received in BAPTISM/nourished/reinforced by other SACRAMENTS.
It is SELFLESSNESS (LOVE) that brings out this PEACE in Christians while selfishness (self-love/greed) that is responsible for lack of peace/multitude of sin – inability to conquer human weaknesses/vices.
It is this LOVE (SELFLESSNESS) that stimulates the keen worship of GOD with keen devotion/piety. Every action of every Christian is inspired/guided/guarded by SELFLESSNESS (LOVE). It is this SELFLESSNESS – the zeal to do much for GOD/neighbor that stimulates/inspires the Vocation to CLERICAL LIFE in order to offer oneself completely to GOD through the service of neighbors.
This SELFLESSNESS (LOVE) grows in every vocation gradually/overtime with constant efforts to know GOD more. Apostle Paul would say, “WE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW UNTIL WE MATURE IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST.”
Anyone who does not have this peaceableness even in the midst of their daily troubles of life – sickness, calumny, poverty, failure, demotion, near-death, over-labor, stress, has not arrived/still far below the ladder.
It is LOVE inspired by sound knowledge of GOD that stimulates the true worship of GOD – in TRUTH/SPIRIT.
This 5TH ARTICLE: AND TO BE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN WHEN WE DIE calls attention to so many things:
i. The Importance of serving (worshiping) GOD here on earth.
The 5 ARTICLE REITERATES the importance of the 4TH ARTICLE: TO BE WITH HIM HERE ON EARTH.
Mankind must first worship GOD here on earth. This is the guarantee that mankind is with GOD here on earth. And without being with GOD here on earth which is proved/guaranteed by our worship (service) to GOD, there is no way one can be with GOD IN HEAVEN when one dies.
Another important thing in this article is how we serve (worship) GOD. Do we serve GOD for our own selfish interest – begging/compelling GOD to do our will – our good heart’s desires or do we resign to the WILL OF GOD in obedience to the WORDS OF GOD in accordance with the interpretations of the CHURCH OF GOD -THE HOLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
This is the Crux of the matter. Many will be disappointed when they die to realize that they are not with GOD IN HEAVEN irrespective of all their dogged efforts. This was the case of those who claimed they performed miracles in CHRIST’S NAME, ate with CHRIST (received the SACRAMENTS/THE HOLY EUCHARISTS), CHRIST WORKED/PREACHED in their streets (attended HOLY MASS), yet CHRIST CALLED them workers of iniquity/evil doers and threw them into hell fire.
In this article. the HOLY MOTHER CHURCH advises humanity to review WHO/where/why they worship because human actions here-below is consequential. No action will be without a consequence – “EVEN CASUAL WORDS WILL BE ACCOUNTED FOR” and paid for – “TO THE LAST FARTHING.”
ii. The Importance/Reality of DEATH:
This article draws attention to the most dreaded event/experience of the entire humanity.
The HOLY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH is truly THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST/,GUARDED/GUIDED/TAUGHT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
In this CATECHISM, the CHURCH teaches humanity the essence of human creation/existence on earth – ranging from the begining of human life on earth, all through human dwelling on earth and to the end of human life on earth.
Human life on earth comes to an end majorly through death. Apart from RAPTURE, DEATH is the major means/route of human end on earth.
Originally, death (eternal death in hell fire) was occasioned by sin. Interestingly, GOD’S LOVING MERCY SOARED FAR MORE than death “WHEN SIN INCREASES, GRACE ALSO INCREASES”.
CHRIST’S SALVATION LIBERATED mankind from eternal death – THE LAST ENEMY TO CONQUER IS DEATH… DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING, DEATH WHERE IS YOUR POWER.”
Hence, death does no longer hold those in CHRIST hostage. Death is no longer a painful event to CHRISTIANS who are now BORN-AGAIN TO GOD/INTO GOD’S KINGDOM by the Blessed Virgin Mary, THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT to reunite/remain in GOD WHO IS LIFE/IN WHOM there is no death – “THOSE THAT BELIEVE IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. EVEN IF THEY DIE, THEY SHALL LIVE, FOR I AM THE LIFE/RESURRECTION.”
Death is no more painful to Christians. Death is only painful to people who lived/died in sin/without accepting CHRIST JESUS through BAPTISM/THE SACRAMENTS.
DEATH is rather gian to Christians as Apostle Paul admonished us. CHRIST JESUS WAS GLAD/PROUD OF HIS DEATH – “I WILL DIE and on the THIRD DAY, I WILL RISE AGAIN”; DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE MESSIAH WILL HAVE TO DIE AND RISE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY.”
CHRIST was agonized for HIS DEATH ANS BEGGED GOD TO REMOVE THE CHALICE OF FIRE (THE CHALICE OF LOVE) FROM HIM. However, HE PREFERRED/ACCEPTED THE WILL OF GOD FOR HIM even though this was to TEACH mankind, especially, his Apostles who would drink his CHALICE/ indeed, Christians/all mankind, how humanly it feels to face death – SEEING THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DEATH HE WOULD GO THROUGH, HE BEGGED GOD IF THIS DEATH WOULD PASS HIM BY, but in the end, HE PREFERRED HIS FATHER’S WILL.
In this way, CHRIST left mankind an example on how to react/respond to DEATH both as humanbeings and as CHRISTIANS.
Generally, death, especially, painful death is dreadful. However, as Christians who know that DEATH is only an end to the earthly life that must come and a gateway/means to continue to remain in/with GOD in HEAVEN, death should no longer be dreaded but seen as a normal/welcomed event that ushers mankind into the ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD WHERE mankind will have the opportunity to tarry with GOD FOREVER that human soul had ever desired – “LIKE THE DEER THAT YEARNS FOR RUNNING WATERS, MY SOUL IS THIRSTING FOR YOU OH LORD, THE GOD OF MY LIFE. WHEN CAN I ENTER INTO YOUR PRESENCE TO BEHOLD YOUR GLORY.”
This understanding will remove the fears associated with death. And Christians will embrace/appreciate DEATH in the light of GOD’S PERSPECTIVE OF DEATH WHO IS HAPPY for the death of HIS SAINTS as the PSALM unveiled/as sung in the CATHOLIC HYMN BOOK – “HOW CAN I REPAY THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS TO ME… OH PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, IS THE DEATH OF HIS FAITHFUL.”
GOD’S Faithful (Christians), should be happy that they will die/are dying. It is an opportunity to untie with GOD ETERNALLY IN GOD’S HEAVEN. This was why Apostle Paul said, DEATH is gain. And he also said, they living are not better than the dead – those who died in CHRIST – those who died marked with the SIGN OF THE CROSS (SIGN OF SALVATION.
This therefore, means that those who died in CHRIST must not be mourned but celebrated. Christians must not mourn like pagans. The CHURCH OF GOD on earth can not be mourning while the CHURCH OF GOD IN HEAVEN IS REJOICING/CELEBRATING the welcoming of a Child of GOD IN HEAVEN through DEATH.
CHRIST’S REJECTION OF DEATH IS MEANT to teach Christians/indeed, all mankind that every possible human effort should be made to avoid DEATH. In this way – after every efforts to avoid/prevent DEATH fails, one would be sure that they are doing the WILL OF GOD/the DEATH is the WILL OF GOD for them
CHRIST WHO, THOUGH GOD/A SUPER PERFECT HUMANBEING WHO HAS POWER over death, by making efforts/pleading with GOD TO AVERT HIS DEATH IS TEACHING all mankind that endangering one’s life for trivial/selfish cause(s)/making no efforts to prevent DEATH is tantamount to suicide and is liable to eternal punishment in hell fire.
Again, desiring to die so that one can receive any form of relief/enjoyment is foolish/wicked selfishness of the highest order. This makes suicide/mercy-killing (euthanasia) of all forms/types/sorts/means an abysmal mortal sin.
In the same way, when one desires to die so that they can ¹run away/be free from their daily troubles of life,/general earthly palaver and ²go quickly to HEAVEN to enjoy GOD’S KINGDOM assuming that they are holy/assumed qualified to make HEAVEN, they are in grave error and selfish (unloving/self-love). Such righteousness is self righteousness.
In this 5TH ARTICLE – AND TO BE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN WHEN WE DIE, the HOLY MOTHER CHURCH calls Christians to be conscious of DEATH – the end of their earthly life and to prepare for it/accordingly.
Types of DEATH:
There are only two types of DEATH:
1. PROVIDED DEATH:
This is a DEATH one prepared adequately for spiritually. This is a DEATH whereby someone died while being in a STATE-OF-GRACE!!!
To die while being in a STATE-OF-GRACE requires constant efforts to do the WILL OF GOD in accordance with the CHURCH’S interpretations/applications of GOD’S WORDS/COMMANDMENTS.
The consciousness/efforts to do the WILL OF GOD so as to die while in the STATE-OF-GRACE so as to go to HEAVEN is also selfishness. This attitude/level of spirituality, even though it could be understood as piety/high level of commitment/virtue, is very risky. One in this level is in the brink/bound to backslide and even die in mortal sin.
Those at this stage of spirituality, many times, are still struggling with mortal sin and when one is still meddling with mortal sin, they are at the brink/danger of hell fire.
Those who really love GOD are not afraid of suffering here on earth. As a matter of fact, suffering is glory for them. They do not only accept to suffer for the sake of righteousness, they rejoice in their suffering as a result of higher love for CHRIST as we saw Apostle Paul affirmed in his suffering – “I REJOICE IN MY AFFLICTIONS.”
This is the spiritual stage one reaches, they retire to the monasteries to become monks nuns, hermits and strict contemplatives to practice asceticism – suffering – doing strict penance, not for themselves but for the PERMEATION OF THE SALVATION of the world – “TO MAKE UP WHAT IS LACKING IN CHRIST’S SUFFERING” as Apostles Paul puts it (to corroborate – share/approve/proclaim the SUFFERING OF CHRIST).
When one really loves GOD, they become very selfless. And this SELFLESSNESS, overtime, with GOD’S READY-MADE GRACE, becomes natural to them and they live their life without fear/desire for DEATH. Whatever GOD offers them is the best.
When one reaches this stage when they will be asked what they will do if GOD were to come in the next few hours or if they were to die in a few moment or if the world were to come to an end in the next few hours, confidently, joyfully they will respond, “I’ll not do anything differently. I’ll continue to do what I’m doing now and continue to live my life exactly as I’m living now. This is being ever-ready. This was the stage St Paul reached and said he has ran the race to the end. This is the disposition Christians should strive to be – ever-ready.
2. Unprovided Death:
This is a death that is not prepared/ready for. One who died in this type of death was not in the STATE-OF-GRACE/still battling with mortal sin(s) as/at the time they died. This is a death that leads to eternal damnation. This is the death people are very afraid of.
Anyone who is afraid to die, especially, natural death – in sickness/sleep/accident is not likely in the STATE-OF-GRACE/still battling/meddling with mortal sin(s).
Sin as the HOLY SCRIPTURE says is a reproach. It is the major cause of the fear about death.
Premature/Untimely Death:
There is nothing like a premature death or an untimely death. Death can only be provided (ever-ready for) or unprovided for (dying in sin).
Everybody is qualified to die. There is no age limit to die. This is why the CHURCH brings DEATH – and the LAST FOUR THINGS – DEATH, JUDGEMENT, HEAVEN and hell to the consciousness of humanity so that people will act in earnest – without procrastination in fulfilling the HIGHEST DIVINE JUSTICE of worshipping GOD in SPIRIT/TRUTH – it Is Truly Right And Just and for our salvation to praise/worship you … – now that is day for a night shall come when no one shall work – “SEEK HIM WHEN HE CAN BE FOUND.”
Here the CHURCH is highly applauded for THE GREAT GIFT OF INFANT BAPTISM/SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK.
This 5TH ARTICLE calls to mind that no one knows when they shall die and so, must be ever-ready/steadfast in their love for GOD.
