Deacon’s Corner
On July 27th, I gave a talk for the “Come to the Tap” program, promoted by Our Lady of Guadalupe in Silvis.
Following is an overview of the presentation: “What’s Your End Game?”
I hope that all of us answer, “To be in Heaven”! Although the title of my talk is “What’s your End Game”, life is NOT a game!
How we live our lives determines our eternal destiny, either heaven or hell! I did not always live my life being conscious of that fact.
Depending on your vocation (i.e., single, married, clergy/religious), if heaven is your “End Game,” you must have a game plan to get there.
In the old days, if you wanted to drive to Key West, Florida, you would get a map or atlas and plot out your route. Today, you just enter the destination into your GPS and it plots the route for you! Either way, you are provided information that shows or “knows” the way.
On the journey to my “End Game” - heaven - I listed some essential spiritual practices that lead you to Jesus.
Daily Mass was the catalyst to my discerning the diaconate. Daily Mass opened my mind to the supernatural reality and truth of what I must do if I am going to experience the Beatific Vision. That happened when I understood and took to heart the transforming power of the Eucharist. (Read “The Bread of Life Discourse” — John 6: 53-58.)
At Mass, during the Lord’s Supper/Eucharistic Meal, when we consume the Consecrated Host, that Host through transubstantiation is now the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ! When we receive the Holy Eucharist, our brains are transformed and we “Think Like Jesus”; our hearts are transformed and we “Love Like Jesus”; our tongues are transformed and we “Speak Like Jesus”.
As St. Paul explains, “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20a). If we profess that, then our “End Game” IS heaven!
Just as the Sacrament of the Eucharist transforms us, We NEED the Sacrament of Reconciliation to heal us, as it absolves our sins.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph #1035 tells us: “The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity.”
Immediately after death, the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, eternal fire. The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God.
Going to Confession regularly is definitely a must if we want to achieve our “End Game” — heaven.
I cannot conceive that my game plan, my desire, and hope for heaven my “ End Game” would be possible if I didn’t include our Blessed Mother!
I read a few books by a great modern-day Spiritual Giant in the Catholic Church, Venerable Fulton Sheen. He was born near Peoria, a priest in our own diocese, who became the nation's “Pastor”, when he had a national television show in the 50’s called “Life is Worth Living.” He wrote these words about Mary, the Mother of Our Lord: “If you have never before prayed to Mary, do so now! Can you not see that if Christ himself willed to be physically formed in her for nine months and then be spiritually formed by her for thirty-three years, it is to her that we must go to learn how to have Christ formed in us! Only she who raised Christ can raise a Christian!” He opened my mind to the beauty and bountiful graces you receive from Mary, who is “Full of Grace!” Venerable Fulton Sheen helped me understand that Mary’s role in our salvation is to lead us closer to her son, Jesus!
To develop a spiritual relationship with Jesus through Mary, praying the Holy Rosary “daily” is a must.
I would not be a deacon today without my devotion and consecration to Mary, our Blessed Mother! I received the gift of Grace to enjoy reading theology and religious books.
Reading the Bible daily is a must! You know, the “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth” manual.
When I started going to daily Mass, I started reading daily devotionals that included the daily Mass readings. That is how I fell in love with sacred scripture. Daily devotionals add another perspective or level of understanding. It elevates the dynamic of the teachings of Jesus, that the “Word of God” is truth, that I can put my life into the “hands of God” and trust in His Divine Providence!
St. Augustine wrote, “True happiness is to rejoice in the truth, for to rejoice in the truth is to rejoice in You, O God, who are the Truth, You, my God, my true Light, to whom I look for salvation.”
If we want to experience heaven on earth, our “End Game” must include a disciplined prayer life. There are certainly days that I fail, but I get up the next day with the mindset to get back on track.
This is a brief snippet of my ongoing journey to my “End Game”.
As a member of redeemed humanity in the communion of saints, a person possessing the Beatific Vision reaches perfect salvation in its entirety, which is heaven.
The Beatific Vision - that is my hope, that is my “End Game”!
Deacon Matt Martel