WHAT IS THE TRUE RELIGION ACCORDING TO JESUS CHRIST?

It is safe to state that many have wavered from their given religion at some point in their life. The word religion comes originally from the Latin word religare, that is, to “re-bind”, in this case with the Divine. This word, for us Christians, is understood as a “re-binding” of our relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Another definition of religion is the set of beliefs and practices that focus on the meaning of life and may include the veneration of a supreme being. A few weeks ago, I talked about the topic of the true religion. In my experience, the key to living the happy life God intends for us, both here and in eternity, is to follow and imitate what Jesus did out of Love for us, surrendering His own life through His sacrifice on the cross. Not only so that we do not go to hell after passing through this world, but also so that we can always count on His company in this life, both in good times and in bad.

The Apostle James reveals to us in what true religion is, “if anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:26-27). We know that there are many religions and many Christian denominations. Some, are Catholic like us; others are Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Pentecostals, etc. We all believe we practice the true religion. I am convinced that our Lord Jesus founded the Roman Catholic Church; I have no doubts now, although at first, before my conversion, I did doubt the veracity of this fact. Moreover, I am now convinced that, although we are in the true religion, if we do not live the way Jesus came to teach us and do not apply the Gospel to our daily lives, we are not living the true religion and are in danger of losing our ticket to heaven.

I am addressing my fellow Roman Catholics here to warn them that many people within the Church have much knowledge of God and His doctrine but fail to live according to the Gospel and its most important commandment, Love; loving God and our neighbor as we love ourselves. The divisions we have today are the result of judgments, for those in the Church that seek power, materialism, pleasure, and fame, that is not what being Christian is about. This is why Jesus continually taught His disciples how to live and avoid sin, which is simply separation from God’s precepts, so that they would not get lost, distracted from their mission on earth. He said, “what profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life [mission]? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?” (Mt. 16:26) and He also said, “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will [mission] of my Father in Heaven.” (Mt. 7:21). So, Jesus shows us that despite knowing God, if we do not live according to His teachings, He will say to us on the day of judgment, “I do not know who you are”! And that, my brothers and sisters, is the worst things that could happen to anyone, especially to one in the Church who thinks they are doing God’s Will but are actually lost by their own doing. Sad.

On the other hand, Jesus also said, “everyone who listens to these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house but it did not collapse, it was set solidly on rock [Peter]. And everyone who listens to these words of Mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house and it collapsed and was completely ruined.” (Mt 7:24-27). These two individuals had something in common, both of them listen, in other words both were in the Church. However, one practices what the Lord taught and the other does not, and the latter is compared to a house built on the sand that is finally destroyed by his own making; the house represents the life of the one who collapses and is destroyed when trials come upon him.

In the Old Testament, God used Moses to tell the people to have mercy on the neediest among them,“when you reap the harvest in your field and overlook a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; let it be for the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the LORD, your God, may bless you in all your undertakings.” (Deuteronomy 24:19).

Clearly understanding that we must live the Love of God and even love our enemies by putting them before the Lord in prayer instead of just attacking and judging them, is underlying proof to the world that our religion is true. Jesus said, “by the fruits, you will know them”. If someone speaks of God and renders a service within the Church, he must bear fruits by serving the needy and the suffering; that is what true religion is all about, not just talking or possessing knowledge but acting. Catholicism is therefore not something you simply believe in but something that you do. Doing everything for others as a result of our gratitude to our Savior Jesus and our Heavenly Father, without expecting anything in return from those we help, rather, recognizing that everything comes from above, from our Lord. As a Catholic, I am certain that we do not need to leave the Church, for it is the one Christ founded, to do the Will of God, and in it, we can be born again “re-binded”, through conversion, metanoia, true repentance, and an encounter with Jesus. If we say that we also love the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus; our God and Savior, then we listen and obey her Son because her happiness is that “we do what He tells us”, that is to show her that we love her and recognize her as our Mother.

Finally, let us remember that Jesus advises us so that we know where we will go when the final judgment comes. If we apply His teachings, we will be at His right hand, for we lived the true religion according to His Gospel as His 73rd disciple “so that none may be lost and all may be saved. I invite you to become Jesus’ 73rd disciple by Consecrating your life to Him in pursuit of the true religion at IamThe73rd.org

Thank you for reading this letter and thank you for supporting ESNE whose aim is helping everybody find the love of love, Jesus Christ. Thank you for sowing your financial seeds in gratitude for all He has done for you, your family and friends. I am a Sower like you and will continue to serve as a volunteer, giving my financial seed so that the mission of the true religion does not diminish but grows ever more. Also, I want to let you know that this month we have an opportunity to make a one-time special contribution for the acquisition of a new radio station that will take the Salvation of Christ to more souls in the area of Santa Maria through an FM signal. Invite your family and friends to join in this opportunity from October 16 to 30 on ESNE TV, Radio and Streaming! God always multiplies us when we act together, pressed down, shaken and overflowing! (Luke 6:38)

“Dear Lord, you have taught us by providing a testimony of Love. Therefore, I pray for each one of my brothers and sisters and their families who contribute to ESNE as sowers and who act to love their neighbor as themselves.”

May Our Lady of Guadalupe, bless us and protect us always. Amen.