The overriding mission of the Catholic Church is the salvation of souls. Saint Paul declares in 1 Tim 2:4, "God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth." In 1 Tim 1:15, he tells us very clearly, "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." We're all sinners, but we have a Savior who can lead us to everlasting happiness in heaven. What should be our goal in life? How about this---to spend eternity with God in heaven?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) assures us, "By His death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has 'opened' heaven to us." Saint Paul gloriously proclaims in 1 Cor 2:9, "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those that love Him." What has God prepared for those who die in His grace and friendship and are perfectly purified? Heaven---the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness (CCC 1024).

Heaven must be our sole focus in life. Remember and practice these words from the Old Testament (OT) Book of Sirach, "In whatever you do, remember your last days, and you will never sin." God gives us all the grace we need to avoid sin and to share eternity in His heavenly kingdom. All we have to do is accept His grace and allow it to do His will in our lives.

To achieve heaven we must understand "grace" and "sin." Our justification, our salvation comes from the grace of God. Grace is a participation in the life of God. CCC 1996 defines grace as "favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to His call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life." God continually supplies us with the grace we need to conform our lives to His will; but we must choose to act upon this gift of grace. He gives us free will to do so.

If we truly want to see heaven, we must avoid deadly sin at all costs. CCC 1861 tells us, "Mortal sin results in the loss of our state of grace. If mortal sin is not redeemed by repentance and God's forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ's kingdom and (delivers us to) the eternal death of hell." While venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness (in heaven), deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin. So says CCC 1863.

Sometimes a few words or a short prayer spoken or focused on throughout the day can act as a pendulum that moves us away from sin and back to God. Find those few words or that short prayer that works for you. Take time in front of the Blessed Sacrament or in the quiet of your home to find your words or your prayer.

Several years back I wrote this short prayer: "Jesus, my Lord and my God, my Savior, center me on You in everything I think, see, do, and say." Now few if any days pass where I don't speak or focus on this prayer. It really helps me. When sin tempts me, I speak this prayer. After I've committed sin, I speak this prayer. In thanksgiving for God's grace and His love for me, I speak this prayer. In my ongoing desire for heaven, I speak this prayer. Everywhere, I speak this prayer, because unlike anyone else, He is always with me.

If we are centered on God in everything we think, we will think as God wants us to think. If we are centered on God in everything we see, we will see and appreciate the work of God in everything and everyone we see. If we are centered on God in everything we do, we will always do what God calls us to do. And, if we are centered on God in everything we say, we will preach God's word in all we say.

I recently heard Father Paul Coutinho, a Jesuit from Bombay, India speak on the "Spiritual Exercises" of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. He offered the following analogy. "When spouses have been together for a long time, they know what pleases each other and what aggravates each other. Strive for this knowledge with God: become one with Him, strive to please Him." If we become one with Him, our love for our spouse, our children, our parents, our family, our friends, all God's children and His entire creation will be cherished, loved, and better served.

I leave you with these comforting words Jesus spoke in the Bible. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so where I am you may also be." (Jn 14:1-3)

For more insight read CCC paragraphs 1023-1029, 1821, 1854 -1864, 1996-2005. Also, read the following Bible passages: Gen 1:1; 1 Kgs 8:30; Mt 5:11-12; Mt 22:1-14; Lk 23:42-43; Jn 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor 15: 42-44; 2 Cor 5:1-5; 2 Pet 1:3-4; 1 Jn 3:2; 1 Jn 5:16-17; Rev 7:14-17.