# How we get to heaven and the act of oblation
*2014-09-29*

> Bill Young discusses the requirements for entering heaven through the lens of love and offers a prayer for the suffering souls.

## The question of salvation

As we approach All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, the central question is: how do we get to heaven? My pastor told a joke last Sunday about a man at the pearly gates. St. Peter asked him why he should be let in. The man hadn't volunteered, given to the poor, or helped the church. The only thing he could recall was a moment where he stepped in to defend someone being pushed around by a group of bikers. He remembered helping the man, and the next minute, he was standing before St. Peter.

This makes us wonder: is believing in God sufficient? Is giving to the poor or helping the church enough? What does it actually take to get to heaven?

## The greatest commandments

In the readings this past Sunday, Jesus answers this question when asked which two commandments are the most important. He said first, love thy God with all your heart and soul, and second, love thy neighbor as yourself.

I relate loving God with all our heart and soul to how we love a spouse or a significant other. If we truly love that person, we do anything for them. We don't limit our giving to 10% or 50%; whatever is mine is yours. Similarly, if we love our neighbor as ourselves, we should provide for them as we do for ourselves—feeding them, taking care of them, and seeking the best for them. I believe that is the answer to how we get to heaven.

## Prayer for the suffering souls

I want to share a prayer for the suffering souls called the Act of Oblation: 

"Ecce Venio! Here I am, ready! O my Jesus, meek and sweet divine lamb, immolate forever on our altars for ourselves and for all humankind. I want to be united to you, to suffer with you, to offer my sacrifice with you. For this purpose, I offer you all my pain, hardship, humiliation, and crosses which your providence permits me to encounter on my path. To you I present all the intentions for which you are offered in sacrifice. May my offering and sacrifice be a humble offering to obtain your blessings for the church, the priesthood, poor sinners, and for all society. Dear Jesus, deign to accept it from the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary, united with her Immaculate Heart."

We conclude with the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be.

*Getting to heaven is found in the total, selfless love of God and our neighbors.*