LIVE LIKE A DYING MAN

One day, I attended Mass and the priest was in a hurry. He either was very tired. Or had diarrhea. Because he was going through the motions and doing it quickly. So very different from my friend Bishop Honesto Ongtioco. For years, I’ve admired how the good bishop celebrates Mass. He does it with so much passion. Like he speaks every word with fire. And he acts every gesture with love. Two weeks ago, I had lunch with this great man. I asked him why he does his Masses this way. He said something so profound, I’ll never forget it. He said, “I always imagine every Mass to be my first Mass and my last Mass.” For me, the key word is imagine. He added, “What if I died in my sleep tonight? I really don’t know, do I?” Today, I invite you to take a very special 30-Day Retreat with me. No, I’m not asking you to go to a Retreat House with me. You’ll just do it wherever you are. (I’ll talk more about it later.) Using the power of your imagination, you’ll allow death to be your teacher. Let me tell you how…