My reflections

The name of God is simply "to be", the One who is. In the mainstream of Catholic theological tradition, God is not regarded as a being, or the supreme entity among many, but rather as being itself, Ipsum Esse in Latin. God cannot be fully defined; in fact, all our words and concepts inevitably fall short of who God truly is. God is, at His core, a mystery. As St. Augustine wisely said, “If you understand it, it isn’t God.” God is not just another item in the universe, nor the greatest of all things, but simply is. God cannot be controlled, measured, or contained by human understanding.

Our theological language serves a purpose: it aims to deepen our spiritual life by transforming our relationship with God. Though God cannot be defined or categorized, we still speak and write about Him, indeed, millions of words have been penned in attempts to describe God. In the Book of Exodus, Moses passionately asks to see God's glory, and Yahweh responds: “I will make all my goodness pass before you, but you cannot see my face, for no one shall see me and live... and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

We can indeed experience God in this life, but only indirectly, through His creatures and effects. We catch glimpses of Him obliquely, like seeing His back through the beauty, order, and contingency of the world He has created. One argument for God's existence that resonates with me is the argument from contingency. Contingency is part of our everyday experience: things come into being and then pass away. Consider the seasons, days, plants, animals, and all the people you’ve known who have lived and died. Even seemingly permanent things, like the Rocky Mountains, came into existence gradually and will eventually erode.

This shows that all things in the world do not carry within themselves the reason for their existence. We must explain them by appealing to an external cause. And to avoid an infinite regress of explanations that leads nowhere, we must ultimately arrive at a reality that exists through itself, an absolutely necessary being whose very nature is to be. This is what Christians mean by "God."

For reflection, let’s take time to meditate on these scriptures about true happiness.

Exodus 3:14; Psalms 90.

Peace,

Sholi

Love is not merely a sentiment or a fleeting emotion; it is the active will to seek the good of others for their own sake. This is precisely why loving one’s enemies is the ultimate test of true love. If I am kind to someone who is likely to repay me, I might simply be masking self-interest, disguised as generosity. But if I show generosity to an enemy, someone who has no intention of reciprocating, then I can be certain that my act was truly for their good, not for my own benefit.

Jesus calls us to aspire to love in the way that God loves. God’s love extends to those who love Him and those who reject Him alike. He loves both His friends and His enemies; He bestows good things on those who deserve them and on those who do not. When we free ourselves from attachments, particularly from the desire for approval, we open ourselves to become true “sons and daughters” of this God, serving as channels of His extraordinary grace.

For reflection, let’s take time to meditate on these scriptures about true happiness.

Mathew 5:43-48.

Peace,

Sholi

Psychologists say that when our ego is hurt by misery or other factors, and our sense of security is attacked, we often develop a complex. But I once heard a holy man challenge this view. He explained that many are threatened by poverty but do not develop an inferiority complex. His insights inspired me to share the following:

The key difference lies in how some people develop a false sense of superiority, while others do not. Our psychological response is shaped by our belief in God. If we truly believe, we practice humility—the recognition of our true selves. However, if we see ourselves as gods, pride and superiority emerge, followed by selfishness and egotism.

Humility reminds us that everything we have—our nation, social rank, talents, health, wisdom—is not of our own making. As Saint Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:7-8, "What do I have that I have not received?" This virtue shines when we admit our own faults, not those of others.

On the other hand, if we become gods to ourselves, we lose control. When challenged, we fight for superiority and despise equality, leading to conflicts and contempt for others. These two attitudes are always present, but we must choose which to embrace.

the light of the sun mirrors the light of God's love. When we turn our backs on Him, our shadow grows large, giving us a distorted view of abundance. But when we face Him, our shadow disappears, and any small shadow stays behind us, removing our false self-image.

For reflection, let’s meditate on these scriptures of humility: Philippians 2:6-8 and John 13:4-16.

Peace,

Sholi Kayijuka

• True joy comes from receiving divine life as a gift and giving it away as a gift. The more you share it, the more it grows within you.

• Happiness is found when your heart is clear about what truly matters in life.

• If your deepest desires are focused on anything other than the purpose of life—meaning God and righteousness—you will always feel unfulfilled.

• To love peace is to be a child of God, and in that, you will find true happiness.

• If we become fixated on any finite good—whether wealth, status, or pleasure—we will never experience lasting happiness.

• Blessed are you if you are free from addictions to fleeting pleasures, whether they be physical, emotional, or psychological. These feelings may be wonderful, but they are not God.

• When you let go of the pursuit of worldly power, you are free to follow God’s will, even if it means embracing powerlessness or meekness.

• Just as the call to poverty frees us from the grip of materialism, the call to mourn breaks our attachment to pleasure, and the call to meekness breaks the addiction to power, being persecuted for righteousness helps us overcome the desire for honor.

If you desire true happiness, despise what Jesus despised on the cross—wealth, pleasure, power, and honor and love what Jesus loved on the cross—the Father and His people. 

For reflection, let’s take time to meditate on these scriptures about true happiness.

Mathew 5:1-12.

Peace,

Sholi