Focused on Christ

Objectives

At the end of the session, the participants are expected to:

1. Understand the importance of being Focused on Christ as inspired by the book our founder, Frank Padilla.

2. Develop a deeper love and appreciation for Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross and His victory in the Resurrection.

3. Commit to living a Christ-centered life through daily choices rooted in selflessness, repentance, and surrender.

Expanded Outline

I. Introduction

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:2a)

Our Christianity is the most important aspect of our lives. Our family, our mission, our livelihood, and even our recreation all revolve around our relationship with Christ. We have not truly lived unless we have lived out our Christianity fully. And if we are to succeed in this new life in Christ, we must learn to fix our eyes on Him. 

Today, we are invited to learn from the book Focused on Christ by our founder, Frank Padilla. We are called to be centered on Christ, both crucified and risen. Especially in these times, when it is easy to lose focus, we are reminded to return to what truly matters: to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

II. Why We Lose Our Focus Today

1.     Distraction
We live in a noisy and fast-paced world, filled with tasks, notifications, and responsibilities, that constantly pull our attention away from God.
Even our quiet moments become crowded, leaving little space for God’s voice.

2.     Self-centeredness
We become too focused on our own plans, desires, and struggles, slowly placing ourselves at the center instead of Christ. Our decisions begin to revolve around what we want rather than what God wills.

3.     Spiritual Drift
Without intentional prayer and reflection, our relationship with God weakens, and we gradually lose sight of His presence. This drift is subtle, but over time, it leads us away from the heart of God.

III. Focused on Christ

When we fix our gaze on Jesus and His Cross, our hearts begin to change from within. His Cross does not only save us, it shapes how we live, love, and follow Him each day.

1.     Selflessness
When we focus on Jesus, we lose our focus on ourselves. When we contemplate the shame and pain of the cross, we lose our desire for self-fulfillment or self-glory. As we look on Jesus in his nakedness, we are able to shed off our own attachments, our materialism, our search for pleasure. 

2.     Repentance
Reflecting on the Cross leads us to recognize our sin and return to God. Jesus took on my sins and paid for them with his life. I put him on the cross! And every time I sin , I am pounding on the nails which have pierced his hands and feet.  This conviction is a great motivation for us to avoid sin. 

3.     Gratitude
Seeing Christ’s total self-giving love fills our hearts with gratitude. Jesus loves me so much that he died for me, even when I was sinful and estranged from him. Our gratitude enables us to respond in love, to the Lord and to his loved ones. We are drown to become generous.

4.     Surrender
His suffering teaches us to trust and release our burdens to Him. Our concerns, problems, difficulties, even trials, all become light compared to Jesus’ cross. We are given renewed strength to face the burdens of life. We develop endurance and perseverance. 

5.     Direction
The Cross provides us a focal point for our moving on in this world. It enables us to look toward our real goal in this life, that is, life on high with God. We are able to put things into proper perspective, to look beyond what is happening around us, to rise above the confusion of daily life. 

6.     Transformation
Fixing our eyes on Jesus allows Him to form us into His likeness. As we look to him and his ways, we are better able to imitate him. As we ponder his divine and holy presence, we better able to grow in personal holiness. We seek to obey his will and to those he has placed authority over us in the Church. 

IV. Conclusion

“There are indeed many important things in life, but for someone striving to be a true Christian, nothing is as important as the Lord himself.” 

– Frank Padilla, Focused on Christ

As we reflect on the Cross, we are reminded that love requires sacrifice. As we celebrate the Resurrection, we are reminded that sacrifice leads to new life. The journey from Good Friday to Easter Sunday is as road to glory, it is also our journey. We are called to: carry our crosses daily, trust God even in suffering and walk in the hope of the Resurrection. When we focus on Jesus, His Cross and His victory, our lives begin to change.

We become selfless instead of self-centered

• repentant instead of complacent

• grateful instead of entitled

• surrendered instead of controlling

• directed instead of lost

• transformed instead of stagnant

So let us not remain at the Cross in despair, nor rush to Easter without sacrifice. Let us walk the full journey with Christ. Because the Cross is not the end, it is the path to Resurrection. This is the good news we have to live out and share through witnessing and evangelization. 

Discussion Question

Where is my focus right now, and what concrete step can I take this week to fix my eyes more fully on Jesus?