**About Becoming a Saint

        A saint is someone in union with God. He is completely obedient to the Lord and thus free of the world. We may not be saints yet, but it does't mean we cannot become saints. Surely God would never tell us that we are holy enough for him now nor that we are not good enough to become saints. The fact that Jesus tells us to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect shows that he wants us to be saintly and that it's totally within our reach. To succeed in becoming a saint, we need to know in theory that we must let God truly be our God and follow in practice by yielding ourselves to God. The sooner we do it, the greater our reward in heaven will be. 

Letting God Completely into Your Life

        We should allow God into every aspect and facet of our lives so that he is never off-limits to us. This is to welcome him completely into our hearts. The reward for us will be peace, freedom, and joy. Not hiding from the one who knows all about us is truly being wise.

*Being Nourished and Pruned by God

        In today's Gospel reading from John 15, Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit." I feel that I am a branch of the vine that's Jesus, receiving all the nourishment from him to bear fruit for the glory of the Father. It also feels so good to be pruned by him to make me more fruitful. These are two great satisfying feelings.

**Who Has the Right of Way?

        God is never a barrier in our way, but we are always barriers in his way. Remember too that he was here first long before we came along.

*Start Everything with God

        Whatever you wish to accomplish, go to the Lord God first, for nothing is impossible with him. Especially, when you wish to be holy to love him more, telling yourself to do so is useless. Going straight to God for help is the smart way to go. Only God can draw you to union with him, and he can make you holy in a jiffy.

Bold Living

        You abandon yourself totally in God. Now you live securely above the world, for nothing in the world can take you down anymore.

God Refreshing Us

        First thought at morning Mass. I am making a new start today. With Christ, you can do this at any time. Repent, get all your sins forgiven, and you are clean again. You now start afresh. God gives us continuously the opportunity to be saved.

Good Awareness

        God knows every single thought, word, and deed of ours. This is good news, for knowing this can keep us from destroying ourselves.

Secure in Christ

        Communion experience. Life is like riding in a boat sailing on the sea. When you don't have Jesus with you, you are completely at the mercy of the weather and the waves. But the Lord is with me in my boat and I feel completely secure, for the winds and the sea all obey him (Matthew 8, Mark 4, Luke 8).   

**Hallmark of Christianity

        Today's entrance antiphon: The Good Shepherd has risen, who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his flock. Christ did willingly lay down his life for us. If you pause and think about it, it is truly an amazing act and fact. This is the beautiful hallmark of Christianity.