***Living Bread That Satisfies

        Communion experience. Today's Gospel from John 4 tells the encounter of the Samaritan woman with Jesus at Jacob's well in Sychar. Jesus told her that whoever drinks the living water he gives would never be thirsty again. The Lord has given me even his own body and blood, so I'll never feel thirst or hunger again. There's absolutely nothing beyond the Lord himself I would need.  

**God's Mercy Extolled*

        We must never ignore our Lord God; most specifically, his infinite mercy. It is by this mercy that we sinners are still living, that there's always hope provided us in this life, and that we can be saved from death forever. If is what we critically need and dependent upon. We must be aware of and thankful for, rejoice in, and embrace it. 

**When to Leave this World*

        Once in while, when something interesting happens in this world, be it spiritual or secular, I think of some loved one who has already passed away and kinda wish that the person were here to see it. Does that really matter? I know that after I am gone, there'll be many perhaps truly wonderful things happening. But for anyone who is ready to meet the Lord himself, the world is no longer interesting. In heaven, you would know what's happening on earth anyway. Knowing the Lord and starting to see things as he sees them, you lose all your attachments to the world and realize how foolish and juvenile it is to be solely interested in living in and for the world. So after you know the Lord and start living for him alone, anytime would be a good time to leave this earth.

***Father Most Forgiving***

         Today we heard the parable of the lost (prodigal) son from Luke 15 at Mass. This is very likely the best known and most moving parable of all the parables Jesus had told. The story reveals how much our heavenly Father loves us. You really have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by it. The Father is so forgiving that as long as we realize that we need to return to him, we can do no wrong. His mercy is great indeed. You really have to be the greatest idiot not to be forgiven by him. 

**Infinite God Our Perfect Fit*

        The Lord God is infinite and has inexhaustible riches to offer us. They are ours for the asking. How can we finite creatures not be happy with such a God who loves us so much and can satisfy our deepest desires? He is a Father who can give us good things way beyond our expectations. Personally, I am wide open and eager to receive whatever he wishes to bestow upon me in abundance. 

**My Greatest Act*

        Communion experience. I have found my eternal rest in Christ. Peace now reigns. I accomplished the greatest act of my life by reconciling and submitting myself to the Lord. 

***Two Breakthrough Moves.

     1. We realize we are sinners and need Christ to save us from sin. We then believe in him and accept him as our Lord and Savior.
        2. We fall in love with Christ and wish to attain union with him, so we surrender to him completely every time we receive him in the Holy Eucharist.

***How to Stop Sinning***

         Open up to Christ to experience his tremendous love for you, then you can't help but fall in love with him. Now you stop sinning because you don't ever wish to hurt your most beloved.

**Saints vs. Evildoers (Going Separate Ways)**

         The only difference between the two is the awareness that God exists and he loves us and can save us from sin. The saints have it while the evildoers don't. They now all live on the same planet, but soon they'll go their separate ways. There'll be rejoicing and lamenting. It is difficult to even think about this. The Lord is always right, yet there are those who do not believe in him. I can only pray, pray, and pray, wishing that many will wake up in their last moments before death. That's why we ask Holy Mother Mary to pray for us now and the hour of our death. I believe that this is a grace God can and does grant.

**Be like a Student

        Obeying God is most meritorious while offending him earns you demerits. The Lord does keep account of what we do. Consider yourself a student going to school now. You want to be sure that you'll earn enough good grades to graduate. Be obedient to God now to receive top honors from him later.