***True Ignorance*

        The world has become so godless and tumultuous that we need to return to God, repent, and become obedient most urgently. Despite that, life is so short that we can die and face God at any moment. So now is the time to jump-start your spiritual life. God awaits us, but time doesn't. Delaying facing the Lord is truly not knowing what you do.

***All God Expects from Us***

        The Lord has sacrificed his only Son to save us. What can we sacrifice for him? Knowing that he's thoroughly aware of our limitations, I believe that he'd be satisfied and pleased if we just die to ourselves, set aside our own will, and let his will be done always. 

**Our Perfect Example

        In today's Gospel reading from John 15, Jesus said to his disciples, "If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love." So let's imitate Jesus by keeping all God's commandments to remain in his love. 

*****Only One We Must Need*****

        I've been realizing many old truths again. Today I became acutely aware of our absolute dependence upon God. My every breath, every heart beat, everything I accomplish . . . they are all dependent upon the Lord alone. I would instantly cease to exist should he so wish! We need to cling to him for our existence as well as for eternal life. He is the only one we truly need most dearly! 

**Our Life's Mission

         To learn the ways of the Lord so that we can become like him.

**Close to God?

        The moment we die, we see God, so we are that close to him. But if we don't make heaven, then we are in reality not close to him at all! Seek union with God on earth and we can get really close to him in this life and even closer in the next.

***Love Continues On

        When the Lord God created us, it was a great loving act. When we strayed away from him and he sacrificed his own Son to redeem us from sin so that we may return to him in grace, it is another great loving act.

**Remain in Christ and Bear Fruit

        In today's Gospel reading from John 15, Jesus asked his disciples to remain in him, as he remains in them, so that they could bear fruit. To remain in the Lord is to let his words remain in us. As for the fruit we bear, we may not necessarily see it. But as long as we obey him, we can be sure that our fruit multiplies, storing up treasures in heaven.

***God's Special Joy***

        The Lord gives us freedom and peace, but his joy is extra special—overpowering, exuberant, and intoxicating, deeply affecting our innermost. It's not caused by anything that stimulates your senses externally; it's just there bursting forth from your heart whenever the Holy Spirit chooses to touch you. It's a life-changing gift.

**Most Joyful Sound

        When you hear the priest breaking the consecrated Host, it's a most joyful sound, for the Lord is now ready to let himself be given to each of the faithful to consume. The disciples of his day knew him by the breaking of the bread.