**All-Knowing God**

         From the First Reading, we heard read, based upon 1 Jn 5:15—God hears us in regard to whatever we ask. Basically, the Lord knows everything about us. If you're not aware of this, I feel sorry for you. If you are, you would feel either disconcerted or comforted, depending upon your relationship with the Lord. Personally, I rejoice that I have such an all-knowing God taking the best care of me.

**The Letting-Go Test**

        Communion time question: God personally comes to seek union with us—how much do we let go of ourselves? 5%? 10%? 50%? 99%? How about matching his giving 100%? Abandon yourself totally to him and you are free. You can say that "Lose to God and you always win."

***Christ Indispensable to Us***

         Today's Communion Antiphon, 1 Jn 4:9—By this the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his Only Begotten Son into the world, so that we might have life through him. Let us realize that we have inherited Original Sin and are dead in spirit, so we absolutely need Christ to restore us to life!

**Avoid Being a Fool**

        We all have a bucket list of things we want to do or accomplish in our lifetime. When I was in my teens, I already made up a list of all the things I wanted to learn and try, such as playing the piano, swimming, horse riding, mountain climbing, etc. Of course, I never reached my goal. Being more mature now, I realize that if loving and following Christ is not first on my list, I essentially remain a fool, a big one at that. So make sure you don't end up on the Lord's list of fools!

***Trump in Prophesy***

         This is a video I saw five years ago on the John-Henry Westen Channel. Later I couldn't find it anymore. Now it just resurfaced and I think you'll find it interesting. God has a way of doing things we can never expect.  

**Testing Your Readiness for Heaven**

         Which would you choose between wining a $100,000,000 lottery or having Jesus make you holy? Picking the better answer should be a no-brainer. Did you hesitate in answering the question? Were the consequences in each case instantly clear to you?

***Seeking Union with God Not Advocated?***

         People don't talk about seeking to attain union with God—I think it's because it requires you to surrender yourself to God and most people are not there yet. This is a big mistake. We can talk about learning how to swim even if we don't know how to swim yet. We can surely talk about becoming holy even if we are not perfectly holy yet. Perhaps people wrongly assume that union with God is for the saints only. If that's the case, it's due to muddy thinking and the lack of faith. The Lord wants us to be at our very best and we should let him make us so!

*****Monumental Great News*****

         We have first today's Entrance Antiphon, John 1:1—In the beginning and before all ages, the Word was God and he humbled himself to be born the Savior of the world. The Lord had revealed that to John—what a magnificent and monumental statement! Then we have today's Communion Antiphon, John 3:16—God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life. This has to be our most beloved verse. If we must memorize one verse, this one should be it. God is giving us the "secret" to Eternal Happiness here! If you are not elated on hearing this, you need to be hit with a baseball bat on the head!

**Wise Living**

         If you only do your own thing aiming at pleasing yourself, then you are simply drifting along horizontally, living a mundane life. What will happen to you after this life is over? This is the BIG question! To be wise, do everything for the glory of God. Now you soar vertically, keeping your link to heaven firmly in place. What's going to come is no longer of any concern.

**Pleasure vs. Joy**

         Whatever you enjoy in the world is a pleasure and whatever you enjoy in God is a joy. The former is short-lived and can get tiresome quickly. It does not make you any holier and life remains empty. On the other hand, the latter is permanent and forever refreshing. It uplifts you spiritually and fills the void of your life.