We all have something we are passionate about. We can talk for hours when the conversation centers on something we love. When we care deeply about something, we pursue it often and work to improve it. However, out of all the passions we can choose, our greatest passion should be growing closer to Jesus.
No joy on earth compares to the joy of spending eternity with God in Heaven. Jesus makes this clear in the Gospel of Mark when He asks, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” God created us to live with Him and share in His love and joy. The world offers power, pleasure, fame, and wealth, but all of these can disappear in an instant. Therefore, we should invest our energy in our relationship with God and fix our eyes on what lasts forever.
Over the past year, I have noticed that as I’ve grown closer to God, my priorities have changed. I now let go of things that do not truly matter and focus more on what does. Life gives us countless reasons to feel stressed, but it is too short to let those things take hold of us.
We need to reach the point where we recognize God’s presence within us. I truly feel that I carry Jesus within me each day. When I sit before the Blessed Sacrament, I feel my heart burn with love for Him. Our actions should be in union with His will. When our wills align with His, we experience less friction, more peace, and move through life with greater clarity.
Many people feel empty or discouraged because they chase things that do not satisfy. A strong relationship with Jesus does not remove suffering, but it does bring deep fulfillment. If we stay close to Him during our life, it shouldn’t surprise us when He is next to us when we take our final breath as well.
