Do you want to go to Heaven? How do we get to Heaven? Jesus tells us in the gospel passage that we have to love him and we do that by keeping the commandments. Old Testaments and New Testament commandments. God the Father tells us that if we want to get to heaven, one of the 10 commandments is to honor the Sabbath. Jesus sets the stage for his church to honor the Sabbath by going to mass every weekend. Less than 25% of American Catholics go to mass on the weekend, even though God says its a commandment. Jesus said I died on the cross for your sins, but I won't force it on you, you have to ask for it. Its all in heaven and we receive forgiveness by going to confessions. The church makes it easy. If your sin is not mortal, you only need to go to confessions once a year. Every confession last about 2 minutes and still less than 5% of American Catholics attend confessions once a year. Theres 3 important elements of being a good steward. 1. Prayer is another very important key to staying connected with God. Its not hard, its just talking to him throughout the day. We have to condition ourselves to pray. We have several opportunities to pray during the day. When we wake up, before going to bed, before every meal, when brushing your teeth, while getting dressed or undressed. It is important that we make prayer a habit like everything else in our lives. 2. Service- Jesus told us to serve in his words and his actions. Serving does not have to be done in church, but can be done outside in other lay ministries. Serving is just giving your time to help someone else. 3. Sacrificial giving- The least favorite amongst most christians. In the Old Testament God the Father said 10%. You keep 90% and give God 10%. Jesus comes along in the New Testament and fulfills the old covenant and he does not put any number on giving, he just says to make it sacrificial. Fr. Mike recommends we do trinity giving (3%). 1% for the Father, 1% for the Son and 1% for the Holy Spirit. Sometime today, take a moment to reflect on: Am I praying like God has commanded me to. Am I servicing others as Jesus served. Am I giving sacrificially. Then write down a plan of action to improve the areas that you have discovered as your weak areas.

John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man come unto the Father, but through me.

James 1:15 Every good and perfect gift is from above... If the animals can, shouldn't we take the time to smell these beautiful gifts from GOD.