Many people wish that the world would be saved in that war and violence would cease, babies and the elderly be protected from being murdered, marriages and families be holy, etc. Their wish is already granted. Jesus has saved us (see Ti 3:5). All we need do is apply Jesus' saving death and resurrection to our world. We do this by believing in Him and expressing our faith by acts of love, obedience, worship, evangelization, sanctification, sacrifice, service, penance, justice, and mercy. In effect, to apply Jesus' life-saving salvation to our world, we must give our lives to Him. We must give Him our "all" (see Lk 21:4). On Calvary, Jesus gave His life for us; we are called to give our lives to Him.

Most of us who are reading this have given our time, money, and talents to Jesus. We have given Him much. However, that is not the plan of salvation and the way of the cross. To obtain the kingdom of God, we must not give "much" but "all" (see Mt 13:44, 46).

It is easier to give the first 98% of our lives to Jesus than to give the last 2%. The devil will make a goal-line stand to prevent us from surrendering all to Jesus, accepting Him as our Savior, Lord, and God, and thereby changing the world.

Give Jesus absolutely everything.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, April 10, 1999

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 16, 1999