The closer you get, the better it gets!
 
I am a hoop's fan and I like the Portland Trailblazers.  The Rose Garden, where they play, has over 20,000 seats.  It is fun to go to games and can be quite electric.  I have sat in the nose-bleeds, half way up,  6 rows behind their bench, 3 rows behind their bench, 2 rows off the court and then, just recently I got to sit court side.  Court side!  You are right there.  It is almost like you are playing in the game.  You see and hear the sweat, determination, expressions, laughter, communication (some they probably should go to confession for) that is going on. There is a big difference even between court side and 6 rows back.  It does not get any better than court side!
 
The closer you get, the better it gets!
 
Jesus has made it possible for everyone to sit court side.  You can be right there!  It does not get any better.  You see and hear all that is going on in heaven.  It does not get any better or more joyful or loving than heaven.  And the closer you come to heaven, the better it gets!  So, draw close!  Use all the invitations and directions to get court side!
 
I am so moved by the power of this line from the preface of the Eucharistic prayers during the Easter Season (Listen for it in mass throughout the Easter Season):
 
The  of the resurrection renews the whole world!
 
 
Jesus' JOY not only renews you, your whole family, your local community, your country, your continent but it renews the whole world!  How great is that JOY?  If it can renew over 7 billion people living, it can renew you such that all  people see when they see you is JOY! JOY- Jesus Over You!  Jesus over sin and death and pride and suffering and selfishness and betrayal and loneliness and hopelessness and poverty and abuse and injustice and on and on.  If we put Jesus first we will come into the JOY of his perfect love in this life and the life to come!  He offers that JOY everywhere, all the time now that he is Risen from the dead.  Take him up on the offer- all the time.  The JOY that renews the whole world is with you all the time. And it is not just any ol' JOY- if you noticed on the bottle- it is ultra-concentrated!
 
The closer you get, the better it gets!
 
I pray we have all gotten closer to court side, to the JOY that renews everything, this Lenten Season.  As Karen Carpenter sang so beautifully, "We've Only Just Begun."
 
It has been such a blessing to journey with you to Jesus this Holy Season.  My love and prayers! 

Blessed by the BEST- all the time,
+Fr. John