I recently caught up with an old friend who had just retired early, something he’d dreamed of for years. Over lunch, he said, “Finally—I made it.” But after a pause, he added, “Now that I’m here, I’m not sure what it even means. I thought this would be… everything.” His whole plan, years in the making, had come together, but it didn’t feel as solid as he’d hoped. And I realized: we all do this, don’t we? We build our lives around goals, people, and plans that feel like “everything” at the time. But when we reach them, they’re often not as steady as we’d imagined.

This week’s Gospel reminds us of a truth we need to hear: “I came into the world to testify to the truth.” Jesus is talking about the kind of truth that doesn’t fade, disappoint, or make us feel uncertain—He’s talking about God Himself.

In a world that constantly shifts around us, God remains unchanging. We invest so much in things that never stay the same. You buy a brand-new car, and it’s not “new” by the time you park it in your driveway. Our own lives are constantly in flux; today we’re young, tomorrow we’re older. But God alone remains the same. When Jesus calls Himself “I Am,” He’s saying that He’s the one unchanging reality we can trust. He is, was, and always will be the only truth that endures.

So the question is: how are we making God the center of our lives?

Here are three simple ways to keep God at the center this week:

Pause Before Major Decisions: Life moves fast, and it’s easy to make decisions based on convenience or habit. When you face a choice, pause and ask, Is this helping me center my life on God? Even a brief pause can change our perspective and bring us closer to what really matters.

Let God Define Your Worth: The world constantly pulls us to prove ourselves through success, appearance, or possessions. But our value doesn’t come from what we own or achieve. Take a moment each day to remember that your worth comes from being a beloved child of God—who is, who was, and who always will be.

Start and End with God: Begin your day with a small prayer, inviting God into everything ahead. At the end of the day, take a minute to reflect and thank Him. This simple habit can help us see each day as a gift from the One who is always present.

The theme here is intention—taking a moment to ask ourselves, “Do my actions reflect a life centered on God?”

This week, try to let go of anything pulling you away from what’s lasting. Recenter yourself on the One who never change. When we live from this place of truth, anchored in God, we begin to see ourselves and others as He does. And that changes everything.

God Bless You!
-Fr. Francisco