Attaining Eternal Life - Weekday Homily Video

How can we get to heaven? Or, as the rich young man asked Jesus, “Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?” Of all the New Year’s resolutions, a recommitment to asking and acting on that question is the most important one we and our family members can make.

As many times as I’ve heard and thought about today’s gospel from Matthew, I’ve never considered the fact that just about all of us need to be working on both detachment from earthly possessions and keeping the Ten Commandments! Few people manage to achieve ten for ten in keeping the Commandments, allowing them to say, “Jesus, I have kept all of the commandments.”

It makes sense that if our desire and our efforts are toward living the teachings of Jesus found in the Commandments, then we are more disposed toward not letting earthly possessions get in the way of helping those in need and following Jesus.

Yet, at times, when we carefully and honestly look at what Jesus calls us to do in this life, we can respond like the disciples who saw the rich young man walk away, unable to let go of his many possessions to follow Jesus, and say, “who then can be saved?” In other words, “Is it reasonable, is it doable, to live a life that Jesus calls us to, especially in these times?”

All Things Are Possible for God

This is when we need to hear and grow in trust of Jesus’ promise: “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” I think at times, when we take a hard look at how we are doing in our moral, ethical, and spiritual lives, it can get discouraging if we take Jesus at His word regarding divine justice. However, we know that Jesus knows our limitations without God’s help. This is why He states the truth that without God, whether rich, poor, or in-between, left to our own efforts, we cannot make it to heaven.

But, with God, we can. Perhaps the first thing we need to let go of is our pride. An inner voice that tells us that we’re in pretty good shape when it comes to being a follower of Jesus. The voice that says, well, compared to my neighbor, I’m practically a saint!

Or perhaps we need to let go of our worries that we just don’t have the ability to change at this point in our lives or under these circumstances. We know that with God’s grace and humility, men and women throughout history have made amazing turnarounds to become saints, those recognized by the Church and those known only within a small circle of family and friends.

Let us focus on this important question today and every day: what must we and our families do, with God’s grace, to have eternal life? If we can keep that as our focus, then one day, with the grace of God, we will make it to Heaven together.

• Today’s Readings

• Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.) 

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