ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER

Browsing Pastors Desk

What does it mean to have eternal life?

From pastor’s desk on the 4th Sunday of Lent, year B

 

What does it mean to have eternal life? According to this Sunday’s gospel it means to believe in Jesus Christ. It is our Lord Jesus who said:

“For God so loved the world that he gave  his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:15).

 

          Our faith in Jesus leads to life, both here on earth and in heaven. Eternal life starts in our earthly life and it is a fruit of our faith. The more faith we have have the more life and goodness is in us. We see this clearly in the lives of numerous saints. The saints are those people who are fully alive because they have rooted their lives in the fountain of life, that is, in Jesus Christ. If we study a life of each saint we see how each and every one of them was transformed by grace due to his or her faith in Christ Jesus. Thus, faith in Jesus is the only way that may help us to be healthier, happier, and fulfilled. Our faith literally leads us from death to life. St. Paul accurately captures it in his letter to the Ephesians:

 

“God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ—by grace you have been saved—, raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:3-5)

 

          There are studies that show that people who have faith in Jesus are statistically happier and find more fulfillment in life. On the contrary, people without faith are statistically more depressed and feel lost. They also cannot recognize how their sinful ways are affecting their daily wellbeing. Unfortunately, too often we look for life fulfillment away from Jesus. By doing it we deprive ourselves of the source of life and find only disappointment and hardship. Very often a lack of true faith literally leads us to death, as it is the case of persons who engage in abortion or euthanasia. The consequences of those wicked things are spiritual darkness and emotional misery.

“For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed” (John 3:20).

         

          We must remember that God wants our salvation and our happiness (blessedness) here on earth. So if God allows us to be disappointed with the things of this world, it is for our good. Consequently, if you do not find pleasure in something that you used to like and enjoy, it is a good sign. God is calling you to conversion. The words of our Lord in this Sunday’s gospel become the truth of your life too: “But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God” (John 3:21). God is calling you to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. It is also a reminder that there is no true life apart from God. Your disappointments and suffering are to bring you back to the Divine Healer who died for you on the cross. This, whenever you look with faith at Jesus on the cross your soul is being healed too: “so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:15). Bear in mind, Jesus Christ is the only way that leads us to life everlasting. He is also the only way to authentic health and happiness in this life.

 

I wish you all a blessed week. Fr. Janusz Mocarski, pastor

 

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