I have many goals in life, but my highest priority is getting to Heaven. I believe most people would say the same. But how can we make sure we actually reach that goal?
In the Gospel of Luke this weekend, we hear that the path to eternal life comes through loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and by loving our neighbor as ourselves. But how many of us truly live that out? I know I fall short far too often.
I try to treat others with love and kindness, but I don’t always treat them the same way I treat myself. While I know I can’t help everyone in need, I still often overlook the homeless person or ignore the lonely one on the street. When I’m out in public, it’s easy to judge others based on how they dress or act. Treating others as I would treat myself isn’t always easy, but it’s something I must keep working on. If we take time to really look at others, we’ll start to see their goodness and dignity and even recognize Jesus in them.
Most of us would say we love God, but do we really love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength? Our church offers adoration of the Blessed Sacrament each month, yet only a few people come. Do we prioritize Sunday Mass in our weekly schedule? How much time do we spend talking with God compared to how much time we spend entertaining ourselves? We should feel ourselves growing closer to Him, not drifting away.
If we gain everything in this world but miss out on Heaven, we’ve failed. God made each of us in His image and likeness, and our souls long to be united with Him. That’s why we should focus on deepening our relationship with God and also with those around us. One of my favorite dismissals at Mass is when the priest or deacon says, “Glorify the Lord by your life.” When we live with love and shine our light for others, we naturally grow closer to God and to eternal life.
