eternal life Archives

SBN1 – Introduction – Salvation Begins Now: Last Things First with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Episode 1: Introduction – Salvation Begins Now: Last Things First

Deacon James Keating and Kris McGregor explore the Christian understanding of life, death, and the eternal destiny in light of Catholic teaching on the “last things” (heaven, hell, death, and the final judgment). Contemporary Catholics may struggle with these concepts, as the vocabulary and focus on eternal destiny have diminished, often overshadowed by preoccupations with everyday life.

It’s important for us to acknowledge death as a reality and mystery that ultimately gives meaning to life. Avoidance of death, often seen in euphemisms like “passing,” detracts from the full Christian understanding of life and resurrection. Keating highlights that clergy should guide people in facing death meaningfully, as this helps people better live in alignment with their faith.

A core element is the resurrection of the body, which Christianity views as essential to personal identity and continuity with life on earth. Contrasting this with Platonic ideas that view the soul as separate from the body, Dcn. Keating tells us that, in Christian teaching, body and soul are intertwined and will be united in the resurrection. The sacramental life, particularly the Eucharist, provides a connection to this eternal life, as Jesus himself says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Faith, hope, and love in Jesus draw Christians into eternal life, already beginning on earth.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Awareness of Eternal Destiny: How often do I contemplate my eternal destiny, and do I see its relevance in my daily life?
Understanding of Death and Resurrection: How comfortable am I with discussing death, and do I fully understand the hope that the resurrection of the body offers?
Connection to Heaven in Everyday Life: Do I recognize the continuity between my current life and eternal life, seeing hints of resurrection in moments of healing and reconciliation?
Respect for the Dignity of the Body: How do I value and care for my own body and those of others, especially the vulnerable, as a reflection of my belief in the resurrection?
Living the Sacramental Life: How am I staying connected to Jesus, especially through the Eucharist, as a way to experience and deepen my communion with eternal life?

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

994 “But there is more. Jesus links faith in the resurrection to his own person: “I am the Resurrection and the life.”544 It is Jesus himself who on the last day will raise up those who have believed in him, who have eaten his body and drunk his blood.545 Already now in this present life he gives a sign and pledge of this by restoring some of the dead to life,546 announcing thereby his own Resurrection, though it was to be of another order. He speaks of this unique event as the “sign of Jonah,”547 the sign of the temple: he announces that he will be put to death but rise thereafter on the third day.548”

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

SBN1 – Introduction – Salvation Begins Now: Last Things First with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Episode 1: Introduction – Salvation Begins Now: Last Things First

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Awareness of Eternal Destiny: How often do I contemplate my eternal destiny, and do I see its relevance in my daily life?
Understanding of Death and Resurrection: How comfortable am I with discussing death, and do I fully understand the hope that the resurrection of the body offers?
Connection to Heaven in Everyday Life: Do I recognize the continuity between my current life and eternal life, seeing hints of resurrection in moments of healing and reconciliation?
Respect for the Dignity of the Body: How do I value and care for my own body and those of others, especially the vulnerable, as a reflection of my belief in the resurrection?
Living the Sacramental Life: How am I staying connected to Jesus, especially through the Eucharist, as a way to experience and deepen my communion with eternal life?

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

994 “But there is more. Jesus links faith in the resurrection to his own person: “I am the Resurrection and the life.”544 It is Jesus himself who on the last day will raise up those who have believed in him, who have eaten his body and drunk his blood.545 Already now in this present life he gives a sign and pledge of this by restoring some of the dead to life,546 announcing thereby his own Resurrection, though it was to be of another order. He speaks of this unique event as the “sign of Jonah,”547 the sign of the temple: he announces that he will be put to death but rise thereafter on the third day.548”

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

USCCA13 – Our Eternal Destiny – U. S. Catholic Catechism for Adults w/ Arch. George Lucas

USCCA13- Episode 13- Our Eternal Destiny

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Archbishop Lucas offers insights on the US Catholic Catechism for Adults Chapter 13:

” But the reality of death and its finality give an urgency to our lives. “Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ” (CCC, no. 1021). This teaching recognizes that the death of a person marks an end to our earthly journey with its sorrows and joys, its sinful failures, and the triumphs of Christ’s saving grace and help.

The Most Reverend George J. Lucas leads the Archdiocese of Omaha.

For other episodes in the visit our Archbishop George Lucas page

This programs is based on:

More information can be found here.

We wish to thank the USCCB for the permissions granted for use of relevant material used in this series.
Also we wish to thank Fr. Ryan Lewis for his vocal talents in this episode.

Faith Check 13 – Works of the Law

Works of the Law

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In Romans and Galatians, St. Paul warns about those trying to justify themselves before God by following the works of the Law.

To properly understand this, we must look at the historical context. As we read in the Acts, there was a group in the early Church called the “Judaizers,”¹ which taught that Gentile converts to Christianity must be circumcised and follow the kosher laws.

Paul says in no uncertain terms that those trying to be saved through these Old Testament works of the Law have rejected Christ and lost their salvation.

The attitude of the Judaizers is contrasted with the faith of Abraham,² who trusted and obeyed God even to the point of offering his own son, Isaac. Paul’s point is not that our works have no bearing on our salvation, but rather that these particular Jewish rituals were not necessary for eternal life.

For the same Romans that teaches “a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law,”³ also says that God “shows no partiality … [for] he will render to everyone according to his works..”⁴

There is no contradiction, as long as we correctly understand what Paul meant by the works of the law.

1 – cf. Acts 15:1-6, etc.

2 – Rom. 4:1ff

3 – 3:28

4 – 2:6-10

Faith Check 6 – Holy Eucharist

Holy Eucharist

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On this faith check let’s talk about the Holy Eucharist.

Catholics believe that the bread and wine are more than just symbolic reminders. By the power of God working through the priest they are transformed into Christ’s Body and Blood.

Our Lord taught, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you do not have life within you.”¹ The Jews scoffed at this and asked, “How can He give us his flesh to eat.” Even His disciples said this was a hard saying and many stopped following Him.

Now when genuine misunderstandings occurred, Jesus corrected His listeners. But Jesus meant what He said, and did not back down: “[M]y flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed … He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

For 2,000 years the Eucharist has been the heart of the Catholic Faith. In fact, the early Christians said, “without the Eucharist we cannot live,” preferring to risk their lives rather than miss Mass. Today He invites each one of us to receive His very flesh and blood.

1- All citations from John 6:50 – 58

What is “Eternal Life”? How does this understanding affect our prayer? Reflections by Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts

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What is “Eternal Life” and why is it so important for us to understand and live it’s meaning?

Msgr. Esseff breaks open the “magnificent” Chapter 17 of John’s Gospel. He helps us to understand the “eternal” prayer of the heart of Jesus. How does this affect our prayer, especially in our appreciation of “contemplative”

prayer and contemplation? How does this affect our understanding of “time”? Msgr. Esseff discusses Purgatory in a way that takes this into account. What is death in this world? What is true life in this world?

Be sure to visit Msgr. Esseff’s website : “Building a Kingdom of Love”

St. Pius X – to renew all things in Christ

The Pope of the Blessed Sacrament

“Itching Ears Among Us

Saint Pius X exemplified the words of the Apostle to Timothy: “Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths” (2 Tim 4:2–4). One hundred years after Pope Saint Pius X we have to ask ourselves if there are not still “itching ears” among us.

What causes one’s ears to itch? Curiosity. Lack of discernment. A weak background in Catholic doctrine. Faithful Catholics cannot permit themselves to read just anything. To read authors of dubious orthodoxy or authors critical of the Magisterium is like scratching an itch. It becomes worse. Why would one would even want to read such authors when one can choose from among the inexhaustible richness of the writings of the saints of every age?

Children and the Eucharist

It was Saint Pius X who opened Holy Communion to little children. He invited the Catholic faithful to frequent, even daily Holy Communion. Pius X came to be known as the “Pope of the Eucharist,” a title that he now shares with Pope John Paul II, the author of Ecclesia de Eucharistia and of Mane Nobiscum, Domine.” – for more go to Vultus Christi

I see that serious face of the young boy to the right, and I wonder what he is thinking. His family was so poor. Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto was born in 1835, the second of ten children. His father was the village postman. Though poor, his parents valued education and made every effort in securing that gift for their children.

Pope Pius was a Marian Pope, whose encyclical Ad Diem Illum expresses his desire through Mary to renew all things in Christ, which he had defined as his motto in his first encyclical. Pius believed that there is no surer or more direct road than by Mary to achieve this goal (no wonder he had such a beautiful heart).Pius X was the only Pope in the 20th century with extensive pastoral experience at the parish level, and pastoral concerns permeated his papacy; he favoured the use of the vernacular in catechesis. Frequent communion was a lasting innovation of his papacy. He spoke plainly and with strength, and because of that he was not well like by the elite and the rich. He often referred to his own humble origins, taking up the causes of poor people. I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I wish to die poor

This is a wonderful prayer by the saint himself:

O Lord Jesus Christ, let Your passion be my strength to sustain, guard, and protect me. Let Your wounds be my food and drink to nourish, fill, and invigorate me. Let the shedding of Your Blood cleanse me of all my sins. Let Your death obtain eternal life for me and Your cross lead me to everlasting glory. Let these constitute for me refreshment and joy, health and uprightness of heart. Amen.

St. Pius X Statue at St. Peter’s…It’s so high up. I suspect he probably would have preferred more to be on the level of the people.