Lessons for the eternal life

Give a man a fish, and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you will feed him for a life time. This pearl of practical wisdom points out the importance of education, of learning to work in order to provide for you and your family.

This practical wisdom supplies our needs for our earthly life, but Jesus gives us lessons for the eternal life of heaven. Over the course of three and one half years, Jesus taught his Twelve Apostles many things, and taught the larger group of disciples in various ways, but in today’s Gospel we see that he appointed a further 72 disciples to go and prepare his en-trance into the towns and places he plans to visit in order to advance God’s kingdom of life, love and heavenly wisdom.

His disciples realize that being called and appointed by Jesus is a great honor, since they believe that he is the Lord and Messiah who will establish God’s kingdom, in whom the faithful Jews were anticipating.

These appointed 72 receive his teaching as a divine gift, with a trusting heart and a humble spirit. Jesus taught them that they will be like lambs among wolves, but not to fear. Rather, they are to depend on God for everything, and to teach about God’s kingdom in his holy Name.

Jesus Christ, the Lord of life and salvation, taught them some things that seem insignificant, but they realize that he is the Lord and that they need to humbly follow his details of evangelization, to totally depend upon him.

Jesus said, “Carry no money, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way.” At that time, Jesus limited their mission to entering a certain house and to greet those who live there with the words, “Peace to this household.” And if there was a peaceful person who lived there, their blessing would settle on that household, and they would pro-vide for their needs while those appointed would preach about the coming of Jesus, the coming of God’s kingdom in its fullness by curing the sick and casting out demons.

In today’s world, many people do not want to talk about demons, or Jesus’ coming again in the glory of his divine authority. They want to learn only what they are interested in, and not be encumbered by God’s Ten Commandments, or the details of living a sacramental life of saving grace, or con-fessing their sins, or meditating on the beatitudes that will increase their happiness in this life, and perfect happiness in the afterlife of heaven.

Many modern people depend on themselves and those who think like they do to solve their problems. Many do not believe in God, let alone that God has become one with the human family in Jesus Christ who has established his Church so that we, and all the human family, would share in his mission of divine love, truth and salvation.

Many people today, and in Jesus’ time, do not want to give up their opinions, nor do they want to have any authority tell them what to do, or they want as little authority over them in their life as possible. Yet, there are some who want to ask the most significant questions about life, death and if there is an afterlife, and who has the authorship, or the authority to write the rules of attaining Eternal Life.

As Catholic Christians, we believe in God’s authority as a sacred gift, which was given by Jesus Christ to St. Peter and

the Apostles, who are succeeded by Pope Leo XIV and the Catholic Bishops of today. They have the key to the supernatural life of the sacraments since they have the fullness of the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

We also believe that our nation was founded on God as the giver of life and liberty – true liberty to do God’s holy will – and the pursuit of happiness, which means we can increase and develop the gifts that God has given us for the service of human life and holiness. The sacraments are in the purview of the supernatural law, and human laws that correspond to God’s wisdom and common sense, are part of the natural law. As Catholics we see these two realms as complimentary, and we see how both are essential to advance God’s divine Kingdom that brings Jesus’ sacred gifts of Baptism, Holy Communion and Eternal life through his Catholic Church, as well as educating people to read, write and study math. These two realms are especially integrated at our Catholic schools who are on mission to develop the whole person.

Jesus taught his disciples how to pray daily, “Our Father… forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” He taught them to worship weekly, “remain in my love by keeping my commandments, just as I remain in the Father’s love by keeping his commandments.” He taught them to read the Holy Bible, which is received from God’s Chosen prophets and priests, and thus to remain in his word which is fulfilled and passed on to us through the Apostles and Evangelists as preserved and understood by his one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

There is much to rejoice about, since we share in Jesus Christ’s mission of bringing the good news, the Gospel mes-sage of God’s healing forgiveness, and sanctifying gifts that propel us on the path to heaven, if only we persevere in peace. When we overcome temptations, and over time even overcome deep-seated bad habits, we can say as those early disciples said as they rejoiced, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”

And so let us persevere in participating in the mission of Jesus Christ and anticipate his coming in glory, as we hope to hear him say to us and to all his faithful disciples: “Do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish for men for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, and you will help them feed on the Divine Eucharist, the pledge of Eternal glory. To learn about Jesus Christ, his Church, and to walk with and teach others about his kingdom of life and the path of salvation, is to be fed with the grace of Eternal life. Let us continue to serve God and others in the light of true love and love of God’s truth.

Peace in the Eucharistic Lord,

Fr. Thomas McCabe