We live in a world wherein there is the seen and the unseen, the good and evil, the wheat and the weeds, the spiritual and the material. There is life on earth and eternal life. We live in a world wherein it is not one or the other. We live in both worlds.

In the Gospel, while Jesus and his disciples were certainly emotional talking about Jesus’ coming passion and death, the next thing they were confronted with was also daunting — paying of taxes. Hence, one of the lessons we can learn from the Gospel is that we may be in this world now but let us set our sights on the next world. To do that, three things we can do:

• First, being a blessing to others. Jesus said at the end, the sheep will be separated from the goat, the sheep are the blessed, and the goats are the accursed. The basis of eternal life is, “Whatever you do to the least of your brethren, do unto me.”

• Second, be faithful to our mission. God placed us in this world because he has a purpose and mission for each of us. Whatever your purpose is, be faithful and you will bless more lives. 

• Third, be salt of the earth and light of the world. We live in a world that has lost its moral compass – the right is made wrong and the wrong is made right. Further, all it needs for evil to prevail is for good people to keep quiet. 

In each Mass let us remember that Jesus already showed us how to live on this earth and opened the gates of paradise. As he said, “I am the way, the truth and the life”.