There is a popular sticker on cars that reads, ‘He who dies with the most toys, wins’. While the thought may sound funny, it is thought-provoking. It makes us ask the question that humanity has always asked, “Is this the only life or is there life after this one?”

Once a widow shared with me her story of her husband’s passing. They were all at the ICU when the husband initially lost consciousness and flatlined. The doctors tried to revive him and were successful. When he gained consciousness, he asked for a paper and pen to send a message to the family. The written note was, “I love you all very much. But should I be flatlined again, please do not revive me anymore. It is so peaceful in the place that I have come from.”

In the Gospel, Christ often speaks about his mission on this earth, which was to reveal the Father to men and bring us all to eternal life. 

With the reality of God and eternal life, three things we are reminded of:

1. We are only passing by in this world. In other words, everything is only temporary. Difficult times are only temporary, happy moments are only temporary, and all relationships are only temporary. 
2. What is important and what is fleeting. We came into this world with nothing and we are leaving this world with nothing. This is the reality when it comes to material things. Hence we remember the teaching of Christ – store treasure in heaven. 
3. What is the basis for eternal life? Jesus said that at the end, the sheep will be separated from the goat. The sheep are the blessed because they were a blessing to other people. The goats are the accursed because they were not a blessing to other people. As Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of your brethren, you do unto me.”

We thank God for the gift of faith. It reminds us that it is not only material but also spiritual. It changes how we live life when we know that we are only passing by in this world, when we know what is important and fleeting, and when we know that it does matter a lot when we bless other people’s lives. Further, when it comes to the end, we are reminded of the prayer, “Lord let us see death for what it really is.”