One last word. Did you notice that when the man asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, the word that stands out in the context is inherit? Inherit is what comes to us in the future. But Jesus gives his answer in the present tense: “sell…give…come…follow,” four verbs in the present tense. Eternal life is not just life in the future. It begins right now. I have long been impressed by the words of Teresa of Avila, the Spanish saint: “The pay starts in this life.”*2 Will you do it? Follow him?
