Jesus shows us the way to one of the great spiritual mysteries, the gift of eternal life. The promise of eternal life is not the life of the soul after death, eternal life is here and now. Let us also remember that to receive eternal life, a predisposition from birth is required: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations" Jeremiah 1:5.
Aristotle explains that there are objects that we can perceive with intelligence (example: numbers) and objects that we can perceive with the physical senses. This difference creates two planes, the plane of sensible or physical realities that is affected by time, and a plane of eternal and unchangeable realities: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:18.
Eternal life is the access of the mind to the dimension of the immaterial realities; the eternal life is the contemplative activity, the contemplation of truth, the contemplation of wisdom, the contemplation of mercy. The gospel of John explains that the eternal life is the knowledge of God: "This is eternal life that they know you the only true God" John 17:3.
Paul with his conversion narrated in the book of Acts of the apostles puts himself as an example of what it means to be called to eternal life: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life" 1 Timothy 1:15-16.
The contemplative life, the worship of wisdom is extremely important, because it enables us to live the gift of prophecy and the ability to perceive the future, clairvoyance.