This is the question we must always keep in mind to evaluate our actions, our Lord Jesus Christ himself tells us: we must comply with the commandments, and abandon ourselves to the Lord (Mark 10:17-22). He was also very clear when he spoke with his disciples telling them that: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life ” (John 6:35-58). Our Lord also teaches us how we can eat his flesh and drink his blood, through the consecrated bread and wine in the mass (Luke 22:19). Jesus Christ is the spotless lamb who frees us from the slavery of sin (Exodus 12:3,5), the lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). So, we already know what we must do to be able to get to heaven, we must be in communion with Jesus whenever we can and when are in the grace of the Lord.
But, what do I have to do to be in grace and thus be able to take communion? Jesus Christ also indicates which path we must follow, since He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6-7), we must follow the example of Christ, love God above all things and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40).
Jesus Christ knows that we want to be perfect, but that we have flaws and that many times we succumb to sin, that is why He left us a way to be able to purify ourselves in life from our sins and that is why he gave authority to the apostles (John 20:22-23) and their successors to be able to forgive our sins (CCC 1461), by means of the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Jesus left us these sacraments, so that as pilgrim people to the new Jerusalem where we have the abode that our Lord has prepared for us (John 14:2), we can battle against earthly temptations, and to be able to heal the wounds of our soul the times when sin takes its toll on us.
Let us be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power, Therefore let’s put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, we may be able to stand our ground, with the belt of truth buckled around our waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, let’s take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-18)