There is a long list of things that people never hear in sermons anymore: mortal sin, judgment, Hell, purgatory, fornication … you name it. But there is another omission that is rather odd given the tenor of these times: Heaven.Posted on 09/18/2014 2:06:25 AM PDT by markomalley
There is a long list of things that people never hear in sermons anymore: mortal sin, judgment, Hell, purgatory, fornication … you name it. But there is another omission that is rather odd given the tenor of these times: Heaven.
Almost no one talks of Heaven and I seldom hear any expressed desire to go there. The way most of our prayers sound, we are content to have God make this world a better place. People will ask God to fix their health, fix their finances, and so forth. But quite absent from most prayers is any mention of Heaven or a desire to go there and be with God.
Many old prayers spoke of longing for Heaven. The Hail, Holy Queen laments that we live in exile, in a valley of tears, and are poor, banished children of Eve who long to see the blessed fruit of Mary’s womb, Jesus. Lots of old hymns sang of being free at last, of flying away to Heaven some bright morning when this life is over and looking forward to that day, “By and By when the morning comes.” Yes, soon and very soon! Older churches were designed to remind Catholics of Heaven and their structures were often centered around the vision of Heaven from the Book of Revelation.
Today, most of the focus of our so-called spiritual life is on making this world a better place, almost as if we were saying to God, “Make this world a little more comfortable and I’ll just stay here forever!”
Honestly, do you long for Heaven or are you just trying to make it through to tomorrow? Have you ever heard a sermon on Heaven? Does the thought of it excite you? It IS after all our reward, that eye has not seen and ear has never heard!
Granted, today there is a serious problem with universalism wherein it is assumed that almost everyone is going straight to Heaven when he dies. And maybe that’s part of the problem. Since so few think they can possibly lose the gift of Heaven, most take it for granted (literally and figuratively). Why be vigilant or care that much about something that is certain and has to be entered through a rather unpleasant door called death? We tend to regard lightly what we get for free, but if we must sacrifice to get it, we value it more highly. (If we had to scrimp to be able buy tickets for some event, we’ll be sure to get there on time!)
Another factor is that we live very comfortably these days. It is a kind of comfort that both distracts us from spiritual things and focuses us on worldly things. Our comforts also make the Cross seem strange, even immoral. Who cares about Heaven, especially since you have to die to get there! Instead most would rather focus on expanding their cable service or taking a cruise.
Yes, Heaven is a pretty remote thought for many today.
I thought about this yesterday, on the Feast of St. Cyprian, as I read through some of his works and happened upon an account of his martyrdom and also a meditation he wrote on the joy of Heaven. Consider this brief account of his martyrdom and then his short reflection on longing for Heaven:
On arriving at the spot where he was to die, Bishop Cyprian took off his mantle (overcoat), and fell to his knees and prostrated himself before God. Then, arising he took off his dalmatic which he gave to his attending deacons and remained in his long white robe. He payed his executioner the sum of 25 gold denarii. While this gesture was not unheard of, especially for a person of some means, it nevertheless tells us of the graciousness and forgiveness in the heart of Cyprian. He himself tied the blindfold over his eyes after which his hands were tied. Kneeling again he awaited the final blow. At length the sword passed and Cyprian ended his pilgrimage here. It was September 14, 258.
Reflecting on his martyrdom we do well to recall his own words of Heaven,
We have solemnly renounced the world and therefore, while we continue in it, should behave like strangers and pilgrims. We should welcome that happy day (of our death) which is to fix us, in our proper habitation, to rescue us from the embarrassments and snares of this world, and remove us to the kingdom of heaven.
Who of us, if he had long been a sojourner in a foreign land would not desire to return to his native country? Who of us, when he had begun to sail there would not wish for a prosperous wind to carry him to his desired home with speed, that he might sooner embrace his friends and relatives? We must account paradise our country.
There friends and parents and brethren and children without number wait for us and long to celebrate our happy arrival. They are in secure possession of their own joy yet are solicitous for ours. How great will be our common joy upon the transports of meeting together in those blessed abodes.
How unutterable must be the pleasures of that kingdom which have no intermission. There we shall meet with the glorious choir of apostles; with the goodly company of the prophets; with an innumerable multitude of holy martyrs; there we shall be blessed with the sight of those triumphant virgins who have subdued the inordinate lusts of the flesh; and there we shall behold the rewards of those who, by feeding the hungry and consoling the afflicted have with their earthly treasure stored up for themselves treasure in heaven.
To these beloved brethren let us hasten with eager longing!
Let us pray that it may befall us speedily to be with them; speedily to come to Christ. May God see this our purpose. May Christ look upon this resolution of our mind and faith, who will give more ample rewards of His love to those whose longings for Him have been greater (De Mortalitate, 26).
Yes, speedily may we be rescued from the embarrassments and snares of this world. And may we stay in the Lord’s narrow way that nothing will prevent us from beholding the beautiful face of God, for whom we long and whom we must ever more deeply desire! Let us hasten to the Lord and Heaven with eager longing!
People are more concerned with ice bucket challenges and running for this and that and wearing pink stuff.
Roy Schoeman’s words bring tears of joy to my eyes.
For the same reason that a day in Heaven is like a thousand here, time does not exist in the same perspective in Heaven as here. When you remember an experience in Heaven it is always in the present, never in the past as a memory of an experience. You re-experience it in current time every time you pull it in.
It’s kind of like driving down the highway and looking at the moon beside you. You drive an hour and the moon is still right there beside you. That’s the way an experience of Heaven is when remembered here on earth.
In the early 1990’s I had many visions of what was coming for us. Due to the time distortion I thought they were going to happen almost immediately. I shared them with a few people at the time, as a warning. The visions are right now unfolding exactly as I saw them. Just that time really was distorted. The best advice is that only God can save us. That is the best preparation for these times we are entering that we can possibly make.
Why should people long for eternal life when government right here right now gives them “benefits” and they don’t have to stop sleeping with their “significant other” in order to qualify for them.
In a nutshell!
**”...Teach me to realize that this world is passing, That my true future is the happiness of heaven, That life on earth is short, And the life to come eternal.
Help me to prepare for death With a proper fear of judgment, But a greater trust in your goodness. Lead me safely through death To the endless joy of heaven. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”**
A person has to be free of sin to be in heaven. Totally pure.
Well, all you have to do is almost die and deal with a chronic, untreatable health condition, and that all changes pretty quickly.
Like it or not, we are ALL “tainted” to begin with. That is called sin.
There are excellent books out there that talks about Heaven and people who have had NDE’s and who have lived to talked about it.
The book, which I do recommend, “Heaven Is For Real” is one little boy’s experience of Heaven, even for a brief time.
A related social illness is the reluctance to express a desire for sainthood in this life. Anyone making steps to holier life is confronted with a “holier than thou” epithet, for some strange reason thought to be derogatory.
I’m not impatient.
Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences"
In it he gives the scientific part about what happened to the patient, and then the patient's story of their NDE.
Fascinating!
Several months ago, I had a dream. I haven’t spoken of it to many people, because I am unsure if what I dreamt was ... consistent with theology.
Unlike most of my other dreams, when I awoke (immediately afterward), it was as vivid as if I were still there, and even now, when I think of it. Um, yeah.
I’m not even sure how much I’d characterize it as one or three dreams. At least there were three phases.
The first part, I would only characterize as I (and others) were called up to meet Christ in the air. I remember rising up to meet the Lord and looking around and seeing some of my family members there too, among many others.
Then, we were all in His presence, and singing the Lord’s praises along with the angels. I can’t think of any way to describe it, except transcendent.
Finally, we were sent back to Earth to (reign?) (share the gospel?) (I’m not really sure, but something important).
And that’s why, to a certain extent, I have some difficulties with this dream. I am unsure that parts of it pass theological (or eschatological) muster, but at the same time, when I remember that part about being in the presence of the Lord, I can’t help but wish that I could be there soon.
Heaven is more than just a place.
Western Civilization is dying. It follows that Christianity, which is an integral part of our Civilization is dying as well. A great period of unbelief is upon us and shall become deeper. See the end of Classical Civilization of which most of its people did not believe in their formal religion.
Charles isn’t around many “suicidal Rapturists”, I guess. They want outta here!
Lol, I admit that I do too. Even so, come Lord Jesus!
“My prayers are pretty much just for mercy on my wretched soul.”
Oh happy man! HE is rich in mercy. RICH!!!
A journey to heaven, hell, purgatory (Catholic Caucus)
Heaven Is Best Left to the Imagination
The Last Four Things
The Bible tells us those in heaven are alive. (Ecumenical)
What does Heaven Cost? A Meditation on the Gospel for the 28th Sunday of the Year
Heaven For 21 Minutes: Local Couple Tells of Afterlife Experience [Protestant Sees Purgatory]
Radio Replies Second Volume - Heaven
HEAVEN: WHY ARE PEOPLE SO HAPPY THERE? [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
[Ecumenical] Lent through Eastertide - Divine Mercy Diary Exerpts: Heaven
What Is Heaven Really Like? [Ecumenical]
When Was the Last Time You Meditated on Heaven? That Long?! Try This.
The Sinner's Guide - Ch 9. The Ninth Motive for Practicing Virtue: The Thought of Heaven
Pope speaks with priests from his diocese about Heaven and Hell
STUNG BY MOST VENOMOUS OF CREATURES, MAN SAYS HE ENCOUNTERED 'LIGHT' OF LORD'
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 9: Heaven
Heaven and hell seem to be forgotten
Imagine there's a heaven
Limbo and the Hope of Salvation
Catholic Caucus: The Resurrection of the Dead
Resurrection Means a Glorious Existence
“Why are we here?” Good question. My own musings are: 1) we are angels who wanted to try physical life on the planet God created for whatever reason they may have had; 2) souls that were created and have not gone to heave found a way into newly created bodies at conception as a means of finding a way back to heaven through God’s mercy; 3) God gave the gift of procreation and life to humanity, with each new soul/person what is created from that gift, He sent Jesus to lead us home to our Father in Heaven.
Are any of the above Doctrine/Dogma of any Christian Church, not that I’m aware of. Should they be? Not up to me to decide that. They are just my attempt to answer the question asked by the daughter in the tv show and also that I’ve had myself.
And I forgot to state that I DO want to go to Heaven and not to have my soul stuck on this planet after my body dies.
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
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