SUNDAY HOMILY - The Happy Priest: Thirsting for Heaven

By Fr. James Farfaglia
10/14/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Here lies the plain truth about our life on earth. We will not be here forever.

Life confined to the boundaries of time and space without the promise of eternal life would be cruel and unbearable to live. Without the certainty of an eternal paradise, the trials and tribulations of this present life would have no meaning and purpose.

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CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic Online) - Whenever we want to get somewhere we consult a map, ask someone for directions, or use the Internet. Some cars are even equipped with a guidance system. Our contemporary technological society makes it very difficult for us to get lost. However, the most important destination of all is our journey to eternity.

"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" The young man in this Sunday's gospel narrative asks Jesus the most important and most fundamental question. Moreover, the young man is open. He sincerely seeks an answer from the Lord. "What must I do?

When we were little children we learned the simple, but profound truth about our existence. Why did God make me? God made me to know him, to love him, to serve him in this world and to be happy with him in everlasting life. Here lies the plain truth about our life on earth. We will not be here forever.

Life is like a bus ride. We move forward with our bags packed, hoping that when the bus stops and the door opens, we will be at the right location. We must remember the fundamental truth of Revelation: eternity consists of three states: heaven, purgatory and hell. To deny the existence of purgatory and hell is to deny Christianity.

One day each of us will stand before God for judgment. We will stand before God without a lawyer and without family and friends to support us. We will stand alone before Almighty God. Each day could be our last day on earth.

We should each ask ourselves each day, if I were to die today, how would God judge me? Is there any particular sin, attachment, or attitude that might keep us from getting to heaven? If we really want to get to heaven, we can't be making excuses for our behavior. Life is not a dress rehearsal.

What is heaven? Without a doubt, heaven is a place difficult to describe. We cannot begin to understand it because heaven belongs to the mystery of faith.

In the Gospels, Jesus speaks of this mystery through images. He calls it the kingdom, a place of life, light and peace. He refers to it as a wedding feast, the Father's house, the heavenly Jerusalem and paradise.

Saint Paul tells us that "no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor the heart of man conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2: 9).

And St. John tells us that in heaven "we shall see him as he really is" (1 John 3: 2).

Saint Paul's awe is echoed in the words of a child taking an evening walk with her father. Wonderingly, she looked up at the stars and exclaimed; "Oh, Daddy, if the wrong side of heaven is so beautiful, what must the right side be!"

Heaven has been defined for us in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. "Those who die in God's grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live for ever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they see him as He is, face to face. This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity - this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed - is called Heaven. Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness" (1023 - 1024).

Life confined to the boundaries of time and space without the promise of eternal life would be cruel and unbearable to live. Without the certainty of an eternal paradise, the trials and tribulations of this present life would have no meaning and purpose.

The judgments of time will be corrected by the judgments of eternity. The injustices of this world will be replaced by the justice of the world to come. The tears shed now, will be replaced by the joy lived forever in eternal life.

Another aspect to the eschatological teachings of the Catholic Church is purgatory. It is imperative that we not lose sight of the reality of purgatory. While it is important never to diminish the reality of the resurrection of the body, it is essential that we embrace the whole of Christian Revelation, that we do not simply adhere to those dimensions that make us feel comfortable.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned" (1030, 1031).

This teaching of the Catholic Church is based on the Sacred Scriptures from the Second Book of Maccabees. Thus, it is important for our spiritual growth and development that we keep in mind the reality of purgatory. ...

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1 - 9 of 9 Comments

Robert Burford
7 months ago
Any one who stood before a father or mother after they had done something wrong has to believe in purgatory. The agony of going before the Father to try and justify a wrongful act on my part would be torment. Any one who does not believe in hell lives with blinders.I liked the comment about life not being a dress rehearsal for eternity. Good job. Just found these homilies and love them.I look forward to more in this year of faith
abey
7 months ago
Dear Fr. James: With all due Respect & Apology & as a matter of clarification for one last time to your article "Thirsting for heaven". That which we thirst from heaven is the Fulness of Christ(Col: 2;9) which incidentally is to the core of my comment plain & simple, the Arc of the Covenant, the Original covenant or the New Covenant which Apostle John saw in the temple in heaven, when the heavens opened amidst the thunders & lightnings, that which the Merciful God has kept for us, to dwell in the hearts of Men, to the words of Jesus "Ye are the temple of the Living God". Thank You . Glory be to God now & forever.
abey
8 months ago
Fr. James: With all due respect , irrespective of the strange words you use against Biblical Quotes, I have but one question for you & would appreciate if you could explain the words of Apostle Paul in Col 2:9: For in Him (Christ) is all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily"(King James version). Asked as an ordinary lay Catholic(have no doubts about it) to a Catholic priest to summarize the whole discussion.
Fr. James Farfaglia
8 months ago
Abey:

What planet do you live on? Your last comment is as ridiculous as the other ones. This site is for rational discussion and debate. Commentary needs to stay on topic and you don't. It would be better to refrain from commenting. Your thoughts make no sense at all.
abey
8 months ago
Fr. James: Based on Romans Ch.11 for in 11:11 regarding Israel, Apostle Paul writes " I say then. Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation(Yeshua means salvation) is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to Jealousy--". Now the revelation is The heart & soul of true Israel is to the Covenant made by God with Abraham, Issac & Jacob which came in the form of The Arc of the Covenant , the model made by Moses to the true or Original Covenant as Jesus called the new Covenant that which Apostle John saw in the temple in Heaven, amidst thunders & lightnings-- which is to the Fulness of Christ Jesus, again told by Jesus of the manner "You know not the Father neither the Son, but unto whom the Son pleases to reveal". Father James know this, it is the revelation of this Covenant that true Israel(presently in the Apostasy or the fall mentioned) will turn to Christ & to this the Church is called upon to mandate. The revelation of the Arc is also mentioned by Prophet Jeremiah in the book of the Maccabees. As for the Arc of the Covenant made by Moses( that which many look for) will not be found as stated in Jeremiah 3:16. Patience is the word. God is Faithful.
Fr. James Farfaglia
8 months ago
Abey:
Once again, with all due respect, what on earth are you talking about? Your comment makes no sense at all. Better not to comment until you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
andrew
8 months ago
Just how much did this man own for, as a devout Jew, he knew that all his wealth is but an inheritance from God. As he was a man of great wealth, he was indeed a beloved of God. Jesus was merely asking this man to share it with those in need and in doing so he would understand God better, thereby knowing Heaven. When Jesus asks you to follow him, what more would you need, for he can multiply your bread and change your water to wine. All you have to do is give it to him. That's faith and if you don't have it, ask God for this 'awesome' gift.
Kasoy
8 months ago
Life confined to the boundaries of time and space without the promise of eternal life would be cruel and unbearable to live. Without the certainty of an eternal paradise, the trials and tribulations of this present life would have no meaning and purpose.

This expresses your main point succinctly. Let's continue to pray for those who live without any hope for an eternal next life.
abey
8 months ago
As in the case of Faith we refer to the Bible, & that which is "to beyond" is again come through the Gospels & Scriptures Known as revelations to the Prophesies, revealed in the Spirit by the Holy Spirit. For Eg.. The Bible says off God in the manner "I will cause Israel to Jealousy" & what exactly is that "cause" can come only by the said revelation off the Spirit & to known that it has not yet happened for any amount of preachings, has not made "True Israel" to budge & to this the Church has a point to ponder about.

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