The Mystery of Death and Christian Funerals - #17

When I was a boy, the goal was mighty and clear. I was here in order to get to heaven. Even if I sneaked in the back door, the goal was heaven. I wouldn't put it that way now - not because the boyhood image is untrue. It's just that my vision of life is different. This is how I'd put it now. I am here to be a responsible person who contributes to the welfare of the world in which I live. I help to build up the kingdom of God by my prayer, study, and action. I do this through my work. I am a Passionist religious and as a priest. I listen for God's voice calling me to cultivate some old-time virtues such as compassion, kindness, courage, and love. I also work on some new virtues such as cultivating a solidarity with those who suffer, restoring creation and earthkeeping, by striving to be just in my dealings with others, and by asking God to help me eliminate racism and sexism fro my life. Most of all, I try to be respectful of others and gracious in my dealing with those who have less than I do. Since I have lived all my life on Catholic welfare, I try to be generous with others and to sacrifice for others. I also know that I cannot do this alone. I am willing to ask others for help now and to share my own vulnerability. My hope is that God will find delight with my life so that, when my journey is over and I am called home, I shall see God face to face and join the friends of God in a new heaven and a new earth. That's how I see it now.

Christian tradition developed five images of the kingdom of heaven. (1) Heaven is a wedding banquet - cups full of milk and honey, delicious wine, abundant food, dancing and delight, spouses in love, festive banquet guests, and equality shared by all. The least, the lowliest, and the left out get the seats of honor. Guests are inebriated with the Spirit of God. (2) Heaven is an oriental garden, a gorgeous paradise. It is rich pastures, meadows blanketed with flowers and valleys brimming with grain, shade-giving trees and restful brooks, peace and prosperity. Lion and lamb, Israelis and Arabs, northern and southern Irish, black and white, Anglo and Latino feast on pomegranates. All dwell securely. (3) Heaven is the victorious homeland of martyrs and saints. In this homeland wondrous worship is offered, bowls of incense sweetly scent the air, joyous harmonies and merry music echo down the organ-playing lanes. All have been washed and saved in the blood of the Lamb. All enter by climbing Jacob's ladder, by going through the sheep gate, by winning the race, and by enduring the agony of the arena. (4) Heaven is the divine academy where disciples sit at the foot of the Master. Jesus, the wisdom of God, teaches his students to enjoy the honey-flavored scrolls of the Bible and to taste and savor holy learning. (5) Heaven is the city of God, Jerusalem on high. Christians enjoy dual citizenship. We belong to the earthly city and the city on high. Our earthly journey is a long, long, slow moving train. But it's moving on. Sometimes we're on the hallelujah highway. But, most of the time, our tickets get stamped as we embrace travail and endure daily trials. When we step off at the last stop, we step into golden slippers and walk golden streets.