Let’s do the work of developing images of heaven that are worth living and sacrificing for
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
How do you imagine heaven?
I ask for several reasons. First, because the Scripture readings this week look forward with hope — but they look forward with hope precisely in order to strengthen us for the rigors of the way of the cross. Second, because the readings this week speak of the resurrection and offer several images of heaven.
In his 2007 encyclical on hope (“Spe Salvi”), Pope Benedict XVI asked whether we imagine heaven in a way that makes us really want it.
First, he simply noted a question: “Do we really want this — to live eternally?”
He asked because he sensed a contradiction in human hearts. On the one hand, we certainly don’t want to die! On the other hand, we don’t really want to continue to live this life in an endless succession of days — which is, often, all we imagine heaven to be. Honestly, an endless succession of days becomes a spiritual prison at some point.
But he also offered an alternative way to imagine heaven. He said: “Eternity is not an unending succession of days on the calendar, but something more like a supreme moment of satisfaction … It would be like plunging into the ocean of infinite love, a moment in which time — the before and after — no longer exists.”
Have you ever had a moment like that — a moment of satisfaction where time stood still and you were content that it did so? Perhaps it was a moment of joy, a moment of being healed of sickness, a moment of peaceful conscience. Whatever it was, what if that was a foretaste of eternal life?
The Gospel shows that following Jesus is what unlocks access to eternal life. But that’s only good news if people want eternal life. If people don’t really want it, their reaction will be: “Meh.”
Of course, no finite image will be adequate to the infinite joys of heaven. But we’re creatures who are moved by images, and God made us that way. So this problem presents itself: How can we do a better job imagining heaven to increase our desire for eternal life?
St. Anselm had a famous theological axiom: God is that than which nothing greater can be thought. I propose we apply that same theological discipline to our imagination: Heaven is that than which no greater joy can be imagined.
Imagine your favorite thing. Heaven, by St. Anselm’s discipline, has to be greater! A morning on the beach? Greater than that. An evening in the mountains? Greater than that. A fine glass of wine or a deep conversation with a friend? Greater than that.
We don’t all need to have the same images of heaven. But we can all engage in the same discipline: Reminding ourselves that heaven is greater than our greatest joys. If we engage in this discipline, then our imagination can help move our desire for eternal life, our desire can help move our belief in Jesus and our belief in Jesus will unlock access to eternal life.
How do you imagine heaven? Let’s do the work of developing images that are worth living for, worth sacrificing for and able to win others to desire eternal life.
