What is heaven really like?
Fr. Jim Van Vurst, OFM, helps us understand what heaven is like.
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At the outset, I have to say that that I have not been to heaven and returned to describe it to you. But the good Lord through Jesus’ own words has given enough hints to help us come to a rather clear “human understanding” of what heaven will be like. Of course, heaven will be infinitely better than anything that can be described in such limited human language.
The key element, as we would guess, is that LOVE is the central concept that best describes our relationship with God and our relationship with each other. We know that we can’t fully comprehend even human love, though there are those moments when everyone has experienced love that goes beyond what human words can describe.
So, first we know that heaven is not a place or location. It is in essence union with God. This union perfects us as humans in mind and spirit and heart and body. All defects, accidents, difficulties are healed … we will be, in fact, humanly perfect in every way. There remain no imperfections nor anything that could in any way detract from that perfect union of love with God. Further, if we are all in perfect union with God, then we are all in perfect union with each other as God’s children. Now, as I said, we cannot comprehend this in terms of experience because in our wounded condition, we are all imperfect. Heaven is perfection in every way, no matter in what way we look at it.
Now this is where our faith takes us Catholics to a unique understanding of heaven. I’ve talked with more than a few Christian fundamentalists whose concept of heaven could best be described as “union with God only and with no one else.” It’s a kind of “God and me” eternity. Their rationale is that once we have completed our earthly journey, we don’t need anyone else to make us happy other than God and furthermore they believe firmly that God needs and wants all our attention. After all, He is God and deserves it, they say. Other humans would just “get in the way” and detract from our giving glory to God. Whenever I hear that explanation, I wonder how they could create such an insecure God that he wants all the attention for all eternity. It is such a shrunken image of the magnificence of heaven that God has prepared.
God’s own word has told us plainly that heaven is not simply about “me and God.” John, the apostle, spoke God’s word in a perfect statement that really answers the whole question. John wrote in his first letter, (I Jn.7:7ff), “Beloved, love one another because love is of God.” God revealed his love to us and sent his son into the world that we might have life through him. And this is love: not that we have loved God but that He has loved us!” And now comes the most startling statement of all. “Beloved, if God so loved the world (that his son died for all humanity), we must also love one another.” Amazing, isn’t it. God is telling us in effect, “Look, the best response you can give to ME is to love ONE ANOTHER.” Wouldn’t we automatically think, “Well, if God has done all that for me, my most important love HAS to be directed to Him?” But no! He says our love must be directed to one another!
If you think about it, what mother or father would not be ecstatic to see and hear how much their sons and daughters loved each other? What could make them happier? Would a loving Mom or Dad say, “Hey wait a minute … we gave you life ... you must concentrate on us not one another.” Would they not, even in their human state, rather say, “Oh, children when you love another, we could not be happier. Loving each other is the greatest gift you could give us. We’re just fine watching you.”
And so, it would appear that heaven will be union with God and with each other in a love that is perfect. It means that eternity will not only be the revelation of all God’s love and goodness to us, but also of all that we, his dear children, have meant to each other. Some might say, “Well, that’s too human and seems to take away from our love for God.” Well, God himself has said very clearly, “You cannot please me more than when you love one another.”
Fr. Jim Van Vurst, OFM
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