I
have found myself in a precarious position and am in much need of
your help. No, I am not soliciting monetary sustenance. Instead, I am
seeking your insights. What is more important on our spiritual
journey: The goal of heaven or the goal of loving God and neighbor?
Could it be that there is no right answer to this ambition, such being subjective to the individual? Please permit me to indulge you with some observation, pondering, and digression. Strap yourself in!
For several reasons my goal or, rather, focus is not heaven. Bear with me; it is recognized that I am a bit of a contrarian in this regard. When considering and weighing a particular direction, our motives can easily morph into something superficial: "If I do this, that, and the other, I will spend eternity with Jesus." Don't know about you, but I am not convinced that our journey should amount to a self serving pursuit. Conversely, if energies are invested in loving God and neighbor we will adhere to the commands of the Gospel. From a practical sense, a view which most of us tend to obscure, nobody knows who will be blessed with eternity in heaven. Like you, I desperately want to believe that my dad, Grandpa Walt, Jan, Paul, Penny, Sister Marcine, and my dog are enjoying a life of eternal bliss. However, and this understanding pains me beyond what you can possibly grasp, the road is narrow and only some will make it in (Matthew 7:14).
The aforementioned begs us to delve further down this trail: Will those who receive this reward consist of individuals who pick and choose what tenants of Scripture to adhere, or will such consist of those who follow the kit and caboodle to the 'nth degree? Again, an unknown. Hedging our bets, we would probably be well advised to embrace the whole of Scripture, dots and iotas, not just those aspects which seem easy or appealing!
Following this line of thought, we are soberly brought back to loving God and one's neighbor. Really love them, not merely a recitation of words or pat on the shoulder as we trot away from their needs. Loving God is in itself a tug of war. We know what is expected of us. Responsibility. Compassion. Empathy. Dying to self. But, because we have the grace of free will, it is common for us to rebel, as with any parental relationship. That said, we should be driven to please God. Although, if we are going to be transparent, there is a tendency to expect God to please us! Dare it be said, maybe even demand....
On the other side of the equation exists the imposition of loving our neighbor. Well, if that is not a thorn in my side! Some neighbors are just not high on our likable or worthiness list. (Don't scoff, I said it and you have thought the same.) Quite frankly, we look down on them and despise their proximity. Ah, to our relief, the other neighbors are valued and easy to love. Friends. But, and this is a huge proverbial "but," it is those neighbors who rub us wrong - the ones whom we otherwise ignore - which must be recipients of our love. Easier said than done, I know. If we can learn to love those who we view lesser than us, wouldn't this temporal course translate into a better life all around?
In loving God and neighbor, ardently and fervently loving them, doesn't the gift of eternity in heaven become axiomatic?
Here is another reason why I don't focus on heaven as my goal. The preeminent medieval poet, Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), once said, "I am not even worthy of hell." Because of the nature of my past, and the fact that I continue to not fully comply with the will of God (am still picking and choosing when to listen), I do not feel worthy to either expect or plead for the gift of heaven. It is felt if I place focus on others as opposed to self, that my prayers for them will more likely be well received. What do you think? After all, who am I to ask for graces for self?
Marana tha....
Could it be that there is no right answer to this ambition, such being subjective to the individual? Please permit me to indulge you with some observation, pondering, and digression. Strap yourself in!
For several reasons my goal or, rather, focus is not heaven. Bear with me; it is recognized that I am a bit of a contrarian in this regard. When considering and weighing a particular direction, our motives can easily morph into something superficial: "If I do this, that, and the other, I will spend eternity with Jesus." Don't know about you, but I am not convinced that our journey should amount to a self serving pursuit. Conversely, if energies are invested in loving God and neighbor we will adhere to the commands of the Gospel. From a practical sense, a view which most of us tend to obscure, nobody knows who will be blessed with eternity in heaven. Like you, I desperately want to believe that my dad, Grandpa Walt, Jan, Paul, Penny, Sister Marcine, and my dog are enjoying a life of eternal bliss. However, and this understanding pains me beyond what you can possibly grasp, the road is narrow and only some will make it in (Matthew 7:14).
The aforementioned begs us to delve further down this trail: Will those who receive this reward consist of individuals who pick and choose what tenants of Scripture to adhere, or will such consist of those who follow the kit and caboodle to the 'nth degree? Again, an unknown. Hedging our bets, we would probably be well advised to embrace the whole of Scripture, dots and iotas, not just those aspects which seem easy or appealing!
Following this line of thought, we are soberly brought back to loving God and one's neighbor. Really love them, not merely a recitation of words or pat on the shoulder as we trot away from their needs. Loving God is in itself a tug of war. We know what is expected of us. Responsibility. Compassion. Empathy. Dying to self. But, because we have the grace of free will, it is common for us to rebel, as with any parental relationship. That said, we should be driven to please God. Although, if we are going to be transparent, there is a tendency to expect God to please us! Dare it be said, maybe even demand....
On the other side of the equation exists the imposition of loving our neighbor. Well, if that is not a thorn in my side! Some neighbors are just not high on our likable or worthiness list. (Don't scoff, I said it and you have thought the same.) Quite frankly, we look down on them and despise their proximity. Ah, to our relief, the other neighbors are valued and easy to love. Friends. But, and this is a huge proverbial "but," it is those neighbors who rub us wrong - the ones whom we otherwise ignore - which must be recipients of our love. Easier said than done, I know. If we can learn to love those who we view lesser than us, wouldn't this temporal course translate into a better life all around?
In loving God and neighbor, ardently and fervently loving them, doesn't the gift of eternity in heaven become axiomatic?
Here is another reason why I don't focus on heaven as my goal. The preeminent medieval poet, Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), once said, "I am not even worthy of hell." Because of the nature of my past, and the fact that I continue to not fully comply with the will of God (am still picking and choosing when to listen), I do not feel worthy to either expect or plead for the gift of heaven. It is felt if I place focus on others as opposed to self, that my prayers for them will more likely be well received. What do you think? After all, who am I to ask for graces for self?
Marana tha....
