20141128 ANTICIPATING THE JOYS OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH IN
THIS LIFE
Readings at Mass
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First reading
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Apocalypse
20:1-4,11-21:2 ©
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I, John, saw an angel
come down from heaven with the key of the Abyss in his hand and an enormous
chain. He overpowered the dragon, that primeval serpent which is the devil and
Satan, and chained him up for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss,
and shut the entrance and sealed it over him, to make sure he would not deceive
the nations again until the thousand years had passed. At the end of that time
he must be released, but only for a short while.
Then I
saw some thrones, and I saw those who are given the power to be judges take
their seats on them. I saw the souls of all who had been beheaded for having
witnessed for Jesus and for having preached God’s word, and those who refused
to worship the beast or his statue and would not have the brand-mark on their
foreheads or hands; they came to life, and reigned with Christ for a thousand
years. Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it. In
his presence, earth and sky vanished, leaving no trace. I saw the dead, both
great and small, standing in front of his throne, while the book of life was
opened, and other books opened which were the record of what they had done in
their lives, by which the dead were judged.
The sea
gave up all the dead who were in it; Death and Hades were emptied of the dead
that were in them; and every one was judged according to the way in which he
had lived. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the burning lake. This burning
lake is the second death; and anybody whose name could not be found written in
the book of life was thrown into the burning lake.
Then I
saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had
disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the
new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all
dressed for her husband.
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Psalm
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Psalm 83:3-6,8 ©
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Here God lives
among men.
My soul is longing
and yearning,
is
yearning for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my soul
ring out their joy
to God,
the living God.
Here God lives
among men.
The sparrow herself
finds a home
and the
swallow a nest for her brood;
she lays her young by
your altars,
Lord of
hosts, my king and my God.
Here God lives
among men.
They are happy, who
dwell in your house,
for ever
singing your praise.
They are happy, whose
strength is in you:
they walk
with ever-growing strength.
Here God lives
among men.
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Gospel
Acclamation
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Lk21:28
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Stand erect, hold
your heads high,
because your
liberation is near at hand.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Luke 21:29-33 ©
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Jesus
told his disciples a parable: ‘Think of the fig tree and indeed every tree. As
soon as you see them bud, you know that summer is now near. So with you when
you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell
you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’
ANTICIPATING
THE JOYS OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH IN THIS LIFE
SCRIPTURE
READINGS: REV 20:1-4, 11-21:2; LK 21:29-33
Why do
we want to become Christians? Isn’t it true that it is because we want to
find happiness? Obviously, it is not wrong to desire happiness! We
are created for happiness. But what is the happiness of a Christian?
Certainly it cannot be because we want to have a comfortable life, or because
we are blessed with riches or good health and all earthly blessings. Nay,
even if we have all these, and even fulfilled our psychological or physical
needs, we will still not be truly happy. At the end of the day, even if
we were the most successful people, living the most comfortable life, yet deep
within us, we may remain empty and unfulfilled.
On the
contrary, we are called to participate more and more fully in the
paschal mystery which we celebrate each day in the Eucharist. We are
called to die to our ego and physical needs. Although we might not suffer
persecutions like the early Christians in John’s time, yet, dying to self each
day is a most trying thing. But is Christian life simply a long
burdensome process of slow martyrdom and dying? If that were so, it would
seem that Christian life is a pessimistic way of living as there can be no joy
in this kind of life. Are we therefore doomed to misery? Where then
can we find joy in Christian living?
Today,
the Book of Revelation tells us that our hope for lasting happiness can only be
found in a New Heaven and a New Earth. But what is this New Heaven
and New Earth all about? How do we conceive of this destiny of
ours? In the New Heaven, good will triumph over evil; life over death; a
bridal relationship with God over an adulterous relationship with false
gods. In other words, the happiness of the Christian lies in seeing
that goodness, truth and love prevail in humankind. Indeed, John in
his vision saw the disappearance of the first heaven and the first earth
followed by “the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband.”
Heaven
is described as intimacy and love with the Lord. To be in heaven is to
live in the presence of God, in the House of the Lord. God lives in
heaven and on earth then in the Temple of Jerusalem. Whilst it is true
that God lives in a special way now in our Churches especially in the
Eucharist, in the New Covenant, the dwelling place of God is in the hearts of
those who are receptive to His love. The response in the responsorial
psalm says, “Here God lives among his people.” Whoever therefore makes
himself pure and holy before the Lord becomes the dwelling place of God.
Like the psalmist therefore we are assured that those who yearn and pine for
the Lord and cry out to Him, He will come to make His home in them.
Everyone, even the sparrow, will find a home in the heart of God. And the
good news is that whoever allows God to live in Him, they will find strength in
Him. “They go from strength to strength.”
In
speaking of the new life in the New Heaven and New Earth, it also means that
all our good works will somehow follow us to the next life. Yet, it would not
be the works in themselves, as human plans and projects remain transient and
temporary. What will continue in heaven are our goodness, love, kindness,
compassion and generosity. Indeed, St Paul in Romans 14:17-19
describes the Kingdom of God as righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
and not as he said, food and drink. This explains why in the final
judgment, as the vision of John has it, “the book of life was opened, and other
books opened which were the record of what they had done in their lives, by
which the dead were judged.” So what follows us after death is our
goodness and not so much the works themselves. This is what Jesus meant
when he said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass
away.” So those who live his life of love and peace will carry that life
beyond this earth and heaven.
But
until that day comes, we need not postpone our happiness and joy in
life. Already, Jesus tells us that the joy of the Kingdom can be ours. In
the parable of the fig tree, he said, “As soon as you see them bud, you know
that summer in now near. So when you see these things happening: know
that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you solemnly; before this generation
has passed away all will have taken place.” Clearly, the joy of
the kingdom is experienced the moment we give ourselves in love and service in
humility and selflessness.
Consequently,
the joy of Christian life must be found in living a life of love and
peace. This comes from giving ourselves generously to the service of God
and man. It is a joy that comes from freedom from attachment to this
worldly life, in total trust and surrender to the Lord as we build the
community of love. This is the kind of joy that will last and not the
transient happiness of success in earthly achievements or even the material and
emotional benefits we derive from such blessings. In this way, we will
find Christian life meaningful and at the same time, an anticipation of the
eternal kingdom that is to come.
Most of
all, the true joy of a Christian is to find peace and security in the House of
God. Sharing in His intimate love for us, like a bridegroom for His
bride, is such a wonderful experience and true fulfillment in the hearts of
every man. No one can find real happiness unless he rests in the Lord,
feels loved by Him and who loves Him in return. He is as the vision of St
John describes, “I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from
God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband.”
WRITTEN BY THE MOST REV
WILLIAM GOH
ARCHBISHOP
OF SINGAPORE
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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