Ascension of Year C
May 2007
Today I take up the theme of the last two Sundays from another angle. This theme is 'the holy city,' the 'new Jerusalem,' come down from heaven.
Human beings are an awkward bunch and not easily categorized. Any generalisation will have many and varied exceptions. With this in mind, let us put human beings into three categories, in matters relating to God.
We have those who do not or cannot believe in God. This life is everything. These can be naturally good people who cherish life, love, nature, and will go out of their way to help others but when one breathes ones last all this ends abruptly.
Then we have those who believe in God and for whom heaven (or Eternal Life with God after death) is all-important. This life is of no importance. They are focused on 'saving their souls' and the souls of others. Helping others is important insofar as it helped to 'save their souls.' I may add that my generation and earlier generations of missionaries went forth with this attitude of mind. We were focused on fulfilling obligations, gaining 'merit' in the sight of God and winning eternal life for ourselves and for others.
Finally we have those who believe in God and know that they are already 'in Heaven.' They know that they are already participating fully in the Eternal Life of God. They have not gained or merited or won this by anything they have done themselves. They have received it as a free gift from God. Therefore, filled with gratitude for this free gift, they strive to live in the presence of God surrounded by the 'people of God' and by the marvels of God's creation and treat everybody and everything with the love, respect and care which is only their due.
This latter group is the 'holy city', the 'New Jerusalem' which has come down from heaven.