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Gospel: Luke 20: 27, 34-38
Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,
came forward.
Jesus said to them,
“The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called out ‘Lord, ‘
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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As we begin the month of November, the days become shorter, darker, and colder, reminding us that, like this calendar year, most things come to an end.
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On Wednesday, we also celebrated All Souls Day, another reminder of the quick passage of time. So many present were here to pray for their loved ones, who have gone home to the Lord.
The beauty of our faith is rooted in our belief in eternal life, that those who have died will, indeed, live again.
As Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise.”
But the odd truth is, we don’t know what it’ll be like. Haven’t you ever wondered, “What is heaven like?”
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In my ministry, I’ve spoken with several people who seemed to be near the end, but came back to life. They described a feeling of warmth; of light; of being in the presence of their loved ones. They experienced a peaceful place.
But, again, what is heaven like?
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While I hope to find out someday, I’ve never been. But I’d like to share an image that I reflect upon from time to time. It’s something that I shared with my mother during her final days on earth. It was an image that brought her comfort and peace.
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When I was in college, I went to the Grand Canyon with several of my friends. When we arrived at the Northern Rim Trail, I was speechless. I’d never seen anything so vast, so wide, so colorful, so beautiful.
At first, it was overwhelming.
But after adjusting to the view, I reached out to put my arms around my buddies. Although the canyon itself never changed, somehow seeing it with my friends made it even more beautiful.
And, I thought, that must be what heaven is like.
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Upon arriving in the kingdom of God, I’m sure we’ll be amazed by its beauty – how vast, how wide, how colorful, how deep.
But after adjusting to this new reality, we’ll do what I naturally did while standing at the Northern Rim Trail: we’ll reach out for our loved ones.
Although God never changes, somehow our experience of being in God’s kingdom does, because the more people there are, the more beautiful it becomes.
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And, so, when I think of heaven, I think of my mother sitting on a park bench at the Northern Rim Trail. She’s safe; she’s joyful; she sees the glory of God.
It’s an incredible view.
But she’s also reaching out for me – waiting – until I come home. When I finally have the chance to sit next to her, somehow that same place will become even more beautiful.
If we expand this idea, then we might imagine all of humanity standing – or sitting – at the Northern Rim Trail. Imagine all of us waiting for one last person to enter the kingdom of God.
Once he or she does, our experience of waiting will be over; our joy will be complete. We’ll join hands and rejoice forever.
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Often, we dream of heaven being a place filled with Saints – gloriously crowned, bowed in humility, praising God with the angels.
But if you look at that the picture below, then you’ll see a familiar, perhaps more accessible image.
That, to me, represents “all generations.”
I see a father and his two sons. An elderly couple, perhaps married for half a century. Parents. Aunts. Uncles. Friends waiting for friends.
Who do you see on that bench? Who has gone before you into the kingdom of God?
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“They are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise,” Jesus says.
So, what will heaven be like?
I’m not sure. But something tells me, it’ll be even more beautiful than the Grand Canyon. And Mom will be there waiting for me with Jesus.
And not only her, but all who’ve desired to be in the kingdom of God.
There’s room for us all.
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Image credits: (1) www.cbn.com (2) Tyndale House Publishers, What Will We Look Like in Heaven? (3) Grand Canyon Northern Rim Trail, Chris Arndt