Homily: November 21, 2022, Monday of the thirty-forth week in Ordinary time.

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 “No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand”.

We continue our reading from the book of Revelation. We get a glimpse of how beautiful heaven is through St. John’s vision.

St. Paul too had described heaven as: “Eye has not seen; ear has not heard, and the human heart never experienced”.

Growing up, I remember one catechist taught that our church’s altar is heaven because Jesus goes there daily, and with Him all the angels and saints.” And so for a few years, I always visualized heaven looking like the church altars of our small village. 

But reading the book of Revelation and later knowing about the vastness of this universe, I began to imagine a bigger and more beautiful heaven, filled with nature. I see it as a place of pure joy in its fullness, beauty in its fullness, peace and freedom in its fullness, and above all, being immersed in the loving presence of our Lord all the time. 

Two weeks ago, I went for my annual retreat in a contemplative monastery. It was a most prayerful experience, almost like entering heaven. I tried to live like the monks, they probably spend more than six hours daily in community prayer, all chanted in Latin. In between, they do their own personal prayers. They don’t talk to each other, not even during mealtimes. Only during recreation time do they interact more actively. 

They live in a way which is detached from the world, always conscious of the presence of God and constantly engaged in the reality of that presence. Their simple, daily life is free and peaceful, no worries or anxiety.

Is this how heaven will be? Can we live like too?

I wished I could stay there longer, for I truly experienced peace. Yes, if we can detach from the false promises of this world, we will be able to live in the simplicity of pure peace and joy.

Like the widow who gave everything she had, because she could detach from all those, there is no holding back. Nothing in this world is more valuable than the eternal life.

If we learn to give to God without hesitation, we will experience the true joy, peace and freedom that God wants us to have, we will experience heaven.

Let us surrender to God the whole of our life, like Mother Mary who surrendered totally to God’s holy will, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Amen.


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