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Story
Once a deeply religious Christian man spoke to his pastor. “Pastor,” he said, “I am very disturbed about a dream I had last night. I had a nightmare.” “What was the nightmare?” asked the pastor. “Well, I dreamed that there were no religious persons in Heaven?” The man continued, “I am sure that such a dream had to be from Satan.” The pastor replied, “Friend, if that dream was from anyone, I am certain it was not from Satan.” “Then, who?” asked the man. “Christ,” said the pastor.
Comments
There is no religious Paradise, for there is no religious Christ. Christ is Christ. Christ is the beginning and end of religion, for all true religion arises from the Word, and each is true to the extent that they are true to Christ, Who is Truth. Heaven is freedom from the need of religion, even while one is free in religion, for in Christ one is one with Christ, and religion does not come between one and Christ. Heaven is the continual state of union with Christ, all in all, the All in all. The fragmented mirror-pieces of religious faith, indeed all things, find their fulfillment and end in Love, Who is, also, their beginning. Without Love, there is no fulfillment. Does this invalidate religion? No. This sets religion in its context as a divine-human means to bring us to the fullness of Love. This fullness of Love is Heaven, God, is the longing of the person for that which transcends and holds together everything else in space and time, and, thus, gives Meaning to the apparent contradictions inherent in human existence and the world.
Spiritual Exercise
Keep spending at least twenty to thirty minutes daily in Silence, resting in the Lord of Love.
Explore the website www.sacredspace.ie offered by the Irish Jesuits and do some of the meditation exercises offered at the site.
Consider, if you are not already, sponsoring a child through Compassion International. You can find out more about Compassion International by going to www.compassion.net to read about sponsoring, in the name of Jesus, children living in poverty. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
To contact Brian, write briankwilcox@comcast.net .
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