DESTINATION HEAVEN | KAIROS GLOBAL | JANUARY 2023

Author: Dr. Chackochan J Njavallil

It seems like we stop thinking and talking about heaven when we grow up. When we were children, very often heaven was part of our thinking imagination and discussion. It used to guide our behaviour, especially if somebody were to say, ‘If you do this, Jesus may not like it and you may not be able to go to heaven.’ Or the encouragement, ‘If you do this sacrifice, it will make sure your presence in heaven.’ In short, somewhere in the journey we lost our heaven focus. 

As adults, majority of our mind space is preoccupied with worldly matters, our career, jobs, finances, family, education and possessions that we don't have any time to spare for heaven. Does this leave us more happy and contented? Seems not. 

How can we bring back a heaven-centredness in our lives? This issue of Kairos Global is an attempt in that direction. We firmly believe that it will help in making our lives more meaningful and satisfying. 

Let's have a look at these words from people who had foretaste of things to come. 

Heaven is ‘neither an abstraction nor a physical place in the clouds, but a living, personal relationship with the Holy Trinity. It is our meeting with the Father which takes place in the risen Christ through the communion of the Holy Spirit.’ Pope John Paul II

Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. St Thomas More

He who carries God in his heart bears heaven with him wherever he goes. St Ignatius of Loyola

The gate of heaven is very low, only the humble can enter it. St Elizabeth Ann Seton

If love, even human love, gives so much consolation here, what will love not be in heaven? St. Josemaria Escriva

There, good will shall be so ordered in us that we shall have no other desire than to remain there eternally. St Augustine

If we only got to heaven, what a sweet and easy thing it will be, to be always saying with the angels and the saints: sanctus, sanctus, sanctus. St Phillip Neri

I will spend my heaven by doing good on earth. St Therese of Lisieux

What does it matter to you whether Jesus wishes to guide you to heaven by way of the desert or by the meadow, so long as he is always with you and you arrive at the possession of a blessed eternity? St Pio of Pietrelcina

In this world we are all in a valley of tears. Our consolation is not here, we shall have it eternally in paradise, if we suffer tribulations on earth. St Benedict Joseph Labre

Heaven is a city on a hill, hence we cannot cast into it: we have to climb. Ven Fulton Sheen