Preparing for Glory

DO you find yourself agitated when you hear such statements as “detach yourself from possessions” or “renounce the world”, etc.? If so, it’s often because we have a distorted view of what Christianity is all about—that it is the religion of pain and punishment.

When God created the heavens and the earth, He looked upon it and “saw that it was good.” ^[1]Gen 1:25 But at times, the spirituality of the saints would leave one the impression that anything that induces a sense of pleasure or enjoyment is essentially a temptation that leads us away from a greater good, namely God. But God Himself created the universe and all it contains for the enjoyment and stewardship of man. Thus, a beautiful sunset, the fruit of the vine, the bread of the harvest, the smile of another, the ecstasy of married love… all of these are signs that point toward a greater goodness: God.

And that is the point. Original sin, and consequently the injury it has done to our human nature, has distorted the original intent of creation: to lead us to a deeper communion with the Holy Trinity. Suddenly, the beautiful sunset becomes a pursuit for land; the fruit of the vine becomes an indulgence in wine; the bread of the harvest becomes an occasion for gluttony; the smile of another becomes a desire to possess others; the ecstasy of married love becomes a lust for sensual pleasure, and so forth. You see then that creation is indeed good, but it is sin that distorts the good, turning it instead into a source of grief. As Jesus said:

Everyone who commits a sin is a slave to sin. (John 8:34)

Jesus Himself breathed in the mountain air, sanctified the waters, consecrated the fruit of the vine, and enjoyed the fruits of other’s labors, even at the table of sinners. But He was a free man. Only in that freedom did He forsake it all for a greater good: glory with the Father—and the possibility that you and I could share in that glory. Thus, we should say today with all our hearts:

I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. (Today’s Psalm)

But the intent of these works is to lead us to the joy and freedom which belongs to the daughters and sons of God, thanks be to Jesus Christ our Savior. Thus, St. Paul says in the first reading, “if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to sin.” The food isn’t the issue; ^[2]In Paul’s example, eating the meat sacrificed to idols was a cause for sin. it is the inordinate inclination toward turning it into an idol.

This is why Jesus teaches us in the Gospel not to judge or condemn others. We are all fallen creatures who, even when we’re baptized, carry about the life of God in an earthly tent that sags and drags and pull us to the earth. We need to see that this weight, this wound to the human heart, is systemic—it runs through the entire human race. And thus, we need to help one another climb out of the slavery sin, and yes, often at a great personal cost.

…love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you… Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful. (Today’s Gospel)

We have to constantly remind ourselves that we are all made for glory, we are made for communion with God. And to the degree that we open our hearts to Him and renounce these disordered appetites and those temporal trinkets that lead us to lust, is the degree to which God can communicate the Kingdom to us. This is why I say that Christianity is not the religion of pain and punishment, but preparation—preparation to receive the infinite life of God. Yes, He wants to match and exceed our generosity toward Him. Thus, even though the Garden of Eden has been shut, something greater awaits us. ^[3]“What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor 2:9)

This life and all it’s temporal signs of goodness are passing. They are now a preparation for a greater glory that awaits those who choose the Savior over sin.

Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you. (Today’s Gospel)