A Glimpse of Heaven

A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN, Two Perspectives from 2 Scripture Readings

Second Reading...

"I, John, looked, and I heard the voice of many Angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, 'Worthy is the Lord that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!'

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, 'To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and every. And the four living creatures said, 'Amen!' And the elders fell down and worshipped." [Rev. 5:11-4]

Gospel Reading...

"Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.' They said to him, 'We will go with you.' They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, 'Children, you have no fish, have you?' They answered him, 'No.' He said to them, 'Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.

That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about ninety metres off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread, Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.' So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, 'Who are you?' because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was not the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead." [Jn. 21:1- 19]

In his Sermon on this Sunday, Fr. or Msgr. John Armistead made the title of his homily, A Glimpse of Heaven as he referred particularly to these two Readings of this Sunday. And so I would like to try to repeat his homily or ideas from his homily as messages from both Readings. And gist of his homily was that the two Readings gave us a picture of what heaven is like, or will be like.

From our first Reading here, we are told of this majestic event as foretold by the Apostle John, and so I repeat the verses from the Reading:"I, John, looked, and I heard the voice of many Angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, 'Worthy is the Lord that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!'

This is a view of reality, which is not what we often see in the world. In the world, we often see the good people pushed over, ie. the bad people pushing the good people, where the bad people seem to often succeed at doing it.

But in this scene it magnifically reveals to us the opposite view, and opposite happening. Here, for a change, and for a permanent change, the good people show themselves unstopped and loudly doing their good acts, namely adoring and praising the Lord, and obviously demonstrating their happiness and glory in doing so. And so here’s that glimpse of heaven: God in glory among his saved people together with his Angels.

And now from the Gospel Reading, the very touching picture of friendship and love between our Lord and the disciples, or particularly between the Lord and Peter.

First of all the story tells us that once again, Jesus who was put to death, proved himself alive, and showed himself alive to the nostalgic Apostles.

But what is much more telling was how the Lord showed himself very friendly and loving during this appearance of him to the disciples. First, he made the Apostles get a miraculous big catch of fish. Second, he personally treated them to a breakfast all done and ready for the Apostles as they went ashore from their boat. I.e. Jesus made the fire, burned the firewood, cooked some fish, and had some bread also ready for the Apostles to eat. As he said, "Have some breakfast!"

"Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, 'Who are you?' because they knew it was the Lord." Here it is, a glimpse of heaven, where there is the Lord in communion with his disciples, followers. Here is the Lord most affectionately loving and serving his beloved friends. Imagine us being treated equally by the Lord with the greatest affection, and love! That is heaven! And this is actually what will be for us when we get united with God in heaven.

And so during this Easter Season, nature begins to show new life. The trees grow leaves; the flowers bloom, the grass and weeds once more rise from the ground, etc... This new life reminds us of the new life that we now share with Jesus, the life, which we shall share forever with him in heaven.

Therefore, as the new life of nature takes many forms, so does the new life in the Catholic Church. New believers will have received the Sacrament of Baptism. Young members of the Church will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Communion. These are signs of personal spiritual growth in the Lord Jesus. And these shall be how they, all believers, or we shall persevere in order that we enter the happiness and glory of Heaven!