Destination Heaven
The Luke 11:9 series: This is just the journey, the destination is Heaven
The devil knows that the easiest way to prevent the faithful from going to Heaven is to have them not believe in Heaven. French writer Léon Bloy said, "The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows." Sadly, the greatest tragedy of mankind is to refuse to believe in redemption paid by the blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
God the Father created a veritable heaven on earth, but, sadly, today his creation is a dumpster fire. The faithful are filled with anxiety and doubt; so preoccupied with the perilous journey on Earth that they lose sight of the final destination - our place at the Table of the Lord in Heaven.
Life: Human understanding precedes belief
Conventional wisdom accepts only those ideas and concepts that the human mind can understand. If something seems illogical, then evolution has wired us to reject it. This ability to think logically and reason has helped us 'dominate' the world around us and allowed us to probe beyond our Solar System into deep space.
But even the human mind has limitations. Most people do not understand Einstein's Theory of Relativity, yet largely accept it as the truth (until someone disproves it). Likewise, humans are only beginning to marvel at the vast expanse of the Universe which exposes our lack of knowledge and understanding, of say the true nature of black holes, what preceded the Big Bang, what a 7-dimensional universe really looks and feels like etc.
Faith: First comes belief, then comes understanding
Quite counter-intuitive to how we are taught, Faith requires belief after which comes understanding.
Catholic Faith teaches us that God created everything. All humans are created equal in the image of God and endowed with free will and differing talents and purposes. There is also a randomness in life where we make choices that impact not only ourselves but others, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad.
To help us navigate, God sent his Son to teach us the Gospel - to reassure us that we have an all-loving all-merciful Father in Heaven and to show us how to live a life pleasing to God: All you need to do is believe in the Gospel and live by his commandments "Love your God with all your heart. And love your neighbour as yourself" [Luke 10:25-28, Mark 12:29-31, Matthew 22:37-40]
The human mind, unfortunately, cannot accept the rules and charts a course independently, not without peril. Let me explain the problem of this approach using the metaphors of GPS, Chess and Ubuntu.
GPS (Global positioning system)
I'll use the metaphor of GPS to explain the importance of using the right tool.
Most people accept that a properly functioning GPS is the best way to navigate unfamiliar terrain and get you efficiently and safely from point A to point B.
Alternatively, you can always wing it by using your own devices or even your gut feeling. If you are lucky you might eventually get to your destination. But in most cases, you will stray from the right path, even get lost and there is a good chance that you might never reach your destination.
Scripture is the moral GPS that gives you the instructions to navigate life and reach Heaven.
Chess
I'll use the metaphor of chess to explain the importance of accepting rules without wasteful debate.
We all know that Chess is a two-player strategy game played on a board with 64 squares, alternately white and black, arranged in an 8x8 grid. The game has a fixed number of different pieces (six) arranged in a specific pattern, and finally, the type and relative position of the piece decides how it can and cannot be played.
Those in a nutshell are the rules of Chess. No questions asked! If you want to participate in the game of Chess (and eventually master it), you have to play by these de facto rules and make choices that will ultimately impact the outcome of the game.
It is futile to debate why there are only black-and-white squares and why not black-and-white-and-red? Why are there six types of pieces and why not just four? Why does the King move only 1 square at a time (other than during castling) whereas the Queen can move any number without jumping over another piece? Or why just 64 squares arranged in an 8x8 grid and why not 60 squares arranged in 6x10.
Endless possibilities, all futile mental gymnastics, to distract you from playing and winning in Chess.
The Devil does the same thing with Faith, planting endless futile questions that our minds are incapable of explaining: Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does praying for this, that and the other - never seem to work for me? etc etc.
Believe in the Gospel and the understanding will come in the form of tangible results like a peace that the world cannot give you, grace to avoid sin and the ability to achieve goodness far beyond your personal capacity.
Ubuntu
An anthropologist proposed a game to children in an African tribe. He put a basket of treats on the finish line and told the children whoever raced there first, would win the entire basket. When he told them to run they simply held each other's hands and walked joyously to the finish line, then sat together enjoying their treats together. When he asked them why they had not raced so that the winner could have all for himself, they replied: "'Ubuntu', how can one of us be happy if all the others are sad?"
Gospel is more Ubuntu and less Chess
Luckily for us, the Gospel is both a GPS and an Ubuntu rule book, a blueprint given by God, our creator.
Unlike Chess, the message of the Gospel isn't a zero-sum game, where someone has to lose, for you to win. Everyone who plays by the rules, not only wins but makes it possible for the less fortunate to also share in the treasures.
In South Africa, the concept of Ubuntu emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals within a community, essentially meaning "I am because we are" - signifying that one's identity and humanity are deeply tied to the well-being and existence of others around them; it promotes values like compassion, sharing, and collective responsibility over individualism.
Think back to a time when you were 4 or 5 years old. Life was carefree and safe - there could be a thunderstorm outside but your parents sheltered you so well and provided you with all the answers, that you had no fear at all.
You can get the same feeling and much more by believing in the Gospel. Trusting in Jesus means letting go of your anxieties and loving God and your neighbour, he will give you the grace and wisdom to meet life’s challenges, and you will experience a calming peace, one that the world cannot give.
Jesus Is The Way, the Truth, and the Life
Thomas Merton (c. 1915–1968), the American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, pacifist and social activist, best known for his spiritual writings, poetry, and exploration of Eastern philosophy, has this insightful prayer he called, 'Thoughts in Solitude': "My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."
Jesus told his disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” [John 14:1-4]
Indeed, 'The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.' [Psalm 23]. So I invite you to, 'Taste and see the goodness of the Lord' [Psalm 34:8]
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