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WE SHARE THE MAIL
The following email came from a parishioner who wanted some clarification
on a point raised in the homily given on Ascension Thursday
Dear Fr. Connolly:
In listening to your sermon yesterday, you mentioned that Jesus
was the first person in human form to enter into heaven at the
Ascension and that this happened under his own power. Your reasoning
makes sense. I think you also mentioned that Mary was assumed
into heaven, with the help of Jesus, and that Mary did not experience
death.
However, I always thought that Elijah was the first person in
human form not to experience death, and — since he was taken
up to "heaven" in a fiery chariot — that he was
the first person in human form to enter into heaven, probably
not under his own power.
But …. I also remember you saying once before that, at the
Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah were very happy that Jesus
was going to go through with his suffering and death so that
they could enter into heaven.
It's all probably very simple. Can you please clarify who's
on first, what's on second and I don't know who's on third?
Who was (were) the first / second / third (?) in human form not
to experience death? Who was (were) the first / second / third
(?) in human form to enter into heaven?
Thanks.
XXXXX
Dear XXXXX:
Thank you for your questions. Anyone who listens to my homilies
and tries to make sense out of them certainly deserves to go
to heaven. Let me try to sort this out.
We are told (2Kings 2,8) that Elijah was taken up to heaven in
a fiery chariot. There is also a broad hint (Gen 5,24) that
a man named Enoch was taken bodily up to heaven. There is also
a legend (might be true, might not) that Moses was taken bodily
up to heaven. The question, in all three cases, of course, is:
“What is meant by “heaven?”.
Heaven is two things: (a) a state; (b) a place. By “a state”, we mean something
interior to the person. By “a place”, we mean
something exterior to the person. For example:
Two persons can be in the same state, but not the same place;
two persons can be in the same place, but not the same state.
Example: If you and I were in the same room and you were
peaceful and content, but I was angry and depressed, we would
be in the same place, but in different states. Another
example: If you were in Girardville and I was in
Singapore but both of us were peaceful and content, we would
be in the same state, but different places. A third
example: If two persons were standing at the same
scenic lookout over the Grand Canyon and one of them had 20 /
20 vision and the other was totally blind, they would be in the
same place, but (at least as far as the scenery is concerned)
they would be in different states.
What makes heaven such a desirable destiny is not primarily the
“placeness” of it but, rather, the “stateness”
of the persons who are there. Heaven (in the sense of the goal
to which we all aspire) is primarily the state of the persons
there and only secondarily the place.
Let us take the presumption that Enoch and Moses and Elijah were
transported bodily to heaven. If that is true (and it does seem
to be true for sure in the case of Elijah) then Elijah was in
the “place” called heaven, but not in the “state”
called heaven.
For a human being to be in the “state called heaven”
is for him to have THE BEATIFIC VISION. Ah! That’s
the term we should hold on to! In fact, from now on, I think
I’ll try to remember not to say, “I want to go to Heaven”.
I’ll try to remember to say, instead, “I want to have
the Beatific Vision!” That would be much more precise.
However, I am so accustomed to saying, “I want to go to
Heaven”, I shall probably continue to say that (while always
keeping in mind what I really mean). Remember that the Beatific
Vision is for both soul and body. Except for Jesus, Mary and
(perhaps) Enoch, Moses and Elijah, human beings who are now in
Heaven are experiencing the Beatific Vision in their souls, but
not yet in their bodies.
Was Elijah in the place called Heaven when he was taken up in
the fiery chariot? Yes, I guess he was!
Was he in the state of Heaven when he was taken up in the fiery
chariot? No, I’m sure he was not. He acquired the Beatific
Vision when Jesus ascended into Heaven.
So, who was the first human being to enjoy the Beatific Vision
in body and in soul? Jesus. Who were next? With some
hesitation, I answer, “Enoch, Moses and Elijah”.
Who was next in “chronological order”? With no hesitation,
I answer, “Mary”. Mary’s degree of participation
in the Beatific Vision is second only to Jesus’ participation
therein.
EBC |
Saturday, 22 May
