December 11, 2006
Have you thought recently about what is forever?
This time of the year, along with the readings lately about heaven and earth passing away, have made me think a lot lately about what is forever. I was recalling a visit to the Museum of Natural History in New York where they have a theoretical timeline of the history of the earth. It runs along a wall for approximately 30 feet, but the amount of time that human beings existed, according to their calculations, was only about the last foot or two on that timeline. I was thinking that if we could extend the timeline on that wall all the way to the sun, that would still just be a beginning of eternity. That would just be one age of the "ages of ages", the "siglos de los siglos," the "forever and ever." You and I are made for that; our souls are on that timeline with no ending. If we respond to the Lord's way of salvation, we will also be eternally growing in our experience of God's infinite goodness and beauty. We will also have more than enough time to meet every human being who is in Heavenly bliss with Him, who will reveal something new to us of how good God is by telling us how He managed to get him or her there.
Thinking about what is forever helps us to keep perspective on our day-to-day activities. Some of the stressing details of our projects and plans melt away when we think about how important they will be to us in eternity. On the other hand, some people whom we may pass over in our busy schedules may deserve more attention, since we will be together, by God's mercy, in eternity.
When it comes to finding Christmas gifts for example, try to keep forever in mind - a Bible, a spiritual movie, something that will help. Yes, a five-year-old boy can still enjoy a toy bulldozer besides. I do remember receiving a little book around that age with a cleverly embellished retelling of the parable of the workers in the vineyard called "Sir Abner and His Grape Pickers." That little storybook made a lasting impression on me and was a small gift for which I will in fact be eternally grateful. That parable is one that I expect many people in eternal life to retell from their experience and it is, after all, part of the Word of God which shall not pass away.
God bless you,
Fr. Richard Roemer, CFR
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