There is that innate desire in each one for heaven. In our struggle with ourselves, in marriage, in family life, religious affiliation, ideological adherence, in everything, there is that seeking of heaven. Our hearts, minds, and strength are expended to that fulfillment now and forevermore.
We may be conscious of it or not, but it is a great impulsion that drives us to be better in virtue, health, justice. solidarity, equality, and the elusive search for happiness and love.
As intrinsically seekers of heaven, we are impelled to seek the Truth and find salvation from this longing. At the same time, there will always exist in us varying degrees of messianic complex. There is the tug of war. We are torn between heaven and humanity. We interiorly know that we are participants in Jesus' work of salvation, yet, we are being pulled into a self-righteous task of bringing about Utopia without Jesus, without God.
Such is the dilemma of humanity manifested through out history. The Islamists, even the Jihadist, are seekers of heaven and they were taught that such is the way of heaven. The west may criticize the Moslem women, but they subjugate themselves willingly because that is the way to heaven.
The West, likewise, seek heaven in a secularist way. Abortion, same-sex marriage, euthanasia which are abominable to the Moslems. But to the West, these were the answers given to them to quench their longing for heaven.
So often, two extremes may seem so opposite that they are deemed irreconcilable enemies. Yet, if they stop and think, they are actually the same. Even in the minute aspect of our lives - buying things, relationships, acts of charity, jobs, health-consciousness, environmentalism, learning, we are seeking heaven or a glimpse of it. It will not go away but continually manifests itself in our loneliness, neediness, pain, and restlessness.
Does it make every sin or evil excusable because it comes from a misdirected impulsion of a desire for heaven? Or perhaps it was the only answer given to us to quench our thirst?
John Henry (Ven.) Cardinal Newman said “We can believe what we choose. We are answerable for what we choose to believe." The Truth had been knowable and accessible through Divine Revelation and ultimately through Jesus Christ. Through faith and reason, we can respond to the heavenly invitation.
To an individual, there is pain which is our first teacher of truth. We know even before we learn to speak the physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual pain. We have also been given common sense that allows us to sense the right and wrong of things even if we can not express it.
Of greater importance is our being with people from conception to our last breath. Being with people allows us to give and be given the Truth. It allows us to lead and be led, to guide and be guided. We are here for each other. In this respect, I remember Ratzinger's "concern for the faith of the little ones must be more important than fearing the opposition of the powerful."
We can identify the "little ones" as those who simply TRUST. We are not capable of knowing everything. We have been given limits of time and resources in our pilgrim world. Thus, we need each other and in trust, we guide and be guided... hopefully towards the fulfillment of our desire for heaven.
