Eternal Life

To get some idea of what the promise of living as our own selves, in our own glorified bodies like the Savior, we have to ponder a bit.

The first thing to think about is that we are made in the image and likeness of God, who lives three Persons in One Being. That means that we are going to hug those we love, hold hands with everyone we meet, and put our arms over the shoulders of our real enemies.

Then there’s harmony. The Persons of God live loving each other, wanting the exact same things, from the little flower in the grass to the vast explosions of light in a billion galaxies. That means that we’ll live in perfect harmony. What I want will be what everyone around me wants. Even the thought of anger or hatred or impatience won’t happen. Instead, God’s infinitely creative love for us will flood over us all and we will harmonize like the Persons we are created like.

As for me, I will be utterly content to be who I am, with all of my experiences and history, with my eyes and hair and hands and grace.

Finally, there’s the situation of eternal life in our own flesh. Jesus imagined it as a great banquet.

Splendor, plenty, delicious fragrances and bites, the perfect companions every time. White table cloths and candles in silver holders.

Fr. Joe Tetlow, S.J.