The
Profession of Faith
- What We Believe
“WHY CATHOLIC?” PREVIEW OF SESSION 12
We Believe in
Life Everlasting
What is “everlasting life”? Is it finally having
enough time to do all that we would like? Is it the same as
“eternal life”? These may be philosophical questions, but they
raise the eyes of all true Christians. Every believer wants to know
more about the destiny that Christ promises.
Scripture says little about life after death. In the Gospel according to
Matthew Jesus invites those who have treated the needy as they would him
into the Kingdom of his Father. Similarly, on the cross Jesus promises the
criminal who recognizes him as king a place in Paradise. St. Paul mentions
that God has planned a reward wondrous beyond imagining for those who love
Him. The Book of Revelation describes a city of gold where the elect will
dwell with God in sheer delight. These are certainly attractive images, but
not clear ideas of what makes up eternal life. The Gospel according to
John, however, is somewhat more helpful. To be sure, there is no detail,
but we are made aware that eternity is principally not a measure of time or
a place. Rather it is essentially a relationship. Jesus prays to his
Father saying, “Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the
only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ” (John 17:3). We
might speculate that eternal life is interaction with the Blessed Trinidad
so that we feel the warmth of their love and experience the splendor of
their beauty.
Session
twelve of “Why Catholic?” explores life everlasting with stories and
testimony of the saints. It ends this initial year of shared reflection on
a high note leaving us not just excited about experiencing eternal life but
also hungry to learn more about the means to that end which we will consider
next year.
Rev.
Carmen Mele. O.P. (Padre Carmelo)
Director, School of Lay Ministry
Pope
John Paul II Institute
Diocese of Fort Worth
800
W. Loop 820 South
Fort
Worth, TX 76108
cmele@fwdioc.org
817-560-3300x262
Session 1 -
Desire for God
Session 2 -
God's Revelation : Scripture and Tradition
Session 3 -
Faith : I Believe, We Believe
Session 4 -
The Trinity
Session 5 -
The Mystery of Creation
Session 6 -
The Incarnation
Session 7 -
The Public Life of Jesus
Session 8 -
The Paschal Mystery
Session 9 -
The Holy Spirit and the Church
Session 10 -
One Church with Diverse Roles
Session 11 -
Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church
Session 12 -
We Believe in Life Everlasting
