If God’s Dream Comes True, Will Heaven Get Overcrowded? Maybe!

“Why is the feast of Epiphany famous?” Sister Rita asked her 12th grade religion class. Billy answered before anyone else.  “Wise men and camels came visiting Jesus!” Everyone laughed including Sister Rita.  “That’s absolutely true Billy. Were the wise men Jews?”  Billy, the class athlete, responded, “No, they’re from the East, and that was pretty far from Bethlehem.”

Sister Rita, quite pleased with the answers, turned to Lucy asking, “How did they know where to go?” Slowly, Lucy responded, “They followed a mysterious star across the desert directly to Jerusalem.”

“Isn’t it strange that three wise men who never heard of Jesus would leave their families, homes and simply follow a star, not knowing where they were going?” asked Sr Rita.

“I asked my Mom the same question as we were setting up the Nativity set,” Tommy offered. “And what did she tell you?” Sister Rita asked. Tommy said, “They were seekers looking for something more in their lives. They didn’t know what, but they knew something was missing!”

Delighted, Sister Rita replied, “Perfect! Your mom gave you an amazing response!” Then she said, “Yes, that’s what Jesus does. He fills what’s missing in our lives such as the great virtue of hope.” She continued, “It’s hope that keeps us reaching toward the sky when there seems to be nothing left to grasp.”  Johnny raised his hand asking, “I don’t understand.”

Lucy shouted, “I do!”  She went on to tell how last summer’s flood destroyed her family’s vacation home. Distraught her family thought the house was gone forever until her dad answered, “Absolutely not. Together we’re going to stay and rebuild.” Lucy said, “That’s hope when it seems there’s nothing left to hope.” Lucy said, “We’re going back this summer.”

Pleased with her students, Sister Rita said, “There’s another big reason these three foreigners are in our nativity sets.” Continuing she declared, “Today God reveals that Jesus is savior of the whole world, and not just for the Jewish people.” Then she added, “On this feast day of Epiphany God made all creation equal to the chosen people.”

Everyone who accepted Jesus, listened to his message, and followed him as the way, the truth, and the life is saved.  God’s plan of reconciliation was sealed by Jesus’ death and resurrection for all creation.

In our world today that includes Jews, Gentiles, Muslims, immigrants, liberals, conservatives, people we agree with, and those we do not, God is giving his whole creation, that is everyone, a chance to choose the gift of eternal life.

Sister Rita concluded with this message, “On every Epiphany, Jesus calls his Father’s creation from every neighborhood in every city, in every nation, and every challenge reminding his followers that his work is not completed. God’s creation continues their own creation by how they choose to live their everyday lives.

Jesus’ hope continues to long for the moment when every bias and prejudice that block his creation from building his dream disappear, and God’s vision for his beloved creation is complete. 

Of course, God wants our love, but God also wants his creation to love everyone else they meet in the same way that God loves us, equally. Everyone does this while working towards their identical reward: to live in the house of the Lord forever. And hopefully, all the while making heaven an over-crowded place to live while God smiles happily.