Can Heaven Ever Get Overcrowded? Hopefully Not!

“What is the feast of Epiphany famous for?” Sister Rita asked of her 12th grade religion class. Billy, the class athlete, who was no dummy, answered before anyone else.  “Wisemen and camels visiting Jesus.”  Everyone laughed, including Sister Rita.  “That’s very true Billy, but were they Jews?”  Billy responded, “No, they’re from the East, and that was pretty far from Bethlehem.”

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

“Isn’t it strange that three wisemen who never heard of Jesus would leave their families, homes and simply follow a star, not knowing where they were going?” asked Sister 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. “She said they were seekers looking for something more in their lives.  They didn’t know what, but they knew that there was that something more that was missing.” Tommy said.

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

Lucy shouted, “I do.”  She went on to tell how last summer’s flood destroyed her family’s vacation home and that they all were distraught by the loss thinking it was gone forever,  until her dad announced, “Absolutely not.”  Lucy related that he stated that together they were going to stay and rebuild.  Lucy said, “That’s hope when it seems there’s nothing to hope for!”  And smiling, she told her class that, “We’re going back there this summer.”

Pleased with her students, Sister Rita said, “There’s another big reason these three foreigners are in our nativity sets. Today God reveals that Jesus is savior of the whole world, and not just for the chosen people.”  Then she said looking at each student, “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, that Jesus’ death and resurrection sealed from this day forward, is for all creation. In our world today, that includes Jews, Gentiles, Muslims, immigrants, liberals, conservatives, people we agree with and those we don’t.  

God is giving His whole creation a chance to choose the gift of eternal life. Billy raised his hand and asked, “Won’t that make heaven too crowded?”  Sr. Rita responded, “I don’t know how to answer that one Billy.” Smiling at the whole class she said, “We will just have to wait and find out!”

Sister Rita ended with this message for her students, “On every Epiphany, Jesus calls his creation from every neighborhood in every city and in every town reminding His followers that His work is not completed. And he asks each of us to help Him complete it. Jesus’ hope continues longing for the moment when every roadblock and prejudice that blocks His dream crumbles and God’s vision for His beloved creation is complete.”

Then, as if on cue, the bell rang, and class was dismissed. In silence, the students walked out of Sister Rita’s classroom.