+JMJ
My Spiritual Director has given me a task of answering, prayerfully, 52 questions. It is a list that would be used as writing prompts. It includes things such as: What are you thankful for? What do you love about yourself? What holds you back?
It has been interesting so far going through them. Of course my own answers immediately pop into my head. I can write a long list of things I am thankful for of course: my family, friends, a steady job, etc. I love that I am capable and reliable. What holds me back: fear mostly.
But that was not the purpose of this exercise. The purpose was to let the Lord answer the questions on the list. And His answers were much different from mine.
The one question I want to share here is: What is the view from your window right now?
Sure I could easily look out my window and describe the trees and birds. Maybe the cars going by, but I reminded myself that I was to ask the Lord for the answer. And He gifted me with a beautiful mediation of hope in heaven.
My Contemplation: The Window Into Heaven
I can feel the warmth of the Son (sun) coming through the glass. Comforting, warming, and satisfying. It is like that first sunny day after months of dark winter.
I see people, clothed in dazzling white, mingling about, but not aimlessly. They all seem to move purposefully, intent, but smiling and full of joy.
Everything is white. The sky, the grass, everything. It is not boring, though. Everything is white, but has a slight glimmer, a sheen, a brightness above white, but not harsh or cold. There is a softness, almost a blur to things, like in a dream.
I open the window and I am covered in a sweet smelling air, carrying on it the murmur of many voices. The air carries a tangible peace and calm, like the air you breath in at the shore.
I can see my patron saints waiting for me. Clothed in white, with gold accents and delicate crowns.
The Lord, Himself, shimmers and radiates light throughout the whole place. There is no need for the sun because He lights everything. The whole atmosphere ripples with the beat of His heart. Each beat infuses His love into each individual. Each beat infuses His wisdom into their minds. Infusing His humility, prudence, temperance. All of His virtues being infused every second, making them all like Him.
Their souls are still in Him. Tempered and confident in Him.
I take a deep breath of that heavenly air and am content.
The kingdom of heaven is the greatest thing I could imagine, and more than I could imagine. It is the place we are all striving for and the place where all things will be satisfied. Where all things will be made right. Where all things will be made complete. Where all things will make perfect sense. Where true happiness will be permeate the soul completely.
“Today I was in heaven, in spirit, and I saw its unconceivable beauties and the happiness that awaits us after death. I saw how all creatures give ceaseless praise and glory to God. I saw how great is happiness in God, which spreads to all creatures, making them happy; and then all the glory and praise which springs from this happiness returns to its source; and they enter into the depths of God, contemplating the inner life of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, whom they will never comprehend or fathom. This source of happiness is unchanging in its essence, but it is always new, gushing forth happiness for all creatures.” -St. Faustina
As I sat looking out that window, I began to wonder what other people would see through the window into heaven. It would be different, perhaps, based on this quote from St. Alphonsus Ligori:
“Now I am in heaven, Philip II, king of Spain, is in heaven as well. We both are enjoying the eternal rewards of paradise, but they are very different for us. My happiness is much greater than his, for it is not like when we were still on earth, for then he was royalty and I was a commoner. We were as far apart as the earth and sky, but now it has been reversed: As lowly as I was compared to the king on earth, I now exceed him in glory in heaven. However, we are both happy, and our hearts are completely satisfied.”
So, I ask the Lord: What will it be like for me, Lord?
The words that enter my heart are: “A true feeling of well-being and an energizing love.”
Let us Hope in the Kingdom of the Lord! Let us Hope in His goodness. Let us Hope in His love. Let us Hope in His mercy!
Thrive in Jesus, my Friends!
If you ask the Lord what it would be like for you, what words do you hear? What gives you hope in the Lord? What do you see outside your window? Leave me a comment and let me know!
New to Ignatian Contemplation? Check out my post below to learn more!