The Ones from Heaven

Gospel: John 3: 31-36

The ones of the earth speak of earthly things.  They are consumed with self-interest and insecurity.  They have many possessions and suspicious of others.  These possessions are not enough.  They need to be secured and expanded upon.  So the ones of the earth go about the world seizing the property of others, acting to secure their ill gotten property from others, causing wars, refugees and migration from lands where the wars of aggression are waged by the ones of the earth.

The ones from heaven speak of heavenly things.  They speak of peach and the common good of all.  They proclaim the need for dialogue and mutual cooperation, knowing that the goods of the earth belong to all and require equitable sharing.  The ones from heaven appear vulnerable to the violence of the ones of the earth, for the ones of heaven have no army and receive constant threats from the ones of the earth.  Yet, the ones of heaven have no fear of these threats.  They are at peace.

If we look to find the way of heaven, look to those who speak and live the heavenly way of peace, mercy, and loving kindness.  The way of earth will attempt to create false images of religiosity, claiming to be the way of heaven.  But their way is easily seen as false, for underneath lurks their violence and self-interest, their mistrust and lack of love for others.  The way of heaven is the way of Jesus, the way of mercy and peace, the way of life and death for the sake of others.