Your notion of the Kingdom of Heaven, given the picture you have posted, seems to include ostrich feather fans, courtiers in fancy regalia with sashes and armor and weapons at the ready, heavy scarlet drapery fringed with gold tassels, and other accoutrements of earthly monarchies.
I wonder if a better vision of the Kingdom of Heaven might include place at the table for the Lazaruses of this world, a warm fire and hearth for the refugees from war and oppression, welcoming arms for those who were hated and despised here on earth, and reconciliation between estranged family members.
First of all, it isn’t my notion, but the Church’s notion or theologizing through externals and trappings. Ostrich feathers are redeemed here on earth and in the Kingdom of heaven, to include fancy regalia, sashes, armor and weapons at the ready, for peace, heavy scarlet drapery, fringed with gold tassels and other accouterments of earthy monarchies, all redeemed in heaven and its glory, especially as the Crucified, Risen and Glorified Christ our King is at the center of it all. All that you hope for Lazarus, is not excluded. As in Catholicism, which you seem to forget, it isn’t either/or but both/and. All is redeemed. Lazerous is poor no longer and enjoying all the trappings that the photo signifies about God’s Kingdom. That warms his heart and whatever evil he experienced here is gone forever. Praise Christ the King, our King now and forever more!
So, to symbolize the heavenly kingdom with God in inapproachable light and majesty ruling over all and in all via using earthly majestic models of a supreme monarch and his court taken from the zenith of Christian culture....
a far better model to promote the faith would be to show the supreme ruler of God's earthly kingdom via displaying for view a come-as-you-are BYOB beach party, or perhaps recreate the party from the Lord Of The Rings, except have attending not only hobbits, humans and dwarves, but also elves, trolls and orcs, the dwarves singing "Kumbaya".
First of all, it is your notion inasmuch as you have adopted it as your own by posting it.
What Scriptural evidence can you offer that the monarchical trappings you have made your own are to be found in the Kingdom of Heaven?
I prefer the image offered by the Catechism: "1027 This mystery of blessed communion with God and all who are in Christ is beyond all understanding and description. Scripture speaks of it in images: life, light, peace, wedding feast, wine of the kingdom, the Father's house, the heavenly Jerusalem, paradise: "no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him."
I prefer to approach the approach offered by then Cardinal Ratzinger in his book, "Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life," published in 1988, in which he warned against depicting heaven as an extension of this life prettied up."
FMJK, Benedict was warning against literally envisioning heaven as some earthly kingdom including buildings, streets of gold, God as a bearded king with crown, the royal tax collector, etc etc.....he was NOT talking of the symbolism of the Holy Church and of art, and you know that good and well, so why make the falsely equivalent statement?
I doubt seriously that Benedict was "...warning against literally envisioning heaven as some earthly kingdom including buildings,..." since he undoubtedly understood the meaning of the word "literally."
11 comments:
Your notion of the Kingdom of Heaven, given the picture you have posted, seems to include ostrich feather fans, courtiers in fancy regalia with sashes and armor and weapons at the ready, heavy scarlet drapery fringed with gold tassels, and other accoutrements of earthly monarchies.
I wonder if a better vision of the Kingdom of Heaven might include place at the table for the Lazaruses of this world, a warm fire and hearth for the refugees from war and oppression, welcoming arms for those who were hated and despised here on earth, and reconciliation between estranged family members.
Just a thought.
First of all, it isn’t my notion, but the Church’s notion or theologizing through externals and trappings. Ostrich feathers are redeemed here on earth and in the Kingdom of heaven, to include fancy regalia, sashes, armor and weapons at the ready, for peace, heavy scarlet drapery, fringed with gold tassels and other accouterments of earthy monarchies, all redeemed in heaven and its glory, especially as the Crucified, Risen and Glorified Christ our King is at the center of it all. All that you hope for Lazarus, is not excluded. As in Catholicism, which you seem to forget, it isn’t either/or but both/and. All is redeemed. Lazerous is poor no longer and enjoying all the trappings that the photo signifies about God’s Kingdom. That warms his heart and whatever evil he experienced here is gone forever. Praise Christ the King, our King now and forever more!
Spot on , Fr
There used to be a place like that...I forget the name....Jamestown....Jonestown....sumthin' like that?
So, to symbolize the heavenly kingdom with God in inapproachable light and majesty ruling over all and in all via using earthly majestic models of a supreme monarch and his court taken from the zenith of Christian culture....
a far better model to promote the faith would be to show the supreme ruler of God's earthly kingdom via displaying for view a come-as-you-are BYOB beach party, or perhaps recreate the party from the Lord Of The Rings, except have attending not only hobbits, humans and dwarves, but also elves, trolls and orcs, the dwarves singing "Kumbaya".
First of all, it is your notion inasmuch as you have adopted it as your own by posting it.
What Scriptural evidence can you offer that the monarchical trappings you have made your own are to be found in the Kingdom of Heaven?
I prefer the image offered by the Catechism: "1027 This mystery of blessed communion with God and all who are in Christ is beyond all understanding and description. Scripture speaks of it in images: life, light, peace, wedding feast, wine of the kingdom, the Father's house, the heavenly Jerusalem, paradise: "no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him."
I prefer to approach the approach offered by then Cardinal Ratzinger in his book, "Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life," published in 1988, in which he warned against depicting heaven as an extension of this life prettied up."
1988? Unlike you, Benedict’s views matured over time
FMJK, Benedict was warning against literally envisioning heaven as some earthly kingdom including buildings, streets of gold, God as a bearded king with crown, the royal tax collector, etc etc.....he was NOT talking of the symbolism of the Holy Church and of art, and you know that good and well, so why make the falsely equivalent statement?
Bob,
Fr. MJK doesn't comparisons, except when he makes dubious comparisons (but he'll deny the comparison either way).
Nick
Father, are you as unpleasant in person as you come across in writing?
I doubt seriously that Benedict was "...warning against literally envisioning heaven as some earthly kingdom including buildings,..." since he undoubtedly understood the meaning of the word "literally."
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