Opening Windows to Heaven

Mary

Modern man lacks hope for two reasons. He wants immediate gratification and he cannot see the long-term future. Hope is a staying power which sets aside the immediate pleasures and accepts the discipline needed for a goal that is far off. This goal is a mystery and when a goal is good, it exercises a powerful, benign influence. Hope focuses the energies of man on future goals that are benevolent.

Heavenly Goals

Unfortunately, man gets consumed with immediate goals that present themselves without any effort on his part. These are passions which crash in upon him, often stirring him to greed or lust or selfish ambitions. Hope is much different. Hope puts aside what is selfish and seeks a heavenly goal. This is the problem. Man has set aside heaven.

The Catholic Church

So, I must return to the Ages of Faith, when every village was built around a church. The church had spires which pointed upwards to the heavens, reminding all the people where their hearts must be. All were taught that man’s goal was not earth but heaven, that the world passed away and only heaven perdured. These were the Ages of Faith, where God was accepted and heaven was sought.

Breathing Good Air

It has been so long since man breathed the air of heaven or allowed the mysteries of heaven to claim his heart. O modern man, you are breathing the wrong air (and I am not speaking of your polluted cities). The air you breathe is sick, filled with a stench. You have enclosed yourselves in a smoke-filled room called earth. But this is what I will do for you. I will open your windows to heaven and new life will come.

Comment: In the Ages of Faith, people believed deeply in heaven. Now, with all his technology, man focuses only on earth. Mary will open heaven’s windows.