A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

—Romans 2:28-29 (TNIV)

O truth [God], everywhere you preside over all who seek counsel of you. You respond at one and the same time to all, even though they are consulting you on different subjects. You reply clearly, but not all hear you clearly. All ask your counsel on what they desire, but do not always hear what they would wish. Your best servant is the person who does not attend so much to hearing what he himself wants as to willing what he has heard from you.

—Augustine, Confessions 10.26.37

Late have a loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And see, you were within and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.

—10.27.38

Once more: The Scriptures teach, “This is the love of God,” the sure mark thereof, “that we keep his commandments.” (1 John 3) And our Lord himself says, “He that keeps my commandments is he who loves me.” (John 14:21.) Love rejoices to obey; to do, in everything, whatever is acceptable to the beloved. A true lover of God hastens to do he will on earth as it is done in heaven.

—Sermon 10, The Witness of the Spirit 5.120

In case you missed it, this week I have focused on the topic of heaven. As C.S. Lewis reminds us, either there is a heaven or there isn’t, and if there isn’t let’s forget about this whole thing of religion and move on with our lives. Let’s eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we will be dead.

But we Christians do not believe that heaven is non-existent and so we will not move on with our lives, except as our lives intersect with Christ’s through the abiding power and Presence of the Holy Spirit. This is our hope, our anticipation, our future. It is glorious beyond our imagination and we are fools if we do not embrace it. It is God’s free gift to us in Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks to God by giving him our lives in joyful obedience to his will and commandments.

St. John writes, “Most beloved, we are now children of God but what we shall be is not all that clear. We do know that on some future day we shall become like God [in the resurrection of the body]. We shall see the Lord as he truly is.” Thus, there is being prepared for us a surprise that is simply beyond our imagining. At present we get some vague hint but like seeing an enigma’s reflection in a darkened mirror. No one could ever describe in a word the sweetness and the beauty of the gift that our Lord is preparing for those who care about him and hope in him. What in the world can this gift be? Nothing else than to be like the angels and truly see! For the first time we shall see the Lord our God!

—Commentary on Psalm 36.2.8

Notice the humility and anticipation in Augustine’s description of heaven. And why not? If God is really this awesome God of the universe, how can we possibly imagine how wonderful heaven is and will be for us. Augustine had an appropriate description of heaven (seeing God) that was based on a deep and abiding faith in God.

How’s your vision of heaven? Is it adequate like Augustine’s or made in your own image?

The Son of God, who came from heaven, is here [in the Sermon on the Mount] showing us the way to heaven; to the place where he has prepared for us; the glory he had before the world began. He is teaching us the true way to life everlasting; and the only true way, — for there is none besides [Jesus]; all other paths lead to destruction.

—Sermon 21, Sermon on the Mount, Discourse 1 5.248

What are you seeking? A happy life. Well, it is not to be found here. Christ came down and experienced all those unpleasant things that are part of our lives and said to us: “I did not turn my nose up at the nasty things of your life; believe that I am inviting you to my life. I am inviting you to the company of angels, to the friendship of the Father and the Holy Spirit. I am inviting you to be my brothers and sisters. I am inviting you to my life. Are you reluctant to believe that I will give you my life? Remember that I died for you.” So now, while we are living in this perishable flesh let us die with Christ. By our love of being just let us live with Christ.

—Augustine, Sermon 231.5

Jesus tells us, “He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” This is because those who belong to Christ have crucified their bodies with their sinful practices and pleasures. We are unworthy of Christ if we do not take up our cross, by which we suffer, die and are buried and resurrected together with him. Only by this pledge of faith in the Spirit will he triumph in new life in us.

—Hilary of Poitiers, On Matthew 10.25-26

What Christ is saying to the faithful [in Matthew 10:24-39] is, I am now already sharing with you the same stigma you are presently suffering. That is sufficient for your encouragement. For why do you now grieve? Are you troubled when someone is calling you a deceiver or a liar? So what? Wait a little while. In time you will be seen as benefactors of the world and champions of faith. So do not let what is now being said demoralize you. Rather, let the hope of the good things to come raise you up. For the true story of your testimony cannot be suppressed forever.

—John Chrysostom, The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 34.1

If then God is not ignorant of anything that happens in creation, and if God loves us more truly than the best human father, and if God loves us so as to have numbered our very hairs, then we need not be afraid. Don’t you see that God views your fear with more concern than the lives of many sparrows? He already knows the secrets of your heart.

—John Chrysostom, The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 34.2-3