How Does In God's Love relate to the Catholic Church?

How does In God's Love 
written by Janet Hurlow
relate to 
the Catholic Faith ?

  Chapter 5  We Believe in Heaven, Hell and Purgatory
                       (continued) 3/5

            Part 1 Heaven  (continued)
                      Section 4 Images of Heaven

336         The Catechism states that “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.’"(79)he messengers use images that we are familiar with to describe things that are in the passages, (not necessarily specific to heaven): “Some things are too big for the minds of Earth people to understand.  So, in our message, we try to use things that are familiar to the people of the Earth.”(80)

337              The messengers have four primary images of the heaven.  The first is banquet.  Sometimes the image of a Wedding banquet, like was previously mentioned.(81) Sometimes the image is of a more “homey” banquet: “All the relatives greet you and are so grateful that got you home safe….They take you in and show you the great feast prepared in your honor.”(82)  Sometimes the image is a more elaborate, royal banquet: “What a celebration.  What a time of rejoicing, when all God’s saints shall gather in His Kingdom to spend eternity in His presence….Those who are coming to the feast, sign your name.  The time is now.  Prepare for your celebration.  Remember what a wonderful rest you are going to have when the day arrives….Blessed day, when you come to the feast clothed in God’s love.  This is your reward, good, little Earth Saints.”(83)   “You have a place reserved for you at the table.”(84)   We are given a quick survey of the honored guests at the banquet: “Kings shall not see what you shall see.  Queens shall not be served so royally.  Who are these small creatures who have been invited to dine with the King?  They are the ones who have loved Him and believed in His mercies.  They are the ones who have loved all beings on the Earth.  They are the ones who have been kind to all God’s creatures.  They are the ones who were not given everything on the Earth, so that they might receive more abundantly in Heaven.  Blessed are those who trust in God’s mercies.”(85)   “Blessed saints, gather around the Father’s table.  He has many wondrous things to tell of treasures past.”(86) 

338           A second image that the messengers use for heaven is one of beautiful, natural surroundings, or a garden: “Come, oh weary spirits, refresh at springs of cool water.  Walk in the meadows of sweet flowers.  Sing under the green trees on summer days of youth, and speak such kind words of wisdom….Come in, refresh at cool waters, walk in green meadows.  These are things you know.”(87)   While the garden is nice, nothing is as pleasant as being with God: “In this way is sweet bliss, cool waters and soft music, fresh air and blessed youth.  While all such beauty is yours, nothing is so pleasing as the image of God.”(88)   “Heaven is like a beautiful garden in the early spring.  Soon, the children come into the garden, and so delighted are they with the sweet smell of the flowers and the gentle breezes.  Such happy laughter fills the whole Kingdom of God.  O such joy rests the spirit when the Father comes into this garden to speak of many things.  His children see this spirit of sweet music.  Our God, we are most delighted to be with You.  Come, fill our spirits with Your love.  Sing with us in this beautiful garden, and run and play with us among the flowers.  This is a God who blesses and heals in His Kingdom.”(89)
 
339           A third image used for heaven is music.  Music, as an image, is less concrete and more mystical and fluid: “God is the Master of music.  Very inspirational is our God.  Sweet is His music….In sacred songs of beauty, children of God, live forever with this perfect Being who is God, master of all and blessed in all ways.”(90)   Kindness, which is a spirit of God,(91)  plays for God: “Virtuous saints, Earth children, God sings in your very spirits.  Come sing in such blessed beauty.  In God’s Kingdom is such music.  Blessed and true are the songs of God.  Kind and gentle is our God who waits.  Kindness is with Him.  She sings sweetly for Him in all ways.”(92)    They also write, “You will come into a world of music.  Soon, all people are called into God’s spiritual music.”(93)   The richness of the music we will hear is beyond what we can experience now: “Very sound of Earth, this is music like you never heard.  Blessed, little people, sing this song forever.  Take up your harp and lyre and play.  We are your teachers.  We will teach you a sacred song in the sanctuary of your heart.”(94)
 
340           A fourth image used for heaven is that it is our home: “What is a home?  How do you describe home?  Is it a place where you are loved?  Are you happy and at peace at home?  Best things are at home. Isn’t that right?  You are always welcome, and you are free to do as you please.  This is a good home.  It is a home that is clean and comfortable.  It is a place where you can find food and shelter.  People at home are always laughing and singing.  You can hear the singing as you come up the road.  Small people of Earth, this is where you want to be.  Blessings are felt while you are on your way.  Mom and dad are at the gate to welcome you home.”(95)   

                      Section 5 What Will You do or Have in Heaven? 

341           The Catechism states that “Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.”(96)   The messengers could not agree more as they describe what a wonderful life those who are in heaven will have, the things they will be doing and what they we will have: “It is a wonderful life, and we are filled with it.”(97)   If there is something of Earth you wish to keep, you can do that.(98)   Yet what awaits those who go to heaven will be so much more than what they had on Earth:  “Come and see a wondrous God whose Kingdom is filled with beauty and wonder as are unknown to you.”(99)   “Come see a beautiful place so well cared for and so delightful.”(100)   “Earth people who gather to watch bright lights in the sky, those who desire great flashes of unexpected beauty, come, God has a display of wonder and delight so spectacular that it will thrill you beyond all expectations.  This is a wonderland that is yours to keep.  It will fill you with its existence.  God’s display will make you a part of itself.  You will be a part of this world, and it will be a part of you.”(101)

342           Those in heaven we will have understanding, rest and youth: “Then, you will understand, and there will be no confusion, no doubt.”(102)   In heaven, along with understanding, will come peace(103)  and rest.(104)   Those in heaven will be resting because we desire to rest, not because we are old and worn out.  Those in heaven will be young: “This is you.  You are so young and beautiful.  You are so full of energy and life.”(105)   “You will always be His children who will never grow old or die again.”(106)

343           Those in heaven will have adventure: “His Spirit never lets His children become bored or idle for entertainment.  This is a delightful Spirit you have accepted.  This Spirit understands all of your desires and dreams.”(107)   “Your God is an awesome Being.  His merriment is beyond what any creation has ever known.  Here is mystery to thrill you forever.  When you come to His Kingdom, you will never stop finding adventure.  This is the fulfillment of all dreams.”(108)   If all this was not enough for us to imagine, just fill your spirit up on these last two promises of what heaven has in store for the saints of Earth: “You will never desire for anything again,”(109)  and “when your life begins in Heaven, all reality will be yours.”(110)   Imagine that for saints in heaven, all reality is in their grasp.

344           In heaven there will be great treasures.  Unlike the Earthly treasures of jewels and other costly items that are worthless and cause much worry and trouble, the treasures of heaven are “true treasure not made of such things that cause such worry.”(111)   

345           Like people on Earth, people in heaven will be different from one another: “These people who are in Heaven are real people with likes and dislikes and personalities.  They sing and dance and laugh and cry.  They make decisions and mistakes, but no one sins or disobeys God, for they have seen Him for who He is.”(112)   The Catechism states that “Heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated into Christ.”(113)   That seems to echo the messengers comment that no one in heaven sins because “they have seen Him for who He is.” I must admit I was a little disappointed when I first read that we could still make mistakes in heaven.  Bummer.  But, the more I think about it, if we can mistakes, then that means we are still growing in knowledge.  Nothing in our faith ever asserts that once we make it to heaven we know everything, that is God’s IQ score not ours.

346           In heaven, there will be rejoicing.  It has already been noted(114)   that in heaven there is great rejoicing when a sinner repents on the Earth.  Those in heaven, we will worship God: “Come in and worship with us.”(115)   “Souls of the blessed are singing God’s praises.”(116)   Finally, in heaven, we will love God so much deeper than we do now: “In Heaven, your soul will be so much more in love.  So much more heavenly.  So much more in Heaven than on Earth.”(117)
 
                      Section 6 What Will You not do or Have in Heaven?

347           There will not be any evil or sin in heaven.  It has already been noted that people who are in heaven will make mistakes, but “no one sins or disobeys God, for they have seen Him for who He is.”(118)   In heaven, the messengers assure us that nothing will ever fail or deceive us again,(119)  and “All pain and sorrow shall be wiped away.  All confusion, temptation and sin will be gone.”(120)  

348           With no sinning going on, relationships are going to be better.  As mentioned earlier in our entry into heaven,(121)  the messengers state, “you will wonder why you ever had a grievance with another human being.  The happiness will rush into your heart and fill you with love and kindness….Here, all fighting ceases.  All bitterness fades away.”(122)   With no sinning and abundant love and kindness in our hearts, it is not any wonder that the messengers say that in heaven “all hate and deception will cease.”(123)

349           In heaven the messengers emphatically state what we also profess: that death, disease, suffering, and illness will not exist.  They state that in heaven “all pain will be gone. All thought of death will be over, and disease will be no more.”(124)   “You shall rise up and suffer no more.”(125)   “You will always be His children who will never grow old or die again,”(126)  for “in His Kingdom, there is neither sorrow nor death.”(127)

                      Section 7 What Feelings Will You Have in Heaven?

350           What feelings will those in heaven have?  According to the messengers, one feeling that those in heaven will have is one of thankfulness at the choice they have made to accept Jesus: “When you see Jesus as He is, you will be so thankful that you believed in Him and accepted Him.”(128)   

351           Those in heaven will also have feelings of fulfillment.  Feelings of ecstasy, bliss, and happiness all of which can lead to feelings of satisfaction and fulfillment, are God given feelings that we desire to have on the Earth.  We have mentioned that the desire for riches is good, but misplaced if we focus on the Earthly wealth.(129)  We may often hunt for the feelings of fulfillment in wrong places on the Earth, but the desire for fulfillment is good; for those who are in heaven  will experience these feelings.  Those in heaven will experience ecstasy: “All the desires of a being’s heart are in Heaven.  Here is the place of ecstasy.”(130)   Those in heaven will feel a sustained, perfect bliss as we never have before: “His gift of such inspiration is only a second on the Earth, but lasts forever in Heaven.  Think of a time when such a moment touched your soul, and every fiber of your being wished you could capture that moment forever.  God can make that moment of perfect bliss last forever.”(131)   “It will fill you with its existence,”(132)  and “best of all, you will be so satisfied.”(133)

352           The messengers affirm that those in heaven will be happy: “This is a place where you will be happy.”(134)   “Such happy laughter fills the whole Kingdom of God.”(135)   In heaven “you will be loved so much and treated so specially.”(136)   “The Spirit of God will fill each soul with such peace and joy as mankind has never experienced before.”(137)   “With God’s Spirit, songs of happiness, great peace and joy go on forever.”(138)  
 
                      Section 8 What are the Feelings You Will not Have in Heaven?

353           There will be feelings that saints of Earth will not have in heaven.  According to the messengers those in heaven will not have the feelings of fear of the future.(139)   They will not have any confusion, for they state that “there will be no confusion, no doubt.”(140)   According to the messengers there will be not be any bitterness.(141)    Furthermore, “there is neither pain nor sorrow here.”(142)    

  The next section in Part One   Chapter 5  :  4/5