We know the Trinity because God has revealed the mystery of who God is over time, first to the Jewish people, His chosen people, and then through Jesus, who came to save all those who believe in Him. After the Resurrection and Ascension and Pentecost, the Holy Spirit then taught the believers more about who God is and what God desires for us. And today the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church so that we remain united to the Lord and to one another.
God created us for one reason: so that we might know, love and serve God in this life so as to be happy with him forever in the next. God wants us in heaven, and God has given us everything we need to get there, but because of free will, it is ultimately up to us whether we get there or not. Life with God forever is heaven, life without God forever is hell, and both are possibilities for each of us.
Since God is a mystery of Three Persons that is better pondered than preached, let me instead offer three things that are needed to put us on the path to heaven.
1. We need to obey God. As the saying goes, there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. We owe everything to God and the one thing God asks in response is obedience. Moses told the people in the first reading, “You must keep God’s statutes and commandments” and that is true for us. All that the Lord has told us and that the Church teaches has to be listened to and obeyed. Why? Because God said so and God knows what is good for us and God loves us. It is similar to a 5 year old (or even a 15 year old) arguing with their mother or father. In the end, there has to be obedience. And when there isn’t, there has to be repentance and sincere desire to change, not to mention confession.
2. We need to trust Jesus. He is like the best big brother any of us could imagine, or the best friend or the best mentor. Jesus also knows what is best for us and wants nothing but to help us, especially when we are suffering. Jesus knows what it is like to be human, and when we trust him, He is able to make us the best person we can be.
3. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit wants to direct us in our lives and show us the way to holiness. The Spirit wants to remind us about Jesus’ words and actions and the Spirit can give us the grace we need to imitate Jesus. And that is what life is all about for us – to imitate Jesus.
We will not get to heaven unless we obey, trust and listen to God. We have to live according to God’s will for us; living as we want, doing what we want, when we want, rather than what God wants will lead us to hell.
We will not get to heaven unless we seek to know our Triune God: the Father, the Son, Jesus, our Brother, and the Holy Spirit, our Helper and Guide.
God has to come first in our lives. There is nothing mysterious about that. We need to pray and ask the Lord what we need to change in our lives. We should ask Him how we are sinning or offending Him. God will show us and will let us know what needs to be done. And the Lord will offer grace so that we can do what is needed.
God wants nothing more than to have us in heaven. But because of the gift of free will and God's desire to have us love Him freely, we have to do our part. Living for God now is necessary for living with God in eternity.
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