What Are We Made For?
Opening Prayer
Lord,
You created me not for nothing,
but for eternal life.
Strengthen my hope
and lift my mind beyond what is temporary.
Amen.
Part One
What Heaven Is — and Is Not
Heaven is not:
A cloud in the sky.
Endless entertainment.
Escaping reality.
The Church teaches that Heaven is:
Perfect communion with God.
It is the fulfilment of every desire for truth, goodness, and love.
We are made for God.
Every longing for:
Meaning,
Belonging,
Justice,
Beauty,
points beyond this world.
Nothing in this life fully satisfies.
Achievements fade.
Pleasure ends.
Recognition passes.
The restlessness of the human heart suggests
that we are made for something more.
Heaven is not boredom.
It is complete fulfilment.
Pause and Reflect
What do I think Heaven is?
Do I live as if eternity is real?
Part Two
The Resurrection of the Body
The Church teaches that Heaven is not purely spiritual.
At the end of time,
the body will be raised.
This means:
The body matters.
Creation matters.
History matters.
The human person is not meant to remain disembodied.
Just as Christ rose bodily,
so will those united to Him.
Heaven is not escape from creation.
It is its perfection.
If the body is part of the person,
then eternal life must include it.
Consider
If the body is good,
would God abandon it forever?
Does belief in resurrection change how I treat my body now?
Part Three
Why Hope Matters Now
Heaven is not only future reward.
It shapes present decisions.
If life ends at death,
ultimate meaning collapses.
If eternal life is real,
choices matter beyond this moment.
Hope strengthens perseverance.
When suffering appears pointless,
Heaven gives direction.
When injustice seems unresolved,
Heaven promises justice.
The Church teaches that Heaven is the vision of God.
To see God “face to face”
is the fulfilment of the soul.
Nothing greater can be imagined.
Reflect Honestly
Do I live as though earthly success is ultimate?
Would my priorities change
if I truly believed in eternal life?
Part Four
The Danger of Forgetting Eternity
Modern culture often lives as though:
Only this life matters.
Only present comfort counts.
When eternity fades from view:
Morality weakens.
Sacrifice seems pointless.
Faith becomes optional.
The Church insists on speaking of Heaven
because it reminds us:
Life has direction.
You were not created for temporary satisfaction.
You were created for eternal communion.
Hope prevents despair.
It also prevents indifference.
Quiet Reflection
Sit quietly.
Imagine standing before God.
What would matter most?
What would seem small?
Remain in silence.
This Week
Choose one:
• Reflect on what you truly desire in life.
• Read Revelation 21 carefully.
• Consider how eternal hope affects present suffering.
• Pray simply: “Lord, increase my hope.”
Closing Prayer
Lord,
You created me for Yourself.
Guard me from living only for what passes.
Strengthen my hope in eternal life
and guide my steps toward You.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 