What is eternity? Is there no passage of time in heaven? Are we just frozen still?How can we make good use of our time here on earth?How can we not be too scrupulous about using our time on earth?Reflect on this: God’s plan for redemption was to come to this earth as a human, to offer His life, and to rise and conquer death. Yet, in the 33 years Jesus was on earth, 30 of them were seemingly hidden and unnoticed. Only 3 of those years were filled with active ministry.When another year, or even another day goes by, we often regret the passing of time. And yet, St. Francis says in the first paragraph, “May time pass on….” How can we better adopt his attitude?How can we embrace Advent and the Christmas season to help bring us the “closest and highest union with God”?
Dec 22, 4:34 PMSimone (Guest): I think we talked a little bit about that already last week. For me eternity is the “eternal NOW”
Dec 22, 4:34 PM
Simone (Guest): a state – that just IS
Dec 22, 4:34 PM
Simone (Guest): outside of time
Dec 22, 4:34 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Eternity is God, in a way
Dec 22, 4:35 PMSimone (Guest): and YES.. Eternity is God.. good way to put it
Dec 22, 4:36 PM
SrSusan (Guest): q Is there no passage of time in heaven? Are we just frozen still?
Dec 22, 4:36 PM
Simone (Guest): so hard to wrap our minds around the concept to be outside of time
Dec 22, 4:36 PM
Simone (Guest): I cannot explain it theologically.. but “frozen still” goes against what I think about eternity. eternity seems still to be dynamic
Dec 22, 4:36 PM
SrSusan (Guest): no passage of time but not frozen either God is movement
Dec 22, 4:37 PMSimone (Guest): exactly- God is not static.. everything that is alive moves in one way or another
Ruth (Guest): hi and bye, Dawn. Enjoy! The holy days.
Dec 22, 4:38 PM
SrSusan (Guest): great mystery!
Dec 22, 4:38 PM
Ruth (Guest): Hi Sister Susan and Simone.
Dec 22, 4:38 PMSimone (Guest): it truly is a mystery – at least to the earth bound mind
Dec 22, 4:40 PM
Simone (Guest): there is a boy.. who is very interested in Victoria.. but she only discusses theology with him.. well mainly
Dec 22, 4:40 PM
Ruth (Guest): Eternity In hell is pictured as being frozen. In Dante anyway.
Dec 22, 4:40 PM
SrSusan (Guest): did not remember that
Dec 22, 4:40 PM
Simone (Guest): he does not believe in God.. yet … but he was afraid of heaven.. because he thought he would be bored to death
Dec 22, 4:40 PM
Ruth (Guest): Interesting!
Simone (Guest): so they called me at midnight one day.. asking why heaven is not considered boring
Dec 22, 4:41 PMSimone (Guest): my way out.. was to answer.. that heaven is outside of time.. that made him think
Dec 22, 4:41 PMSimone (Guest): then he asked.. if heaven is constant joy— is that even considered joy– in the absence of pain?
Dec 22, 4:42 PM
Simone (Guest): Midnight talks are the deepest for the young adults it seems 
Dec 22, 4:42 PM
SrSusan (Guest): good question
Dec 22, 4:42 PM
Simone (Guest): I like that he is really wrestling with the questions
Dec 22, 4:42 PM
Ruth (Guest): I think That there is something to the image of heavenly choirs. And music is all about time timing of sound spaces between sounds.
Dec 22, 4:42 PM
Ruth (Guest): Love it!
Dec 22, 4:42 PM
Simone (Guest): oh wow Ruth.. that is amazing.. I have to copy your answer and send it to Victoria.. Music is her life.
Dec 22, 4:42 PM
SrSusan (Guest): that is theologically interesting Ruth
Dec 22, 4:43 PMSrSusan (Guest): that’s a great thing to think about
Dec 22, 4:44 PM
Simone (Guest): now.. I have a problem though.. can music be heard outside of time? doesn’t music need sequences? which implies time?
Dec 22, 4:44 PM
Simone (Guest): I do not expect an answer.. I am just thinking out loud here
Dec 22, 4:44 PM
SrSusan (Guest): the great unity and only one number in heaven the number ONE
ec 22, 4:45 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Heavenly music must be very different than earthly music
Dec 22, 4:45 PM
Simone (Guest): I think we are always tempted to break heaven down to be experienced with the senses we have now – here on earth.. but I think.. we experience totally different in heaven then.. oh.. the Joy to experience all of that.
Dec 22, 4:45 PM
Ruth (Guest): But to a person who has been poor and hungry. Heaven might be a freshly toasted bagel with melted butter on it!
Dec 22, 4:45 PM
Simone (Guest): I think we will understand GOD in the heavenly music
Dec 22, 4:46 PM
Simone (Guest): like.. every desire fulfilled Ruth?
Dec 22, 4:46 PM
SrSusan (Guest): St Juan Diego heard heavenly music when the Blessed Mother came
ec 22, 4:46 PMSimone (Guest): St. Paul heard heavenly music I think
Dec 22, 4:47 PM
SrSusan (Guest): This si more interesting than the posted questions
Dec 22, 4:47 PM
Simone (Guest): but the questions lead us there
Dec 22, 4:47 PM
SrSusan (Guest): true
Dec 22, 4:48 PM
SrSusan (Guest): q How can we make good use of our time here on earth
Dec 22, 4:48 PM
Simone (Guest): preparing for eternity?
Dec 22, 4:49 PMRuth (Guest): I don’t worry too much about what heaven would be like because I know who made us and that he knows That were made for him. To be with him will be my heaven. He knows how to take care of the details.
Dec 22, 4:50 PMSimone (Guest): I agree Ruth. I do not daydream about heaven too. Well.. only when my physical pain gets really bad maybe.. but like you, I know that He will lead me to the final “green pastures”
Dec 22, 4:50 PMSimone (Guest): I think we use our time best here on earth.. by shedding most of the things that separate us from GOD and from the desired unity with Him
Dec 22, 4:51 PM
Ruth (Guest): Thinking out loud, maybe a good way to prepare for heaven would be to host a party at which everyone has a really wonderful time!
Dec 22, 4:51 PM
SrSusan (Guest): consecrating our moments to Him
Dec 22, 4:51 PM
SrSusan (Guest): and loving others
Dec 22, 4:51 PM
Simone (Guest): oh.. I love this.. “consecrating our moments to Him”
Dec 22, 4:52 PMSimone (Guest): sounds like you are thinking about this party Ruth.. what would you do?
Dec 22, 4:53 PM
SrSusan (Guest): How can we not be too scrupulous about using our time on earth
Dec 22, 4:53 PM
Simone (Guest): reminding ourselves, that JOY is an expression of the Holy Spirit?
Dec 22, 4:54 PMSimone (Guest): sometimes I have the feeling that some people think.. if it does not hurt or is boring it cannot be from GOD.. whereas I think.. that the most exciting things are the ones that are coming from God
ec 22, 4:55 PMSrSusan (Guest): Isnt that the same thing- not sure I understand
Dec 22, 4:56 PM
Simone (Guest): well.. some people – mostly those who have a tendency to be scrupulous -think that God always wants them to do the things, they want least– or that are the most painful choices in their lives. But although I think that suffering is a natural part of our Christian life – God does not want everything to be hard for us
Dec 22, 4:57 PM
Simone (Guest): is that now easier to understand what I meant Sister?
Dec 22, 4:57 PM
SrSusan (Guest): ah I got it thanks
Dec 22, 4:57 PMRuth (Guest): In a dream today I just invited a friend over for coffee and I had only a little bit of fresh coffee. The rest was Years old and at least six maybe seven or eight people showed up one of them quite demanded and I just did my best to Create a good, clean atmoshere. My tiny kitchenette turned into a big kitchen with several people working together.
Dec 22, 4:58 PM
SrSusan (Guest): the mustard seed kitchen
Dec 22, 4:58 PM
Simone (Guest): hmm.. interesting dream Ruth.. How do you interpret it?
Dec 22, 4:58 PMSimone (Guest): I like that “mustard seed kitchen”
Dec 22, 4:59 PMSimone (Guest): could the kitchen be your heart? Expanding?
Dec 22, 5:00 PMSimone (Guest): not that I think you have a small heart Ruth.. not at all
Dec 22, 5:01 PMRuth (Guest): I like your interpretations, Simone.
Dec 22, 5:03 PM
Simone (Guest): thank you Ruth
Dec 22, 5:03 PM
SrSusan (Guest): .When another year, or even another day goes by, we often regret the passing of time. And yet, St. Francis says in the first paragraph, “May time pass on….” How can we better adopt his attitude?
Dec 22, 5:03 PM
Ruth (Guest): And your renaming it, Sister, “mustard seed kitchen.”
God’s plan for redemption was to come to this earth as a human, to offer His life, and to rise and conquer death. Yet, in the 33 years Jesus was on earth, 30 of them were seemingly hidden and unnoticed. Only 3 of those years were filled with active ministry.When another year, or even another day goes by, we often regret the passing of time. And yet, St. Francis says in the first paragraph, “May time pass on….” How can we better adopt his attitude?
Dec 22, 5:05 PM
Ruth (Guest): I regret not getting done even a small fraction of what I intended to do. Time does just pass on.
Dec 22, 5:05 PMSimone (Guest): Ruth.. from all people.. you have done SO MUCH in your life.. and with your life. It is hard for me to think you have regrets on this. But I totally believe you of course
Dec 22, 5:07 PM
SrSusan (Guest): st Francis full sentence is May time pass on, time with which we ourselves gradually pass so as to be transformed into the glory of the children of God
Dec 22, 5:07 PM
Simone (Guest): I must say.. I discovered very late in my Christian life the hidden years of Christ. It was actually through the time when I did the Spiritual Exercises from St. Ignatius of Loyola. I find them now fascinating
Dec 22, 5:08 PMSimone (Guest): As for the quote of St. Francis.. yes.. that’s how I understood it. .the desire that time passes on.. so we come closer to our desired goal.. unity with God
Dec 22, 5:09 PM
Simone (Guest): As for time passing on.. or regrets. .I think we often look at our life. or lives of others.. under the lense of “productivity”.. whereas I think God looks at it through the lens of ” Becoming”
Dec 22, 5:09 PM
SrSusan (Guest): https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=la+septima+corona&gs_lcrp=EgRlZGdlKgcIBRBFGMIDMgcIABBFGMIDMgcIARBFGMIDMgcIAhBFGMIDMgcIAxBFGMIDMgcIBBBFGMIDMgcIBRBFGMIDMgcIBhBFGMIDMgcIBxBFGMID0gEKOTM5NTUyajBqMagCCLACAQ&PC=HCTS&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dla%2bseptima%2bcorona%26gs_lcrp%3dEgRlZGdlKgcIBRBFGMIDMgcIABBFGMIDMgcIARBFGMIDMgcIAhBFGMIDMgcIAxBFGMIDMgcIBBBFGMIDMgcIBRBFGMIDMgcIBhBFGMIDMgcIBxBFGMID0gEKOTM5NTUyajBqMagCCLACAQ%26FORM%3dANNTA1%26PC%3dHCTS&mmscn=vwrc&mid=5FE6F432263918351A375FE6F432263918351A37&FO
Dec 22, 5:09 PM
Simone (Guest): Thanks for the link. I copy it quickly
Dec 22, 5:11 PM
Simone (Guest): The gospel reading was THE VISITATION today. Felt like coming home
Dec 22, 5:11 PM
SrSusan (Guest): yes and yesterday too
Dec 22, 5:12 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Time passes so quickly as we age
Dec 22, 5:12 PM
SrSusan (Guest): it does get you thinking about eternity
Dec 22, 5:12 PM
Simone (Guest): coming back to the life of Jesus.. I remembered at one point I thought.. if we only would have needed the death of Jesus – Jesus could have died much younger.
Dec 22, 5:12 PM
SrSusan (Guest): good thought
Dec 22, 5:13 PMSrSusan (Guest): we needed all He did
Dec 22, 5:13 PMSimone (Guest): But .. he needed to have lived a life.. that he could give up OUT OF LOVE.. cause it was the LOVE that filled this death that saved us
ec 22, 5:13 PM
Simone (Guest): oh.. did we loose Ruth?
Dec 22, 5:14 PM
SrSusan (Guest): oh yes looks like she is not there
Dec 22, 5:14 PM
Simone (Guest): she often comes back though. .I think she will be back soon
Dec 22, 5:14 PM
SrSusan (Guest): maybe computer problem
Dec 22, 5:14 PM
Simone (Guest): sometimes – a wrong button clicked.. maybe she was trying to look at the link from the video
Dec 22, 5:14 PM
SrSusan (Guest): could be
Dec 22, 5:15 PM
Ruth (Guest): There is a loud noise in the garage under me I think you better go investigate. I’ll be right back.
Dec 22, 5:15 PM
Simone (Guest): ok RUTH.. go
Dec 22, 5:15 PM
SrSusan (Guest): oh yes
Dec 22, 5:15 PM
Simone (Guest): that is strange.. Ruth lives alone
ec 22, 5:17 PM
Simone (Guest): Ok. good idea
Dec 22, 5:17 PM
SrSusan (Guest): How can we embrace Advent and the Christmas season to help bring us the “closest and highest union with God”?
Dec 22, 5:18 PM
SrSusan (Guest): meditating deeply on the beautiful antiphons can help
Dec 22, 5:18 PM
Simone (Guest): well.. it seems whenever I try my best to come “closest and highest union with God” I feel more distant.. and then .. I do not even try that hard.. and God allows me to dwell in most lovely consolations. where I just know, We are now one.
Dec 22, 5:19 PM
Simone (Guest): I think my expectations are often an obstacle
Dec 22, 5:19 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I am not sure we know when we are in the highest union
Dec 22, 5:20 PM
Simone (Guest): well.. I do not say I have had the highest union.. but I was graced with prayer times.. that made me feel, that God has entered me and I had entered him.
Dec 22, 5:20 PM
Simone (Guest): Everything OK Ruth?
Dec 22, 5:20 PM
SrSusan (Guest): A real grace
Dec 22, 5:20 PMSimone (Guest): only grace
ec 22, 5:20 PMSimone (Guest): What helped me in the past and also this season of Advent.. is intentional silence
Dec 22, 5:21 PM
SrSusan (Guest): the stillness
Dec 22, 5:22 PM
Simone (Guest): yes.. the beauty of solitude too
Dec 22, 5:22 PM
Simone (Guest): Be still… and know that I am God
Dec 22, 5:22 PM
SrSusan (Guest): we had no children here this year as in the past when the school was open it was very quiet here
The Living Jesus Chat
Simone