Life everlasting

The Christian faith is built upon this conviction: that Jesus rose from the dead and lives on with God in a new kind of life that we too, by faith, are invited to share.

This union with God is what Christians mean by 'heaven'. Since God has created us to be free, this eternal destiny is not one that is forced upon us. With absolute respect for the human will, God allows us to choose. We can either welcome or reject this gift of eternal life.

This does not imply, however, a glib sense of superiority. A Catholic understanding of what it means to 'accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour' includes, not just a once-and-for-all decision, but an ongoing acceptance and re-commitment to Christ throughout our lives.

While we Christians look forward to life after death, we recognise that our earthly life is relevant to our future existence. What we are becoming now as human persons has bearing on what we will become in the future life.

In the wake of Jesus Christ's resurrection, the early Christians caught a glimpse of the original goodness in which they were created. They had a taste of what the world could be like when people lived in love and peace. Before their very eyes they witnessed healings, conversions, reconciliations and other great works of God. They recognised that such a world was none other than the beginnings of the 'kingdom of God'.

Catholics believe that, if people live their lives by Jesus' teachings they will be accepted into Heaven when they die. We also believe that Jesus' resurrection heralded the beginnings of the 'kingdom of God' on earth. The Bible tells of a day of salvation when Christ will come again to bring all things to their ultimate fulfilment.

We look forward to the Last Day. While we know that the hour cannot be predicted, we believe in faith that Christ will return in glory to judge the living and the dead. As Christians, we strive to live each day with hearts and minds that are forever alert to welcome the presence of God.