College Chaplain

Our citizenship is in heaven

The old farmer from the countryside who was visiting a big city for the first time with his son stood speechless before the elevator of a big hotel, watching in wonder as an older woman got into the elevator and, within minutes, a beautiful young woman came out. He called out to his son, who was registering at the reception. "Son, come on here, put your mother into that miracle machine immediately. It will transform her into a beautiful young lady." Mountains are usually a place of peace, rest, vacation, and break, where one goes to move away from the world and its constant activities. In Sacred Scriptures, mountains are known to be places of prayers. 

Moses went up to the mountain (Mount Sinai) to speak to God. Many prophets in the bible sought refuge or had powerful encounters with God on the mountain. Mountains are powerful symbols of encounters with God. Hence, when we speak of mountains, we expect an encounter with the divine. So, the psalmist says, "I lift my eyes, to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from You Maker of heaven, Creator of the earth”. Like an ordinary mountain top experience, an encounter with the Lord strengthens, renews, and prepares us for the mission God entrusted to us as we live out our daily Christian life. In the life of Jesus Christ, after His day's hectic schedule, He went to the mountain to pray and be in union with His Father; this time, he took his disciples with him. In their presence, he was transformed, and the disciple got a glimpse of what their immortality would be like after this world. 

The experience was so real and powerful that Peter felt there was no more need of descending from the mountain to continue with the mundane things of the world. He wanted to remain there forever. But this encounter or experience was a reminder to the apostles and, in extension to us, that we are citizens not of this world but heaven. Just as God promised to make Abraham a nation of people as countless as the stars and give them (Abraham’s children) the land of Canaan to dwell in, in Christ, God has promised land and a people. We are the people, everyone incorporated into the Church by baptism. 

The land is our heavenly homeland. As St. Paul said, "our citizenship is in heaven. "St. Paul tells the early Christians they must live now as citizens of heaven by imitating Christ. What is that like? It is by loving God and our neighbour.  Love of God demands that we pray to God, primarily in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharistic Sacrament, making us one in Christ.

And the love of neighbour demands that we extend the fruits of our prayer to those around us through forgiveness, genuine care, and almsgiving. This gradually transforms us into faithful citizens of heaven who live in the world but with our hearts set in heaven.

Cyprian Onuorah