Day 139: I Believe In Life Everlasting

Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ. The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts, speak of a final destiny of the soul -a destiny which can be different for some and for others. CCC 1021

In today's reading, the Catechism tackles the next part of the Nicene Creed. At the moment of our death, we will face Christ Jesus to be judged and receive eternal glory with God in heaven (perhaps after some purification), or eternal damnation in hell. Rather chilling how the Catechism puts it: "Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death" (CCC 1022). You cannot avoid it, you cannot lie or cheat your way out of it, everything we have thought, said, and done or didn't do, He knows and will judge us for. In a battle of wits between mortal us and the Immortal, who do you think will triumph? 

For those who pass on from this world in a state of grace, heaven awaits - even if purification for a time beforehand is needed. They will be with Christ and behold the beatific vision forever. The Catechism Compendium describes this as:

By “heaven” is meant the state of supreme and definitive happiness. Those who die in the grace of God and have no need of further purification are gathered around Jesus and Mary, the angels and the saints. They thus form the Church of heaven, where they see God “face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12). They live in a communion of love with the Most Blessed Trinity and they intercede for us. (#209)

For those who chose differently in their lives, eternal separation from God.

The Catechism Companion, Vol II has a nice image of the hoped eternal destination of all believers:

Jesus died and rose from the dead to allow us to go to heaven. Those in heaven had faith in him and were obedient to him; they share his glory... In heaven, the blessed delight forever in being saved and in being in the company of Christ with all those who do God's will. (p. 42)

This image of heaven, inspired by Dante's poem Paradiso, prompts us to reflect on the perfect union in heaven among God and his holy ones (see CCC 1024). (p. 43)