The Christian is supposed to “look for the things that are in heaven” (Col 3:1, JB); but how does he do this if he does not know what heaven is like?

How does a newborn baby think about what the world is like beyond the womb?

One cannot hope to look forward to his destination if he cannot fathom it.

Or, as Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring bravely declared, “I will take the Ring” before pausing in uncertainty and humbly admitting, “…though I do not know the way” (see source below).

So how does the Christian “know the way”… especially when it is full of perils?

The Spirit of Truth

Thankfully, like Frodo, the Christian does not have to rely on himself, wandering aimlessly and getting (completely) lost along his journey of life.

Jesus, the Christ of God, said He would send help to His followers the night He established the sacraments of the holy priesthood and the holy Eucharist at the Last Supper.

The primary assistance the Christian receives is called the “Spirit of Truth”. I have talked about Him in recent blog posts.

It is important for the Christian to realize he is not left alone to wander through the darkness of this world, even in the absence of human companionship.

He has the Spirit of Truth Who will, and does lead him throughout his life until the end.

And, if he allows himself to be led, this same Spirit will lead him to the “complete truth” (John 16:7,13), which is ultimately found in heaven.

This “Spirit of Truth” is the One who anointed Jesus as the Christ (in Greek, “the Anointed One”) at His baptism and is the same Spirit who strengthens the Catholic throughout every stage of life, including profound ways at his baptism, confirmation, ordination to the priesthood, in holy matrimony and through anointing of the sick (CCC 1287,1289).

A hidden wisdom

The fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, integrity, forbearance, gentleness, faith, modesty, temperance and chastity) that the Christian enjoys all have their origins in a heavenly realm.

Though he is not exempt from experiencing the affects of the world’s miseries, through the Holy Spirit, the Christian experiences these fruits even now, amidst the chaos and sufferings of this world.

Because of this, he knows his life in this world is not the end; his hope lies in the world to come.

And the hidden wisdom he receives is a glimpse of the glory to come when he dies, when the world is renewed at the end of all time (Rev 21:1).

It is by this wisdom the Christian can hope that “what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9).

Glimpses of heaven

No matter what is going on in his life, thankfully, the Christian has control over his imagination, and therefore, has the ability to contemplate the things of heaven while still on earth because he can see evidence of its existence.

Because God is outside of time, we can observe traces of His goodness, beauty and truth even now that can never be completely obliterated until the world meets its end.

Tastes of heaven include “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable,” excellent or “worthy of praise” (Phil 4:8).

So the next time you receive a hug from a dear friend, behold the splendor of a morning sunrise, smell the fragrance of jasmine, taste the floral notes of a smooth glass of wine, hear the laughter of a small child, or experience the beauty of a reverent Mass, heaven has come to earth–if even for a fleeting moment–to awaken our hearts to recognize and yearn for home.

Source: J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, mass market ed., (New York: Del Rey, 2012 ), 303.