SCARCITY OR ABUNDANCE? (2)

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I'm typing this post in Newark Airport as I wait for the plane to Pittsburgh to celebrate the funeral mass of my 86 year-old brother, Dick. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of relatives, but not looking forward to the sadness that comes with the hugs.

I'm going to spend the next half-hour reflecting on the different views of death according to the scarcity outlook and the abundance outlook.

AFTER YOU DIE: THE SCARCITY MODEL

When you die, the first thing you see is a big desk behind which is a grumpy old man with a calculator. He checks your i.d. and then weighs up your good works versus your bad ones. You stand there fidgeting, staring at the two doors behind the desk.while the machine decides your eternal destiny. You notice a sign over the golden door on the right: "Maximum capacity 144,000 persons." Now you really start to sweat! Heaven has a limited capacity!

Note:God is not directly involved in this process. God's hands are tied: everything depends  on your previous behavior. God is not the initiator of anything, but can only react to what the creature does or has done. Divine forgiveness has a limit, depending on the number and size of ones sins. If, however, you know that you're not guilty of a serious sins, and that you didn't do a lot of bad things, then you have a shot at the golden door.

This system, presided over by a God whose behavior we can completely understand, makes sense by our usual human standards. "You break, you pay," "You mess with the bull, you get the horns."

God loves you because you are good.

AFTER YOU DIE: THE ABUNDANCE MODEL

When you die, the first thing you see is not a thing but a person: Jesus comes running toward you with his arms wide open, calling you by name (no i.d. necessary), and sweeping you up into a big hug of infinite, abundant love.

Note: If this picture makes God seem too lenient, I want to remind you that this is based on Jesus' portrayal of the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son: The wayward son returns with his tail between his legs, knowing he does not deserve his father's love. But the father is not interested in his son's past sins. He doesn't even wait to hear the list of wrongdoings, nor even his son's fearful apology.

This God is beyond our understanding, paying the workmen who worked in the vineyard for only one hour the same as he paid the men who worked eight. We don't understand this God, so we're uncomfortable with this God.

There is enough forgiveness to go around (and more). Heaven has not limit on its capacity. God is the one in charge: He dispenses love and grace because that's who God is. He does not follow our rules, our scarcity-based system of merit and earning and measuring. This God makes us uncomfortable until we die and this God sweeps us up onto his infinite love.

God loves you not because you are good, but because God is good!

May my brother rest in those infinitely loving arms.

Time to board for Pittsburgh.