Times Like These, We Need To Fix Our Gaze Upon Heaven

“Heaven is fixing our gaze  upon Christ; hell is simply choosing to look the other way.”

Let us fix our gaze on Jesus. Look to no other.  Do not be swayed to turn either to the left or to the right.  Do not be disheartened by the many voices that move you to be anxious and afraid.  Keep your eyes on Christ for only His loving gaze can help you.

Many times, we become tempted to look at things that rob us of courage and take away our peace.  We become curious to look back at the things of the world, at the problems that threaten us, and instead of holding on to hope, we become so immersed in our worries that we could hardly turn away.

St. Peter was able to walk on water through the Lord’s command, but after seeing the strong wind, he started to sink in fear.

“Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’” – Matthew 14:31, WEBBE

Never make the mistake of lifting your eyes away from Jesus.  Never think that by your own strength you can defeat the foes that surround you or the darkness the looms ahead.

Looking at our troubles often magnifies them and we do not see them for what they really are.  But when we look at our Lord, we see how much bigger He is than all our problems and sufferings altogether.  We find strength when we look at Christ.  In Him is our hope and our peace.

“Let us… remember Peter: three times he denied Jesus, precisely when he should have been closest to him; and when he hits bottom he meets the gaze of Jesus who patiently, wordlessly, says to him: “Peter, don’t be afraid of your weakness, trust in Me.” Peter understands, he feels the loving gaze of Jesus and he weeps. How beautiful is this gaze of Jesus — how much tenderness is there! Brothers and sisters, let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God!” – Pope Francis

There is only one way to gain heaven: it is to look at Jesus without fail.  Only by looking at Him can we find strength, hope and consolation.  Only by looking at His gaze can we really understand  what love is—what true happiness means.

If we look at the world, all that we may see is a looming darkness. We see injustice everywhere; we see chaos, lies and anxiety. Looking at the world, we forget where our true future is.

Looking at Jesus, we do not despair even amidst the troubles of the world.

In Christ, we remember how fleeting and small they are.  With God, all things are possible, and all things work for our good—even our many sufferings.

Indeed, by looking at Jesus, we remember our true home, which is heaven.  Our hearts are filled with foretastes of its warmth.

We know how frail we are, but we hold on because we have Someone who will always be there for us. We do not focus on ourselves – we fix our gaze upon Him! We rest upon His infinite mercy and compassion.

Jesus is the light that guides our way and enlightens our darkness.

Without Him, we instantly fall.  With Him, we rise again.  We are kept safe in His unfailing love.

“Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.” – Hebrews 12:2, GNT

“Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.” – Colossians 3:2 (WEB)

“I look forward, not to what lies ahead of me in this life and will surely pass away, but to my eternal goal. I am intent upon this one purpose, not distracted by other aims, and with this goal in view I press on, eager for the prize, God’s heavenly summons. Then I shall listen to the sound of Your praises and gaze at Your beauty ever present, never future, never past. But now my years are but sighs. You, O Lord, are my only solace. You, my Father, are eternal. But I am divided between time gone by and time to come, and its course is a mystery to me. My thoughts, the intimate life of my soul, are torn this way and that in the havoc of change. And so it will be until I am purified and melted by the fire of Your love and fused into one with You.” – St. Augustine, Confessions

The above post is an excerpt from the free e-book “What Should You Look Forward To In Heaven?”