Podcasts about Beatific vision

Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6Today's Gospel contains one of Christ's more difficult teachings. At first glance, His words seem harsh. Yet they reveal a profound truth: the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven require a heart properly disposed to receive them. Divine truths are not to be offered indiscriminately, especially to those who would treat them with scorn or hostility. Faith is essential to receive and understand the deeper mysteries of God. Jesus expressed a similar principle at the Last Supper when He told the Twelve: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth” (John 16:12–13).Though Jesus, as the eternal Word of God, possessed perfect and complete knowledge of divine truth, He did not reveal everything to His disciples all at once. Had He done so, they might have been overwhelmed. Even His closest followers often struggled to grasp His teachings, misunderstanding His words and resisting difficult truths. Yet Christ unveils the mysteries of His Kingdom gradually, according to each person's ability to receive them.The divine mysteries are so deep, vast, and profound that we will only fully comprehend them when we behold God face to face in the Beatific Vision. Until then, His deeper truths remain veiled. This does not mean we should cease seeking them; rather, as we grow in faith and knowledge of God, He lifts the veil little by little, drawing us closer to Himself. As we progress in holiness, He perfects within us the spiritual Gift of Wisdom, which ultimately deepens our love for Him.The pearls Jesus refers to symbolize these divine mysteries—treasures of divine Wisdom that must be sought, cherished, and received with reverence. This principle of gradual revelation is also seen in the ministry of Saint Paul. After his dramatic conversion, Paul received extraordinary spiritual insights, yet he recognized that his listeners were not always ready for the fullness of divine teaching. To the Corinthians, he wrote: “Brothers, I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid food, because you were unable to take it” (1 Corinthians 3:1–2).Like Saint Paul, when God grants us glimpses of His divine Wisdom, we must treasure these revelations, ponder them in faith, and allow Him to deepen His communication with us. At the same time, as we share our faith with others, we must be mindful of their openness and capacity to receive what is holy—the pearls of divine truth. Though the saving message of the Gospel must be preached to all, the deepest mysteries are attained only through prayer and an interior receptivity to grace.When Jesus warns, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine…”, He is not discouraging evangelization. Rather, He is teaching us that not everyone is immediately receptive to the hidden mysteries of the Gospel. Some might reject it outright, treat it with indifference, or even respond with hostility. Thus, just as Saint Paul recognized the need to nourish spiritual infants with milk, not solid food, we too must exercise prudence in sharing the deepest divine truths, ensuring that they are offered in a way that hearts are prepared to receive. Reflect today on your own openness to God's eternal truth. Are you like an infant in need of spiritual milk? If so, drink that milk eagerly, allowing it to nourish your soul. As you mature in faith, devote more time to prayerful contemplation of God's Word, seeking His wisdom with a receptive heart. If God entrusts you with the role of feeding others, do so with love and gentleness, discerning the pearls God wants you to share. Only by first being receptive ourselves will we be prepared to be the instruments and evangelists that God calls us to be. Lord of Eternal Wisdom, the mysteries of faith are vast and beyond my comprehension without Your grace. Draw me ever closer to You, unveiling Your hidden presence and the precious pearls of Your Truth. Deepen my understanding, that I may ponder Your mysteries with a receptive heart. As I grow in faith, use me as You will to nourish others according to their need, leading them ever deeper into Your divine Wisdom. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Our Eucharistic Lord, by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

If the beatific vision is the mind’s eye seeing the divine essence, then what does the beatific vision have to do with love? Could it be that the beatific vision… Download Audio

Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20This statement would have been shocking to Jesus' audience. At that time, the scribes and Pharisees were well-known for their meticulous observance of the Law of Moses, attending scrupulously to even the smallest details. They prided themselves on their strict adherence and often made their “righteousness” highly visible, earning them great respect among the people as models of holiness and fidelity to the covenant. However, their fidelity was often purely external, lacking the interior disposition of love and worship of God, which is the heart of the covenant. For this reason, Jesus spoke bluntly to the people, even in the presence of the scribes and Pharisees, declaring that their level of righteousness was insufficient to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.Imagine the humiliation felt by these religious leaders. Jesus' words would have stung deeply, confronting them with the inadequacy of their righteousness. Such a confrontation can lead to one of two responses: Either the sting of humiliation fosters the virtue of humility, repentance, and conversion, or it magnifies pride, leading to anger and rejection. While some of the scribes and Pharisees might have chosen the path of humility and repentance, the majority likely did not.Jesus followed up this statement with a teaching on anger and how it can move from an interior disposition to severe hatred. While that teaching is important, it is also useful to pause and place ourselves in the shoes of the scribes and Pharisees, pondering how we would have reacted if we were them. Many of them had spent their whole lives studying the Law, following it, and teaching others to do the same. When Jesus came along, He essentially told them that much of what they had been doing was worthless and fruitless because they were not following the will of God. Place yourself in their shoes.Consider your ability—or inability—to endure the humiliation that those religious leaders felt. Imagine that you had put great time and effort into cultivating a particular moral and spiritual attitude and approach to your faith, only for Jesus to reveal that you have not been listening to God at all, but have gone astray from His will. Hearing such a holy rebuke would be painful and humiliating, requiring profound humility to accept. Imagine further that you listened to all that Jesus said to you. You felt the sting of wounded pride and self-righteousness, but you humbled yourself, repented, and began to change. When that happens, external humiliation produces internal humility and bears an abundance of good fruit. When it doesn't happen, we reject the truth and become even more obstinate in our ways, allowing pride to harden our hearts further.In truth, none of us is righteous enough to attain the Kingdom of Heaven by our own efforts. We all fall short of fulfilling God's will and cooperating with His grace. The real question is not whether we need ongoing change, but whether we are willing to receive Jesus' loving rebuke and change our ways. Saint Faustina, in her Diary, stated, “O my Jesus, nothing is better for the soul than humiliations” (#593). Humiliations are a gift from God because they reveal our self-righteousness and pride, and invite us to rely more fully on His grace. The sting of having that pointed out is itself a humiliation, but that humiliation has the power to lead us to profound humility, repentance, and ultimately, holiness.Reflect today on the many humbling truths God desires to reveal to you. Each humiliation, though painful, is a step on the path to true righteousness and holiness, drawing us closer to the Beatific Vision in Heaven. Only in Heaven will we be fully purified of every sin. Until that day, we must embrace every humiliation God allows, recognizing these painful truths as gifts that correct us, purify us, and set us firmly on the path to true righteousness. Lord of all Truth, there are many truths I need to hear, even when they are difficult. Please humble me by speaking directly to my soul and revealing my sin. As You do, grant me the grace to listen with an open heart and respond generously to Your call. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Sermon on the Mount by Fra AngelicoSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Read OnlineAs Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, “How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said: The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.' David himself calls him ‘lord'; so how is he his son?” The great crowd heard this with delight. Mark 12:35–37Today's Gospel presents us with one of Jesus' many teachings in the Temple area just days before His Passion. Just prior to this Gospel, Jesus praised one of the scribes for his understanding of Scripture, saying to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). He then turned His attention to a large crowd and revealed the limited understanding that many of the scribes and teachers of the Law had about the Messiah.Though the scribes rightly understood from Scripture that the Messiah would be born of King David's lineage, their understanding of the Messiah was incomplete. Many believed that, as David's descendant, the Messiah would be a great king who would lead the Jewish nation militarily and free them from Roman oppression. What they failed to understand was that the Messiah was not only a “Son of David” but also divine.Jesus quotes Psalm 110:1, one of the most frequently cited Old Testament passages in the New Testament: “The LORD says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies your footstool.'” King David, who was inspired by the Holy Spirit, refers to the Messiah as his lord or master, expressing that the Messiah would not only be his descendant but also greater than David. Furthermore, David reveals that the LORD—the Father in Heaven—would exalt the Messiah to a position of divine authority.To “sit at my right hand” was a favor granted only to one who was divine; not even David could sit at God's right hand. To “make your enemies your footstool” was a reference to the ancient practice by which a victorious king would have his enemies lay prostrate before him, placing his foot upon them as a symbol of absolute dominion. However, Jesus' kingship is not merely earthly but spiritual and eternal. The true enemies placed under His feet are sin, death, and the demons (1 Corinthians 15:25–26, Colossians 2:15).Though we understand Jesus' identity as the Son of David, the Messiah, and God Himself, it is important to humbly recognize that, like the scribes, we, too, struggle to fully grasp the mysteries of faith. In Heaven, when we see God face to face in the Beatific Vision, we will receive a full and immediate understanding of Him in His essence, far greater than anything we can comprehend today. Though this full revelation will be given to us at that time, we must continuously strive for greater clarity now.The first and most important foundational step toward that end is to prayerfully reflect on the Scriptures. This is more than merely acquiring intellectual knowledge of Scripture, as the scribes did. Study is a human effort, and while valuable, the only way to arrive at true understanding of Scripture—and of God, Whom Scripture reveals—is through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Here and now, we must be open to illumination that comes only from God.Many of the scribes criticized Jesus because they relied solely on their own interpretation of Scripture. Most of them failed to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their study. Perhaps the one scribe who spoke to Jesus with understanding and was “not far from the kingdom of God” stirred Jesus' Sacred Heart with a longing that all scribes—and all of us—would approach His Word with the same openness.Reflect today on the scribes and see yourself in them. Pray for the gift of divine illumination as you spend time in God's Word, seeking to follow the example of the one scribe who understood. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding so that, like those listening to Jesus in the Temple, you, too, may understand His Word “with delight.”My revealing Lord, I pray that one day I may be blessed with the Beatific Vision, beholding You face to face and comprehending all mysteries in the fullness of Your divine gift. Until that day, open my mind to understand and my heart to respond to You. Reveal Yourself and Your Truth to me, that I may delight in You now and forevermore. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Christ the Universal King by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Free Grace Broadcaster Summer 2026 The Beatific Vision

Read OnlineSome Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone's brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.' Now there were seven brothers…” Mark 12:18–20The Sadducees were a Jewish sect composed mainly of the Temple leaders, including many priests. They held theological and political views that differed significantly from those of the Pharisees. The Sadducees accepted only the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) as authoritative, whereas the Pharisees recognized the entire Hebrew Scriptures, including the Prophets, historical books, and Wisdom literature, and upheld a highly developed oral tradition based on centuries of rabbinic interpretation. This led to tension and theological disagreements.The Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead, the immortality of the soul, and the existence of angels—all of which were central to Pharisaic belief—because they believed those truths were not found in the Torah. They believed that God's blessings were given for this life and that when one died, the soul perished with the body.Despite their theological disputes with the Pharisees, both groups found common ground in opposing Jesus. Today's Gospel illustrates the Sadducees' failed attempt to trap Jesus in a legalistic theological dilemma, using the law of Levirate marriage (cf. Deuteronomy 25:5–10) to challenge the doctrine of the resurrection.The Sadducees took their turn to trap Jesus not only to prove Jesus wrong but also to justify their beliefs before the Pharisees. They pose an extreme hypothetical scenario, in which seven brothers successively marry the same woman, each dying childless and ask: “At the resurrection when they arise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her” (Mark 12:23). Their intent is not to seek truth, but to mock the very idea of life after death.Jesus responds, not with complicated legal reasoning, but with divine wisdom that lifts their minds beyond earthly concerns. He begins by rebuking their limited understanding: “You do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Mark 12:24). Then, He offers a twofold response (cf. Mark 12:24–27).First, Jesus addresses the question of marriage after the resurrection: “When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven.” After the resurrection of the dead, human existence will be radically transformed. Earthly institutions such as marriage—good and holy as they are—belong to this world, not the next. In the life to come, every soul will find its perfect fulfillment in the Beatific Vision. Second, Jesus refutes their denial of the resurrection of the dead using the Torah: “As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead but of the living.”Though the Sadducees had built their entire theology on the Torah, they failed to recognize the implication of God's words to Moses. If God is “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” then these patriarchs must still be alive in His presence. God did not say, “I was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” but “I AM.” With this statement, Jesus shatters their disbelief and unveils the reality of eternal life. Perhaps even the Pharisees enjoyed His answer. Reflect today on the central truth Jesus revealed to the Sadducees: The soul is immortal, and those who die in God's grace will rise again to live eternally in His presence, in perfect communion with all the angels and saints. This truth must always be our focal point in life. Too often, we live as the Sadducees did—as if this life is an end in itself. By turning our eyes toward eternity, we not only better our lives here and now, but we also live in the hope of Heaven, knowing that all we do now must be for the sake of eternal treasure in the life to come.My eternal Lord, I believe in the promise of Heaven and the coming of the New Heavens and Earth, when all souls will rise and receive their eternal reward or judgment. As I journey through this life, keep my eyes fixed on eternity, and let my hope be firmly rooted in the resurrection to come. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: The Sermon on the Mount By Guillaume FouaceSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Free Grace Broadcaster Issue 276 Beatific Vision, Article 1of 9

Read Online“Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24You are the Father's gift to Jesus the Son. What an amazing reality to understand! This profound truth is at the heart of today's Gospel in which Jesus speaks of the unique and intimate relationship between the Father, the Son, and all those who believe in Him.Today's Gospel continues Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, offered to the Father at the conclusion of the Last Supper, marking His final words recorded in John's Gospel before the beginning of His Passion. This beautiful prayer encapsulates Jesus' entire mission and identity, expressing His deep intimacy with the Father and His longing for unity between Himself, the Father, and all those who believe in Him. Through this prayer, Jesus reveals the nature of His relationship with the Father, the unity He desires for His followers, and the eternal glory that is to come for those who are united in Him.The line above not only expresses intimacy between the Father and the Son but also incorporates all the faithful into that intimate relationship. This was and is Jesus' mission. His love for and union with the Father existed from all eternity. Nothing could change that perfect love. It was, is, and always will be a love so deep and strong that God, in His eternal love, chose to create us to share in that love. Though this love is completely gratuitous on God's part, freely given and unmerited by us, it's beautiful to hear Jesus speak of our invitation into the love He shares with the Father as the Father's gift to the Son. We are not seen as estranged or separate but as gifts freely given and received.In everyday language, a “present” is understood as something that is expected from another, such as on a birthday. In theological terms, a “gift” carries a richer meaning. A gift is something given freely, without expectation of return, and signifies the giver's love and goodness. A gift, in this sense, is a manifestation of divine love and generosity. It's not simply an exchange of material items, but a relational exchange—a movement of love between the giver and the receiver. The Father and the Son's exchange of love is so perfect that everything they have is entirely given to the other, without reservation or expectation of anything in return. This eternal giving and receiving of love is the foundation of the divine communion between them, and it is from that love that the Holy Spirit—the expression of their shared perfect love—proceeds. As Saint Augustine teaches, “And the Holy Spirit, according to the Holy Scriptures, is neither of the Father alone, nor of the Son alone, but of both; and so intimates to us a mutual love, wherewith the Father and the Son reciprocally love one another” (On the Trinity XV.17.27).Again, you are part of that love, making you both the Father's gift of love to the Son and the Son's gift of love to the Father, because Their love—the Holy Spirit—dwells within you. What a privilege that is! Understanding this loving reality reveals the dignity that each of us has when we are in a state of grace and transformed into gifts given out of love between the divine persons. This mystical and profound language is essential to ponder, especially because it permeates John's Gospel and reveals the heart of God's love for us.Reflect today on how you are the Father's gift to the Son and the Son's gift to the Father, made possible by the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Though we do nothing on our own to merit such dignity, this is the reality into which we are invited. On our part, we must cooperate with grace so that God transforms our souls into gifts of increasing glory and beauty. The more we cooperate with God's grace, the more glorious a gift we become. Though Heaven will be an eternal existence where each saint delights in the Beatific Vision, it is important to understand that each of us will cause eternal delights in the hearts of the Most Holy Trinity. They will look upon us and see us as gifts given to each of them, resulting in an unending outpouring of divine love.The mystery is great. Reflect on it, meditate on it deeply, and rejoice that you are called to such a life. Most Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—You are a perfect communion of divine Love. Your love is so great, so perfect, so strong, that You have willed to draw me into Your very life, making me a gift of Your love to each other. I thank You for this unfathomable gift and ask the Holy Spirit to dwell within me so that Your mutual self-giving may be glorious. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Jesus Christ Praying at the Garden of GethsemaneSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.I

Suffering, so it would seem, appears contrary to our ascent to God, as if a barrier to the Beatific Vision. However, in scripture God ordains suffering as the path by… Download Audio

What happens to those in the Lord immediately after death?  Support us on Patreon for Member access to our special podcast series where we go in depth on books of the Bible. Ongoing season: Hebrews. You will also gain access to the entire archive of Season 1: The Gospel of John and Season 2: The Book of Exodus Apply for Saint Paul's House of Formation Email us Music by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications Word & Table Episode Index

The apostle Paul said that the beatific vision is the Christian's blessed hope, and the Great Tradition believed the Christian's greatest happiness will be experienced when we one day see… Download Audio

May 3, 2026 | various scriptures | Pastor Isaac Cantrell

Read OnlineJesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.” John 12:44–46Do you want to see God? Our faith teaches that those who die in a state of grace will enjoy the Beatific Vision, the clearest and most intense perception of God's essence and glory. For those still in need of purification, God's mercy provides the gift of Purgatory, preparing them to gaze upon Him for eternity. In Heaven, all will see God face-to-face and experience perfect happiness in communion with Him and all the saints. But the promise of seeing God does not begin only in Heaven. Through faith, we begin to see Him even now. Do you see the Father?Jesus promises, “Whoever believes in me also believes in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.” On earth, Jesus revealed the Father as “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Though Jesus' divinity was veiled within His humanity, faith allowed His followers to perceive the Father's presence through Him. To look upon Jesus was truly to gaze upon God, even if God's full glory was hidden.Today, after Jesus' Ascension, His presence remains with us, especially in the Eucharist. Though our senses perceive only bread and wine, faith reveals that we are gazing upon God. As Saint Thomas Aquinas proclaimed in Tantum Ergo, “Faith for all defects supplying, where the feeble senses fail.” When we approach the Eucharist with faith, we see Jesus, and through Him, we see the Father.Beyond the Eucharist, we encounter God's presence every time we are touched by grace, perform an act of charity, receive the Sacraments, or prayerfully read His Word. God reveals Himself in hidden form through these moments, inviting us to recognize Him with the eyes of faith.Jesus also said, “I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.” The light is perceived in our souls through an interior illumination that assures us of God's presence and action in our lives. Faith enables us to see His work and know for certain that He is near. Do you see this Light? Do you see the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit?Doubt, the opposite of faith, brings darkness into our lives. While doubt is a common human struggle, God invites us to move beyond it. Authentic faith, bestowed by God, grants certitude more profound than anything we perceive with our physical senses.Reflect today on Jesus' promise that when we see Him, we also see the Father. Is your spiritual vision clear? Do you perceive God's presence daily? If not, seek Him in prayer, the sacraments, and the grace-filled moments of life. The more we form the habit of seeing God, the more attuned we will become to His presence. This habit prepares us for the glorious day when we will see Him face-to-face in Heaven, beholding Him in eternal joy and love.My ever-present Lord, though You ascended into Heaven, You remain with us by grace. Your true presence touches me day by day. Help me to see You, and through You, to see the Father. Give me this spiritual sight so that I can walk with You in this life and enjoy You forever in the next. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Jesus teachesSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

John 17:24–26,“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”One of the great blessings of my life is that I grew up in a Christian home. My mom and dad were always part of a church that preached the Bible, and I had no choice but to go. That was just the way it was — and there was a time there, when I was in high school, when I was not thrilled by this.I still had to show up and check the boxes — I was always at the things — but spiritually I was in the ‘far country.' It was a dark season of my life, but looking back, even then, one topic that always intrigued me was the will of God. Because I was at least a theist — I believed God existed. And I knew that if he existed, he must have a will — God wants something from me — And I figured if that's true I should try to find out what that is! I should try to figure out what God wants from me. Except that felt super complicated, because my impression of the will of God was that it was like a mysterious bull's eye out there that I'm supposed to always aim for, and, at best, I might land somewhere on the board.And I allowed that confusion about the will of God to be an excuse for my apathy. Maybe that's you today … you're here, so that means something — you're at least a little bit interested in the will of God — but if you're honest, you're really just showing up today, you're taking shots in the dark, going through the motions. You would like to know: What does God really want from me?Three Powerful WordsAnd this morning I want to start by showing you three powerful words in this passage. It's actually the first three words of verse 24. John 17:24, Jesus says:“Father, I desire …”That word for desire means to will — it's the expression of one's will.Which means: in verse 24 we're about to read God the Son telling God the Father what his will is.And, as we've seen in the Gospel of John, the Father and the Son are in perfect harmony. The Son only wants what the Father wants. He does what the Father says. So in telling the Father what he wills, Jesus is repeating what the Father himself wills.When Jesus says, “Father, I desire,” he is expressing the will of the Triune God. Is anybody interested to know the will of the Triune God for us? … We don't have to guess anymore. We're not in the dark anymore.Jesus is about to tell us the will of the triune God.The first thing he shows us is this:1. The will of the triune God is that we be with him.This is verse 24, right away: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am …”And this is not the first time Jesus has said this. Remember back in Chapter 14, verse 2, Jesus encouraged his disciples that he's leaving here to go and prepare a place for them. He said, verse 2: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”Jesus wants his people to be with him — that's what he's been up to. That's the goal of his leaving. That's his desire in Chapter 17. But then when we zoom out, we can see that this is actually the will of God since the very beginning. One of my favorite summaries of the Old Testament is to say that it's a story about “God's people in God's place under God's rule and blessing.” That's what God is doing. And we see that right away in the Garden of Eden. So we're gonna do a little Bible survey for a minute. Hang with me:Starting in Genesis, what was the Garden of Eden?Think about it: Eden was “God's people in God's place under God's rule and blessing.” That was Adam and Eve for at least a minute, but then they sinned and God exiled them from Eden.And in Genesis 3:15 God promised to send a Redeemer — a son would come to crush the head of the serpent!And this Son would ultimately restore “God's people in God's place under God's rule and blessing.”That's what the Exodus was for … remember God told Moses, “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God…” (Exodus 6:7). This God with his people — That's what the tabernacle was for … That's what the temple in Jerusalem was for … The whole thing is God moving his people back to Eden … back to his place, under his rule and blessing. The problem, though, is the people themselves. Their sin was too corrosive. Their hearts were too hardened. So God makes a new covenant! He will put a new heart in his people, by his Spirit — and in the fullness of time, he sent Jesus as the minister of that New Covenant. So see how this fits! The goal is God's people in God's place under God's rule and blessing, and Jesus came as the embodiment of that — Jesus himself is the place of God — he's the new temple. The Father gives Jesus authority — he rules and blesses. Jesus becomes the substitute for his people — he bears our sins and imputes to us his righteousness — Jesus does this so that God has his people in his place under his rule and blessing! That's why Jesus came here, that's what Jesus has gone to prepare, and that's what Jesus is bringing back when he returns! So when Jesus says, “I desire that they be with me where I am,” he really means it! This is not a sentiment. This is the will of the triune God. The will of the triune God is that we be with him. 2. The will of the triune God is that we see his glory. In verse 24, this is the second part of Jesus's desire, or will. I desire that they may be with me where I am to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundations of the world.”And again, Jesus has already mentioned something like this before. Back in verse 5 of this prayer, he said “Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”So if we put these together, Jesus has had glory before anything ever existed outside himself. When all there was was God himself — Father, Son, and Spirit — the Son had glory (and it had something to do with the Father's love for him). And Jesus wants us to be with him to see that glory. And this makes at least one thing become clear: It's that God is the gospel. In other words, God is what makes heaven heaven. This is important because we already know that Jesus wants us to be with him, but the next question is Why? Why does Jesus want us to be with him where he is?Another way to ask it is: What is the purpose of heaven?Or have you ever wondered: Is your purpose in wanting heaven the same as Jesus's purpose in making heaven?I've never heard a more soul-penetrating question than this. This is one of those thought-experiments that just lays everything bare. As one writer puts it: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters [— if you could have all these things in heaven, but did not have Christ, could you be satisfied?] (see Piper, God Is the Gospel, 15).Is it Jesus that makes heaven worth wanting for you? Or is it all the amenities?Because Jesus does not mention any amenities in verse 24. He says he wants us be in heaven to see him. That's his purpose. And look, it's hard to imagine that if Jesus is not precious to you on this side of heaven, that he would suddenly become precious to you in heaven.Now, without doubt, Jesus will be more precious to us in heaven than he is now because we're gonna fully see him. Now we see through a mirror dimly, but then face to face … unhindered by sin, with new capacities. We will see his glory more radiant than the sun! But the longing for that has to start here. That's what conversion is.Conversion is when God opens your eyes to see Jesus as glorious — not just useful; not just helpful; but glorious.Jesus came to live and die and be raised from the dead to save you to give himself to you — so that you would want to see him. The will of the triune God is that we see his glory — and that may not sound compelling to you right now, but it's what you were made for. Seeing this glory is the deepest and truest longing of your soul. This is #3 …3. The will of the triune God is that we share in his joy.Start in verse 25:“O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known…Jesus here is referring to the active ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is still making the God known to us, by his Spirit through his Word. But why? That's verse 26:I will continue to make your name known [so that] the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”This is nosebleed altitude, okay. Hang with me. Let me restate verse 26: Jesus is saying that he wants the love that God the Father has for God the Son to be in us. And this love in us is like Jesus being in us.And in verse 24, Jesus says that this love — the love the Father has had for the Son before the world existed — this love is the ‘foundation' of Jesus's glory that he wants us to see.So, put it together:Jesus wants us to see his glory — glory that is grounded in the Father's love for him — And then he wants to share that love with us.GLORY because of LOVE, and then HERE!And I'm calling all of that one word: JOY!The triune God wants us to share in his joy!Now how am I making that connection?It's because joy is what describes that experience of glory and love within the Trinity. Jesus has always had his glory — It's glory from before the foundation of the world.He has always been the visible manifestation of the Triune God's perfections! When the Father has looked at the Son, that's what he has seen. The Father has seen in his Son the mirror of his own worth reflecting out — And that sight makes the Father very happy! It makes him infinitely, inexhaustibly, very happy! And if we will see what the Father sees, we will be happy too, forever.Historically, this doctrine has been called the Beatific Vision. It's the promise that one day, we as Christians — as those whom the Father has given to the Son — one day we will see the glory of the triune God in the face of Jesus Christ, and we will experience his joy forever.“In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).And to every human in this room, you were made for that.Your every desire is pointing there.Your every hardship will only make it sweeter.I want you to know that God's ultimate will for you is NOT really about what he wants from you, it's about what he wants for you.That's the part I didn't understand when I used to be so intrigued and confused by the will of God. I went through all the motions, but I could never have dreamed back then that God's ultimate will for me is actually to satisfy my ultimate desire.That's what Jesus is telling us. He wants us to share in his joy. That's the will of the triune God.The question is: Will you receive it?To Three TypesI'd like to close by doing something I don't normally do, but I want to speak directly to three different types of people in the room …First, if you're here and you're not a Christian, become one. Today is the day. Right now, turn from your sin and put your faith in Jesus Christ. Second, if you are a Christian but it feels like you've been living in the dark, ask for God to shine in your heart again and to open your eyes anew to the glory of Jesus and our hope in him. Seek personal revival. God can give it. And then third, if you're a Christian but you feel especially distractible in these days (and so many of us are here, including me). Listen: I am calling us to lock-in on what is ultimate. That does not mean that we ignore our challenges. We don't. We want to be faithful in them. But we get there by keeping the big picture in view: God is God. Jesus is real. And he tells us what he wants for us.To be with him, to see his glory, to share in his joy — this is the will of the Triune God for us. And it's what brings us to the Table. The TableAt this Table, we remember what Jesus has done for us: He came to live and die and be raised from the dead to save us … to give himself to us … so that one day we would see him.And as we take the bread and cup, we are rejoicing in him and in that hope, which is why this is a meal for Christians. If you're here and you've put your faith in Jesus, let's give him thanks together.

Derek Rishmawy, James Wood, and Joe Minick trace the nature-grace debate from de Lubac's challenge to neoscholastic "pure nature" through Blondel, Bavinck, and Betz's Christ the Logos of Creation — asking what's actually at stake: the gratuity of grace, the coherence of theological anthropology, and the twin dangers of secular dualism and pantheist collapse. — Get Spiritual Formation for the Family ebook for free at http://mereorthodoxy.com/family. Mere Fidelity is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership. Get 30% of the Baker Book of the Month, Keeping Kids Christian: Recovering A Biblical Vision For Lifelong Discipleship, by going to: http://bakerbookhouse.com/pages/mere-fidelity Apply for Beeson Divinity School's Ph.D program by April 1 for Fall 2026 admission here: https://bit.ly/BeesonPhD — Chapters 00:00 - Introduction: Why Nature and Grace? 02:30 - The Debate in Context: Neo-Calvinism, Catholic-Protestant Dialogue, and David Bentley Hart 05:00 - James on De Lubac: Challenging Pure Nature and Extrinsicism 08:30 - Blondel, Desire, and the Political Consequences of Separation 11:30 - Derek's Five-Year-Old Explanation: What Is Actually at Issue 13:30 - Joe: Natural Ends, Supernatural Ends, and the Beatific Vision 16:00 - Steel-Manning the Two-Tier View: Gratuity of Grace 18:30 - Bavinck, the Donum Superadditum, and Terminological Convergence 22:00 - The Neo-Calvinist Peril: Immanentizing the Eschaton 24:00 - Reception History: Did De Lubac Get Thomas Right? 27:00 - Betz, Chavarra, and Philosophy's Openness to Theology 31:00 - Participatory Metaphysics and Non-Competitive Freedom 33:30 - Derek's Worry: The Pantheist Ditch 36:00 - Horton's Trilogy and the Irenaean/Origenist Distinction 39:00 - The Two Ditches: Extrinsic Dualism vs. Pantheistic Monism 43:00 - Desire, Idolatry, and the Hook Into the Real 47:00 - Was the Incarnation Part of the Plan? Creation in Christ 50:00 - Closing Thoughts: Bavinck's Affirmations and Where to Go Next

Last summer, theologian Matthew Barrett wrote a widely-read article explaining his decision to leave the Baptist tradition for Anglicanism. Rhys and Joel speak to him about this journey, how it has affected the systematic theology he is writing, why classical theology and the beatific vision matter, and more.Dr. Barrett is Research Professor of Christian Theology at Trinity Anglican Seminary in the US. He is also theologian-in-residence for Anselm House at St. Aidan's Anglican Church. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of Credo Magazine, host of the Credo podcast, and Director of the Center for Classical Theology. He is the co-director of Aquinas KC.On 24-25 April, Dr. Barrett is hosting the Credo Conference on the Beatific Vision in Washington, DC. Do join if you are able!You can email us at holycofe@gmail.com or follow us on X at @holycofe1.

The Beatific Vision - Revelation 22:4 by CBCNashville

The Beatific Vision - 1 John 3:2-3 by CBCNashville

The Beatific Vision - 1 Corinthians 13:12 by CBCNashville

One of today's leading theologians in matters of Christology is Dominic Legge, O.P. His book The Trinitarian Christology of St. Thomas Aquinas (Oxford University Press, 2017) is a penetrating look… Download Audio

The Beatific Vision - Matthew 5:8 by CBCNashville

The Beatific Vision - OT Texts by CBCNashville

Calvary Institute on the Beatific Vision

Read OnlineWhen he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” Mark 7:17–19We experience varying levels of intimacy in our relationships. Some acquaintances, such as neighbors or colleagues, we only know superficially, while with a spouse, sibling, or close friend, we share a much deeper bond. Yet, even in the most intimate human relationships—such as that of a longtime married couple—we never achieve perfect knowledge of the other person.Similarly, our relationship with Christ must continually deepen. Unlike human relationships, however, God already knows us perfectly—better than we know ourselves. Still, He invites us to grow in knowledge and love of Him as He gradually reveals Himself to us. This ongoing process will continue not only in this life but even in eternity, as we behold the Beatific Vision. In Heaven, our union with God will be ever-expanding, as we enter more deeply into the infinite mystery of His divine presence.In today's Gospel, Jesus revealed Himself more clearly to His closest companions than He did to the crowds. His self-revelation came by way of an intimate teaching about the “parable” He taught to the people. In this context, Jesus' parable was not a traditional parable but a short and direct statement that used symbolic language to convey a deeper spiritual truth. He taught the crowd: “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile” (Mark 7:14–15). While seemingly straightforward, this teaching is called a parable because it invites contemplation and requires deeper understanding to grasp its full spiritual significance.In this parable, Jesus' teaching challenged the crowd's preconceived notions regarding purity and holiness. By addressing the heart as the true source of defilement, He invited His listeners to move beyond mere external observance of the law and to focus instead on the inner disposition of their souls. It's also important to understand that He taught His close disciples in a more intimate way than He taught the crowds. After teaching the crowds, Jesus and His disciples went “home,” where they questioned Him about the parable. This intimate moment teaches us that personal prayer is our own “home,” where we encounter Christ away from the distractions of the world. It is there that we must approach Him daily with questions—not out of doubt, but from a desire to know Him more deeply. Questions lead to attentive listening, understanding, and intimacy.At the beginning of our relationship with God, He often speaks in more general terms. For those going through an initial conversion, Jesus' general teachings are life-changing. As we mature in our faith and seek to deepen our relationship with God, we must see ourselves among Jesus' close companions as they grew in holy intimacy. Doing so requires daily effort and intentionality. Just as a married couple cannot grow closer without meaningful communication, so too must we open our hearts to God each day, speaking honestly and listening attentively to His voice. Without this, our relationship with Him risks remaining superficial. Reflect today on the ways you approach your relationship with Christ. Do you seek Him in the quiet of your personal “home,” asking questions and listening attentively? Consider how you can make your prayer life more intentional, opening your heart to deeper understanding and communion with Him. Just as a loving spouse or a close friend takes time to speak and listen, so too must you dedicate time daily to converse with our Lord, allowing Him to lead you into the depths of His divine wisdom and love. My intimate Lord, You desire to reveal Yourself to me, to draw me into Your presence, and to converse with me more profoundly each day. Grant me the desire to know You, the resolve to listen attentively, and the grace to understand the depths of Your truth. Draw me ever closer, dear Lord, into a loving and intimate relationship with You. Jesus, I trust in You!Image via Adobe StockSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

The Beatific Vision (Matt. 5:8) - Dr. Matthew Barrett 02.01.26 by St. Aidan's Anglican Church, KC

“Why doesn’t the Bible say Mary was a perpetual virgin?” This question opens a discussion on the nuances of biblical interpretation and tradition. Other topics include the nature of perfect contrition and its implications for confession, as well as the concept of the treasury of merit and its origins. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 02:40 – If the Beatific Vision is a gift that God gives us, then it would seem that God could create us with that gift. But why doesn't he? Creating us with this gift would ensure that no moral evil exists. How would you answer that question? 12:22 – Can you explain what perfect contrition is? How does it affect confession? Can non-Catholics have perfect contrition? 21:32 – What is the treasury of merit and where do we get it from? 28:59 – Why doesn’t the bible just come out and say that Mary was a perpetual virgin? 35:24 – Where do we find co-remptrix in the Bible? 41:57 – No divine justice for non-human animals does not make sense to me. 51:39 – Is there anything in our faith about exactly how Jesus was born?

Audio Download Questions Covered: 02:40 – If the Beatific Vision is a gift that God gives us, then it would seem that God could create us with that gift. But why doesn't he? Creating us with this gift would ensure that no moral evil exists. How would you answer that question? 12:22 – Can you […]

Read OnlineHe appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. Mark 3:16–19Though Jesus called many disciples, He chose Twelve, representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and entrusted them with a unique mission. He named them Apostles, meaning “one who is sent” or “messenger,” and gave them His authority as the first bishops of His Church. Among them was the betrayer, Judas Iscariot. Did Jesus make a mistake when He called Judas to be an Apostle? Certainly not. Jesus' actions were perfect in every way and fully in accord with the Father's will. Why did He pick Judas, even though He knew he would betray Him?Saint Thomas Aquinas teaches that Jesus possessed the Beatific Vision and infused knowledge from the moment of His conception (Summa Theologiae, III.9.2&3). Therefore, He comprehended all things with God's eternal knowledge, including the future role each Apostle would play. When He chose Judas Iscariot, He knew the path Judas would take, yet He called him anyway.An important theological principle to understand is that God's foreknowledge of our future does not interfere with our free will. Some philosophers have argued that God's foreknowledge means the path we walk is predetermined and cannot change. While it is true that what God knows will not change, it is also true that His knowledge does not force or determine what we freely choose. God's knowledge simply transcends and encompasses all time.When pondering the sorrowful betrayal of one of Jesus' intimate friends, there are important lessons we can learn from this permissive act of evil. God permits evil because He permits good. If He were to prohibit evil—an act of free will—He would be prohibiting the use of free will itself, thwarting our ability to freely love. This reveals the incredible gift that God has given us: the ability to love or not. This gift is essential to who we are, enabling us to share in God's abundant and overflowing love and mercy, freely bestowed and freely received.God's permissive will also reflects the mysterious relationship between Divine Providence and human action. God, Who is All-Powerful, can bring good even out of the gravest sins. This is not a credit to us but to God's might. In the case of Judas, God used his betrayal to set in motion the very act of redemption. The same is true in our lives.When we experience betrayal, or betray another, God is able to bring good out of that act. If we are guilty of betrayal and fail to repent, God's justice will prevail, and we will be condemned. Though our sins against others are damaging, God can use even our sins for good in their lives. He can foster mercy and forgiveness in others' hearts and unite them more fully with Himself, Who was betrayed.When another sins against us, the impulse to judge and condemn is a common temptation. Yet, the lesson we must learn from Judas is recorded beautifully by Saint Paul: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Even injustice and sins committed against us are not reasons for despair but for hope—hope in the sinner's repentance and hope that God will transform evil into good for those who love Him and unite themselves with Jesus' betrayal by Judas. Reflect today on God's almighty power to work all things for good in your life, even sin. Though the sinner who refuses to repent will experience the fullness of God's justice, profound good can come from our repentance and from imitating Jesus, Who endured cruel betrayal. Trust in His power and allow Him to bring good out of evil in your life. Doing so not only lifts the heavy burden of anger, it also infuses God's perfect charity into any and everything we encounter or endure in life. My triumphant Lord, You were cruelly treated by one of Your closest companions, yet in Your almighty power You transformed that evil, bringing from it the greatest good ever known—our redemption. Please give me the grace to repent when I sin, and when I am sinned against, help me to unite that injustice to the betrayal You endured so that Your grace will triumph. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: NateBergin, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Sermon preached by Samuel Parkison at the Evangelical Christian Church of Dubai on Revelation 2:8-11 and 22:1-5.

The Beatific Vision, Peter's infallibility, dogma, devotional prayer and more in today's edition of Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.

Advent, Jesus, Light of the World, Root of David, Bright Morning Star, Revelation, New Heavens, New Earth, Beatific Vision, Spiritual Thirst, Grace

Are Atheists Materialists? The origin of evil? Appropriate hate? Join us for Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.

Read OnlineJesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” Luke 10:23–24 We rejoice over many things in life. We might rejoice if we win a game, do well on a test, complete some task at home or work, or attend a celebration or party. Though rejoicing is an emotion tied to our human nature, true joy is spiritual in nature, a gift that overflows into human emotion.Try to imagine Jesus rejoicing in the Holy Spirit. Jesus' joy was perfect. As God, His unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit was beyond anything we can imagine. Therefore, when He experienced the perfection of spiritual joy, that joy overflowed into His perfect human nature, resulting in an emotional response that was more powerful than any of us will experience until the day we stand with our resurrected bodies before the Beatific Vision in the New Heavens and new Earth.When Jesus prayed, “I give you praise, Father…,” He was not only engaging in an intellectual exercise. He did not just make a public statement so that it would be written in Scripture or because it was the right thing to do. Rather, Jesus spoke His praises to the Father because His lived human experience, in that moment, was a human rejoicing with divine power. Jesus' all-consuming joy was perfectly ordered, deeply fulfilling, an appropriate response to His Father and the Holy Spirit, and contagious to those around Him. True spiritual joy is never contained; it overflows and touches the lives of others.By experiencing such joy in His human nature, Jesus further elevated human nature itself, making it possible for us to rejoice in the Holy Spirit with Him within our human souls, provided we humble ourselves before Him. Jesus praised the Father for revealing Himself to the childlike, those who are humble of heart. Seeing that was the cause of His joy. To be childlike in the eyes of God means to trust Him completely, to approach Him with openness and wonder, and to depend on Him for all things. It is the opposite of relying on our own understanding and wisdom, which often leads to pride and distance from God.True humility is nothing other than honesty with oneself before God. Humility makes us childlike because it opens our eyes to the truth that we are little spiritual children in need of God's fatherhood. If we pretend to be “wise and learned” before God, we only reveal our foolishness, the absence of divine wisdom. Reflect today on the perfection of spiritual joy in Jesus' divinity and its emotional effect upon His humanity. No one has ever rejoiced with the same joy as the Son of God. However, we are all called to live within that spiritual joy. This joy strengthens us in trials, deepens our love for others, and helps us live our faith with greater conviction and authenticity. Humble yourself before God today, begging for greater humility so that you will become a greater partaker of Jesus' joy, the joy He came to bestow upon the world. My humble Lord, You rejoiced as You saw Your Father reveal hidden and divine mysteries to those who were humble of heart and childlike. Please bestow Your grace upon me so that I will also grow in divine wisdom, remaining humble and childlike, to fill Your human soul with the deepest joy. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Sancta Trinitas by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

This sermon from Revelation 2:8–11, 22:1–5 was preached on November 9, 2025 by Samuel Parkison as part of the sermon series "The Beatific Vision."

This sermon from 1 Corinthians 13:12; 2 Corinthians 3:12–4:6 was preached on November 2, 2025 by Samuel Parkison as part of the sermon series "The Beatific Vision."

A new MP3 sermon from Grace Audio Treasures is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Beatific Vision! Subtitle: Puritan Devotional Speaker: C. H. Spurgeon Broadcaster: Grace Audio Treasures Event: Devotional Date: 10/16/2025 Bible: 1 John 3:2; Psalm 17:15 Length: 5 min.

We highly suggest that you READ the TEXT at the link below, as you listen to the audio above. https://gracegems.org/2025/beatific_vision1.htm Feel free to FORWARD this gem to others!

In the end we will either be saints beholding the Beatific Vision or we will be like demons in eternal suffering. There is no in between. John Sablan, founder of World Ablaze ministry and co-founder of Serviam Institute sits down with us and dives into how the outcome of our lives is determined by how we understand and live out virtue in this world. It has absolutely EVERYTHING to do with our eternity! ------------------------------ More on the Serviam Institute HERE: https://www.serviaminstitute.com/ ------------------------------ Get John's book "Christ Like: After God's Own Heart: HERE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578734761 ------------------------------- Pray the Rosary of the 7 Sorrows of Mary HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUr5UzrV63I ------------------------------- Check out the 54 Day Rosary Novena and Rosary Coast to Coast HERE: https://rosarycoasttocoast.com/ ------------------------------- Find out more about the Rosary Coalition HERE: https://rosarycoalition.com/usgf ------------------------------- Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKZ9OefEJLEx1qYcBxgAFww/join -------------------------------- PATREON - Help support this podcast by becoming a US Grace Force PATRON here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=25398590 -------------------------------- Check out ROMAN CATHOLIC GEAR and get amazing Catholic gear for the battle of your life! Click HERE: https://romancatholicgear.com/USGF -------------------------------- More on "Awaiting the Prodigal's Return" course HERE: https://brcoalition.com/prodigals-waitlist/ -------------------------------- Subscribe to our NEW US Grace Force YouTube channel! US GRACE FORCE 2.0. Don't miss any new, great content!! https://youtube.com/@USGraceForce2.0?si=zq47qEqPITXnIDkg -------------------------------- Join the US Grace Force Team HERE: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001ESuSGaJpYPCG2iUdd4j4bkKwd4gkh2ZUVbam_Ty9rCn6blH6_U3cI2D8UvSLEcSzHnC4eq2UWmK1I0SbEw0SPKqnkZ2j0Z4J4D-_m4dD6CKJU9day-bBa8Qnx4dv7RLDIVlYAjL1JWsjfUTNPH2jQIVY9gbdbz4O4oMIzv5V1dT_upQsD8cX86iq_5Y-x4eLrTVtdOmA24s%3D&fbclid=IwY2xjawFRvvdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdo526R1rgNAIW76yyQnVbo957e1TgOoQ4RH3Tr84D8376Y7jng09gtlOw_aem_H7Y7Ej6cF6-nPyfOZ4qMTQ -------------------------------- PRAY THE ROSARY: The Joyful Mysteries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMAR9MEN1pE&t=656s --------------------------------- The Sorrowful Mysteries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHUkx66oAxE&t=311s --------------------------------- The Glorious Mysteries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg_JWsxS6EA&t=207s --------------------------------- The Luminous Mysteries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVL5CqBr3CA&t=198s --------------------------------- The Full Rosary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44zL1kFIvP8&t=1765s --------------------------------- Be Ready Emergency Preparedness Course: Be prepared to Care for and Protect your Family in times of Natural Disasters, Emergencies, Civil Unrest, Economic Collapse, and more. Sign up for the course HERE: https://brcoalition.com/ --------------------------------- Go HERE to check out the BR Coalition and get great training Body, Mind & Soul! https://brcoalition.com/ Become part of one of the fastest growing online Catholic Membership sites. --------------------------------- Get your hands on some great US Grace Force T-shirts! https://us-grace-force.creator-spring.com/ --------------------------------- The seven promises given to St Bridget of Sweden for those who devote themselves to her Seven Sorrows. 1. I will grant peace to their families. 2. They will be enlightened about the Divine Mysteries. 3. I will console them in their pains, and I will accompany them in their work. 4. I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my Divine Son or the sanctification of their souls. 5. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives. 6. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death—they will see the face of their mother. 7. I have obtained this grace from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness, since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, August 6, is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, a commemoration which started in the 11th century and anticipates the glory of heaven, where we shall see God face to face.The Gospel of Luke (Luke 9:28b–36) recounts this event of the glorified Jesus representing the fulfillment of Old Testament revelation, symbolized by Moses as the Law and Elijah as the prophets.The Transfiguration of Christ reveals the fullness of life for every single human being. It's the will of God in His glory and luminous beauty for all of us.The transfigured Christ is an invitation for a personal relationship with the Savior.We achieve this especially through the sacraments of confession and the Eucharist, as we fall in adoration, content to be with Jesus alone.The Transfiguration took place about a year before the Passion. Jesus took with him St. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, Sts. James and John, and led them to a retired mountain. Tradition assures us that this was Mount Thabor, which was anciently covered with green trees and was very fruitful. This was the place, in the middle of Galilee, in which the Man-God appeared in His glory.His face was altered and shone as the sun, and his garments became white as snow-white brightness. Moses and Elias were seen by the three apostles in his company on this occasion, and were heard discoursing with him of the death which he was to suffer in Jerusalem.The three apostles were delighted with this glorious vision, and St. Peter cried out to Christ, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias.”Whilst St. Peter was speaking, there came a bright shining cloud from heaven, an emblem of the presence of God's majesty, and from out of this cloud was heard a voice which said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”The apostles that were present, upon hearing this voice, were seized with a sudden fear, and fell upon the ground; but Jesus, going to them, touched them, and bade them to rise. They immediately did so and saw no one but Jesus standing in his ordinary state.In the Transfiguration, Christ enjoyed for a short while that glorified state which was to be permanently His after His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The splendor of His inward Divinity and of the Beatific Vision of His soul overflowed on His body.The purpose of the Transfiguration was to encourage and strengthen the Apostles who were depressed by their Master's prediction of His own Passion and Death.The Apostles were made to understand that His redeeming work has two phases: The Cross, and Glory—that we shall be glorified with Him only if we first suffer with Him.Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• August 6, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

In this episode, Julian of Norwich is drawn into the radiant joy of Christ—the joy He takes in His Blessed Mother, and the glory revealed in His glorified Face. In the Eleventh Shewing, Christ lovingly invites Julian to “see her”—to behold the Virgin Mary as He does, with delight and reverence. Through Julian's vision, we glimpse the profound place of Mary in Christ's heart and in the life of every Christian. In the Twelfth Shewing, Julian is lifted to contemplate the joy of Heaven: the Beatific Vision, where the saints behold the Face of Christ and are fully seen, fully known, and fully loved. Drawing from Julian's text, Scripture, the Catechism, and the wisdom of the saints, this episode opens the mystery of divine joy that begins in Christ's Passion and culminates in eternal glory. The post Ep 8 – The Eleventh and Twelfth Shewings – All Shall Be Well w/ Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

7/6/2025 - John McNamee

Dr. Samuel G. Parkison joins the show to discuss his recent book Gaze Upon God which provides exposition and defense of the beatific vision. He defines the doctrine and walks us through several important Scriptures to expound it. I also ask Dr. Parkison how the blessed can be truly happy in Heaven if loved ones end up in Hell. _____________ The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of various guests, I defend three pillars of the Catholic Christian worldview: (1) the God of classical theism exists, (2) Jesus is our Messiah and Lord, and (3) He founded the Catholic Church. We place a strong emphasis on the first pillar, defending classical theism, drawing upon the work of Thomistic philosopher Dr. Edward Feser and many others. John DeRosa www.classicaltheism.com/support Support the show: Check out my book One Less God Than You: How to Answer the Slogans, Cliches, and Fallacies that Atheists Use to Challenge Your Faith >> www.classicaltheism.com/newbook Support on Patreon to help keep the podcast going and to allow me to produce even more quality content: www.classicaltheism.com/support

Series: 1 John: That You May KnowPreacher: Pastor Brian BoneKey Points:Jesus' Imminent Return: The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is coming back soon, and His second coming will be a glorious, visible event of judgment for which all must be ready.The Importance of Abiding in Jesus: To be ready and confident at Christ's return, believers must "abide" in Him, meaning to hold fast and not let go, drawing life and sustenance from Him as branches from a vine.The Wonders of God's Love and Salvation: Be amazed by God's eternal, sovereign love that chose you before creation, saved you from sin and spiritual death, and continually sustains you by grace.The Beatific Vision and Transformation: Believers will literally see Jesus as He is in His glorified form, and this single glimpse will perfectly transform them, removing all desire for sin and providing infinite, unending satisfaction.Daily Gaze for Ongoing Transformation: While the full transformation is future, daily "gazing" at Jesus through spiritual disciplines like Bible reading and worship incrementally transforms believers, purifying them and preparing them for His return.Call to "Wake Up and Look at Jesus": A practical exhortation to intentionally prioritize focusing on Jesus every day, making Him the central gaze of one's heart above worldly distractions, temptations, and anxieties.Salvation through Belief: For non-believers, salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit are immediately available through simple belief in Jesus Christ, who was lifted up for their healing and eternal life.Reflect & Discuss:How does the reality of Jesus' imminent return impact your daily priorities and long-term planning?What does "abiding in Jesus" practically look like in your life, especially when faced with distractions or temptations?How can you cultivate a deeper sense of amazement at God's love for you and the salvation you've received?Considering the concept of the "beatific vision," how does the promise of seeing Jesus and being transformed encourage you in your spiritual walk?What is one specific step you will take this week to "wake up and look at Jesus" more intentionally each day?Scripture:Main Passage: 1 John 2:28-3:3Supporting Passages: John 15:1-8, 1 Peter 1:8, 1 Corinthians 13:12, Matthew 17:2, Revelation 1:12-16, Revelation 21:23, Psalm 16:11, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Matthew 6:22-23, John 3:14-16, Numbers 21:4-9, Romans 10:9-10.Keywords:Jesus' Return, Second Coming, Abiding in Christ, Last Hour, God's Love, Salvation, Holy Spirit, Spiritual Transformation, Beatific Vision, Perseverance, Discernment, Worship, Bible Study, Eternal Life.

In this episode we're joined by Aimee Byrd, who is the author of eight books, including the new one that we discuss in this episode, Saving Face: Finding My Self, God, and One Another Outside a Defaced Church (published by Zondervan). Over the course of our conversation we talk about the rich value of faces, the metaphorical nuances to “saving face,” and the ultimate goal of beholding the face of God in the Beatific Vision, among other things. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, Rev. Daniel Parham, and Rev. Dr. Chris Porter. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Samuel Parkison joins the podcast today to talk about his recent book, To Gaze upon God: The Beatific Vision in Doctrine, Tradition, and Practice (InterVarsity Press 2024.) He also shares with us his story and calling to academic ministry at the Abu Dhabi Extension Site at Gulf Theological Seminary in the United Arab Emirates. What is the beatific vision? What does the beatific vision have to do with this moment in history for the church? This and more on today's podcast? Exiles in Babylon

What makes heaven, heaven? Whereas many evangelicals today might point to a number of things, including resurrected bodies, a resurrected cosmos, freedom from sin, and reunion with departed loved ones,… Download Audio

This episode is an interview with Dr. Sam Parkison on the subject of the beatific vision. We discuss it's place in medieval and classical Protestant theology.

Now, we trust in a God that we cannot see. But when our lives come to an end, we will behold Christ in His unveiled splendor and glory. Today, R.C. Sproul strives to describe the supreme hope that awaits every Christian: the beatific vision. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/ultimately-with-rc-sproul/the-beatific-vision/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts