Stargazing in Heaven
The other day, I was staring up at the stars, planet spotting as I usually do. Its early December, and at that point I could really clearly see Mars and Jupiter at night. Mars was way up hanging around with Orion, and Jupiter was chatting up the Moon. I all of a sudden realized that if I look at Mars, The Moon, then Jupiter, I could draw a straight line between all of them, connecting the dots. I realized then that I was looking out into our orbit, gazing out of the solar system we call home.
The next day, I was on call with my girlfriend, Kim, since we're doing the Marian Consecration with Aquinas1 together. Part of it was talking about the special interest we put towards Mary and the saints, and how this isn't at odds with our love of God. To quote:
You see, God isn't in competition with his creatures. He is not just one actor on a stage of actors all of which are on equal footing. He is more like a playwright, director, producer, actor, and muse all at once. God is a transcending cause—the giver of being and the giver of causing. He makes all things to be and to act. It follows that everything that is or that acts is somehow a reflection or indication of God. What is more, the glory of the creature redounds to the glory of God. As Hopkins put it, "The world is charged with the grandeur of God."
We have an easier time of appreciating this when it comes to other created things. For instance, you see a starlit sky and you marvel at how beautiful it is. In the moment, you're lost in a kind of contemplative wonder. You might just look at it and go, "Wow," without saying anything more. Now, this amazement isn't the liturgical worship of God alone, and yet, it doesn't mean that it is therefore idolatrous! When a pious friend passes by and sees you captivated, it's not like he's going to rebuke you and say, "Stop it. Cut that out. You dont want to give too much attention to the starlit sky. You should be praising God directly, exclusively, and continuously.2
Did I need to quote all of that? Probably not. But it gave me some insight into something very profound.
In heaven, we will be praising God eternally and continuously. We will join the angels in singing "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory." Those last words, the words of the Angels in Isaiah 6:3 (slightly paraphrased) are exactly what I realized. Heaven and Earth are full of His glory. If the Angels praise and recognize His glory in His creation, why wouldn't we, when we enter into heaven? If we are entering into heaven, fully seeing and understanding and praising God, would we not praise His work and creation as well?
Imagine if you liked Van Gogh, but hated his paintings. Imagine admiring an artisan but dismissing his creations. To fully appreciate God, we appreciate His handiwork, His creation, His beauty revealed by the brushstrokes of existence. If we entered into heaven, and fully admired and entrhalled in the beauty of God, and our understanding of Him perfected by His presence, would we not understand and therefore admire His glory in His creation as well?
Imagine again, not merely gazing up at a handful of planets and stars, but understanding every grain of the cosmos, every fraction of His universe. Would you not all the more shout hymns of praise at this incredible creation? From every nebula to every atom, all of creation is filled with His glory! Hosanna in excelsis!