Stairway to heaven

In today’s first reading (Gen. 28:10-22a), we have the familiar image formerly known as Jacob’s Ladder.

Then he had a dream:
a stairway rested on the ground,
with its top reaching to the heavens;
and God's messengers
were going up and down on it.

Whether Jacob dreamed of a ladder or a stairway, the basic idea is the same - a way to traverse between heaven and earth – and we as Christians know its true identity.

"Truly, truly, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened,
and the angels of God
ascending and descending
upon the Son of man."
John 1:51

The real stairway to heaven (sorry, Robert Plant) – indeed, the only one – is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Only through Christ, according to the mysterious and merciful ways of God, does God come for all and all come to God.

Not only do we as Christians know this, we as Christians – as members of Christ’s body the Church – are included in that stairway.

The problem is that you and I do not always function like stairways.

Some Christians – especially some conservatives – can sometimes function more like a wall: an obstacle, pointing straight at the sky, but an obstacle nonetheless, offering little or no assistance to those who wish to come closer to heaven.

Other Christians – especially some liberals – can sometimes function more like a floor: letting people go in every direction, but not helping them come closer to heaven.

We in Christ should function more like stairways: opening ourselves to be conduits of God’s truth, love, and grace for others and helping them rise ever closer to heaven.