How do you picture heaven? Today is All Saints Day when the Church remembers those who have entered eternity trusting in Jesus Christ. Last week in chapel we sang a hymn about heaven by Bernard of Cluny, "Jerusalem the Golden." Something gnawed at me after singing the second verse.
Within those halls of Zion
Sounds forth the joyful song,
As saints join with the angels
and all the martyr throng.
The Prince is ever with them;
The daylight is serene;
The city of the blessed
Shines bright with glorious sheen.
That was from our new hymnal but, suspicious, I checked the old hymn book, the one I grew up with. Sure enough, the words had been changed. Here's the older version Compare the second last line in each version.
They stand, those halls of Zion,
All jubilant with song
And bright with many an angel
And all the martyr throng.
The prince is ever in them;
The daylight is serene;
The pastures of the blessed
Are decked in glorious sheen.
"The pastures of the blessed" was changed to "the city of the blessed." Maybe it was changed because we're more and more an urban society. How many people in the city know what a "pasture" is? So we picture heaven with images we can understand. Perhaps it was changed to be more faithful to the picture of heaven in Revelation 21. "I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven." What will heaven be like? John goes on, "God will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall their be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:2-4)
Rural pasture or city? What matters more this All Saints' Day is St. Bernard's prayer, "Jesus, in mercy bring us to that dear land of rest."
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