"Eye has not seen..." Heaven on Earth?

[dcs6f4]

Hi!.. I posted this in another section… so sorry if you see it again.

I just got into a conversation yesterday with some great Catholic friends. We were debating whether or not one can experience “heaven on earth.” Clearly, one experiences this in a way through the Sacraments and especially the Mass. The topic of the spiritual ‘ecstasy’ of some of the saints was also brought up.

In light of all this… I was still inclined to argue that we cannot fully experience heaven on earth and I am partially drawing this conclusion from 1 Cor. 13:12 and perhaps 1 Cor. 2:9.

My most important question here is can anyone help me dissect this problem? I am pretty convinced that the Sacraments play a unique role in the answer.

Secondly, I would like to hear how the Church understands 1 Cor. 2:9-13. Because upon further inspection it seems that God has revealed these these things (that eye has not seen and ear has not heard) through the Spirit. Personal interpretations are welcome but please identify them as such… Although I am really looking for a Church commentary on the subject.

Thanks in advance for the responses!

 

[fhansen]

The Church teaches that our faith, itself, is a foretaste, albeit a dimmer one, of the Beatific Vision. But people have certainly been given*** much*** stronger, direct tastes here on earth, mainly for the encouragement and edification of the rest of us, I believe.

 

[jpk1313]

To experience heaven on earth is to live the gosple in your heart. Like the all father prayer-thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We are conected to the church in heaven via the holy spirit when we understant that we have one foot on earth the other in heaven we realise that the kingdom has come it exists in our hearts/soul so that while we may be on earth we are also in heaven at the same time. We are in the world but not of the world

 

[James_S_Saint]

“Pray that it be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”
“Seek and ye shall find”
“Knock and the door shall open”

Why tell people to do something that can’t be done?

 

[tonyrey]

“Pray that it be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”
“Seek and ye shall find”
“Knock and the door shall open”
Why tell people to do something that can’t be done?

How do you know it can’t be done?