I’m sorry to hear about your loss. As to “time” in the Bible, I’m not sure of a verse off-hand. However, God is in heaven and is outside of time, so it is safe to say time in heaven is unlike terrestrial time. Additionally, this is how Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict) described “time” in Purgatory, which is another “event” outside of this terrestrial realm:*
The transforming ‘moment’ of [Purgatory] cannot be quantified by the measurements of earthly time. It is, indeed, not eternal but a transition, and yet trying to qualify it as of ‘short’ or ‘long’ duration on the basis of temporal measurements derived from physics would be naive and unproductive. The ‘temporal measure’ of this encounter lies in the unsoundable depths of existence, in a passing-over where we are burned ere we are transformed. To measure such Existenzzeit, such an ‘existential time,’ in terms of the time of this world would be to ignore the specificity of the human spirit in its simultaneous relationship with, and differentation from, the world.
*So extending from that, “time” in heaven would seem to be even
more different than earthly time that Purgatory would be, because heaven is even more differentiated from this world.
As to awareness of those in heaven, we see the saints in heaven offering prayers (
Rev. 8:4); Tabitha, who had just passed away, responds to Peter’s petition (Acts 9:36-41); Samuel, although called in a sinful manner by way of a medium, responds to a call he otherwise could not have if he were not “aware”
(1 Sam. 28:7-14); and Jesus speaks with OT saints Moses and Elijah (
Mt 17:3,
Mk 9:4,
Lk 9:30). So those are some examples I can think of. God bless you in your journey as you continue to bear this cross, and may your son dine at the eternal banquet of joy forever.
