6. September 26, Feast Day of Saint John the Evangelist

I flew back up to heaven just in time for the huge celebration of the day John arrived. Never before had I seen such a luminous mass of angelic and human spirits in one light-filled place. For the occasion, each angel and person was wearing a body adorned in glistening clothes. I suddenly understood why God made light. It must be so that everyone, including Himself, could see the beauty of His creations and those magnificent works of His little gods. This massive festivity was certainly a holy glorious sight to behold!

Earth and heaven rejoiced together for the enormous party reached to the four corners of earth where liturgies and masses were being celebrated in John's honor. Saint that he was, in the midst of all the festivities, John and his army of angels had a watchful eye for brothers and sisters who were fasting and asking for his intercessory help for one thing or another. Some wanted to be healed, others asked for peace with a family member or a neighbor, and the entrepreneurs asked him to make the wheels of their commerce turn more smoothly.

The wise knew and took advantage of the fact that a feast day such as this, especially of a Saint endowed with such wealth, was regarded as an opportunity to ask a favor; it was like discovering a magical treasure chest. I was told by some very knowledgeable angels that on birthdays little gods give gifts to heap more blessings upon the magnificent gift of life. But saints, small and great, rather than receiving prefer to bestow gifts upon others on their birthdays. I suppose that is because they are overflowing with the gift of life and wish to distribute some of their happiness and their wealth-of-ability to others, especially to those who ask.

Birthdays on earth are never so jolly as birthdays in heaven. Not only was John the youngest and most beloved disciple of Jesus Christ when they lived on earth, but he has been very popular here in heaven too.

For this grand and happy day the skies were adorned in multiple rainbows that seemed to define the limits of our festivities.

Angels flew through the air like red cardinals blissfully blazing through puffy white clouds that formed shapes of luscious meringues.

Unlike the parties I had seen on earth, there was a startling absence of drunkenness and yet everyone was so merry.

God was there surrounded by His loving admirers; they were all laughing so loud that from time to time the choirs of angels and boys could not even be heard above the raucous of gaiety.

I saw the Mother of God passing out chocolate confections to children sitting in a circle around goofy saints dressed as happy clowns performing gymnastics for them. At one point the clowns made a pyramid of perky people seven layers high! When they tumbled down it looked like a kaleidoscope of colors.

As I was floating through the happy heavenly crowds, I accidentally bumped into another angel, or perhaps he bumped into me. We both promptly apologized and then he introduced himself. "Pardon me," he said, and paused for my recognition of him which should have resulted in an even greater expression of apology over the mild collision. "Don't you know who I am?" He said with fervor.

"No'" I replied somewhat sheepishly, "should I?"

"I am Sylvester, the angel who whispered the famous opening to John's gospel into his heart!" And then as if he hadn't said it a million times before, Sylvester repeated the famous words, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.... I also told him to write, 'God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.'"

Overhearing Sylvester, another angel floated up to us and chimed in, "Pleased to meet you. I am the angel who lived with John on Patmos and gave him the revelations about the end times and of heaven. If it wasn't for me, how would the little gods know what their lives will be like when death is no more and time ceases?"

My head volleyed back and forth between these two, obvious proud, angelic beings and deeply apologized, for what else could I do?

Suddenly we both turned to see beloved John and Christ himself glide into our view, trailing behind them was the biggest buttercream lemony yellow birthday cake I had ever seen being carried by two tall distinguished looking pastry chefs. This grand gateaux was all ablaze with candlelight.

It was time to sing, blow out candles and eat cake! I think I even spotted Marie Antoinette In the crowd. Apparently, no one was fasting in heaven!