All of us desire to be happy. To be precise, all our souls desire the greatest good. That greatest good however, can never be found on earth, but only in Heaven in the Beatific Vision.
The rational creature, furthermore, naturally desires to be happy; hence, it cannot wish not to be happy.
— St. Thomas Aquinas
I’ve had a tough question posed to me once: Can we have sex in heaven? If yes, why? If no, why?
Of course in my heart I knew the answer is no, but I did not know how to explain why.
Aquinas of course, brilliantly explains this perfectly. Sex is something good created by God. However it is merely a lesser good. In the Beatific Vision, we are with God — the greatest good — goodness incarnate. We would never desire sex any longer.
A powerful analogy I’ve recently read is about babies loving candy. Asking to have sex in heaven would be akin to a small child asking their parents: when I grow up and have sex, can I have candy at the same time?
We should enjoy and bask in the lesser goods given to us here on earth. However, as should never lose sight of the greatest good that awaits us should we persevere in faith, hope and love.