IT IS WONDERFUL FOR US TO BE HERE. (Homily for August 6, 2016. Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus. Year c.)


Bible Study: Daniel 7, 9 to 14. 2nd Peter 1, 16 to 19 and Luke 9, 28 to 36.


Have you ever been to a place that you start wondering whether you are dreaming? When was the last time you went on an adventure or took a trip to a place you have never been to before? Can you remember how you strongly felt like remaining there forever? This is exactly what we celebrate today.

In the Transfiguration, Jesus took Peter, James and John on an adventure to heaven. He gave them a tiny glimpse of what it would be like when we would finally behold the glory of heaven. Indeed, today’s feast is one that re-affirms the unchangeable truth that Heaven is real. And when we get there, we would not like to leave anymore.

Recall that in our Gospel passage yesterday, Jesus tell the disciples that anyone who wants to follow him must deny himself and take up his or her cross. To deny oneself is to deliberately choose not to be controlled by the flesh and it can be quite painful. When Jesus took three of his closest disciples up to the Mountain and was transfigured before them, he did so to strengthen their faith, to show them that beyond the self-denials, beyond the tears, beyond the blood to be shared, beyond the beatings, persecutions and agonies of the cross, there was something beautiful, something resplendent, something so precious that was awaiting them at the end of the day.

Having witnessed the Transfiguration, Peter could then write boldly as we read in today’s second reading: “We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty…we ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain.” I often hear people say, “after all, no one has gone to heaven and come back to tell us how it is.” But that is exactly what Peter is saying here. He saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears! Heaven is not just a figment of imagination.

The thought of heaven should come as a motivation to keep us going in the right direction. We should from time to time go to a quiet place to meditate on it and place ourselves in the presence of God. This exercise would help us in taking our attention from this passing world of pain where nothing lasts, nothing brings true happiness and nothing is real. As Peter says, “You will do well to be attentive to it, as a lamp shinning in a dark place…” Meditating about how you will be in heaven with the Angels in glory is like lighting a lamp in a dark place.

Let us not wander about in the darkness thinking this world as we see it is all there is to existence. Let us not get discouraged when our faith demands that we make sacrifices or suffer some losses because we know we are only on a journey and where we are going is far more important than where we are coming from. Hold on, Heaven is real!

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, turn on the light for me. Show me your glory like Daniel saw in our first reading, help me understand, increase my devotion that in the midst of trials and persecution, my faith may remain unshaken. Amen.


Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. Happy Weekend.

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