Did you ever notice that a celebration often precedes an intense, planned life change? Take a wedding for example. When the couple marries, obviously there is this great celebration that lasts into the night. Sometimes, it lasts for several days, long after the couple leaves for their honeymoon.

However, we have an expression in our own language when we say that the honeymoon period is over. It means that all that is the celebration with the joy and excitement comes to an end and the day to day living has come back into view in the aftermath of the major life change.

Throughout the life of the couple, one often finds in their house reminders of that powerful day. There is often the wedding picture on the mantle. There may be the album on display on a coffee table. The two wear their respective wedding rings. There are the little words of endearment: “Yes dear.” “Ok honey.” All are reminders of the power that was celebrated that day, which they carry with them throughout their whole lives.

Today is the Second Sunday of Lent and as is tradition, we see the Gospel reading of Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. A powerful moment designed to carry strengthen the apostles and ourselves as well.

There are six people here and they tell us an important message for us to keep in mind for the rest of Lent and the rest of our lives. This is your future, if you live the life set out for you, especially in the most difficult times.

First: Jesus takes Peter, James and John with them. Many scholars believe that these were like lead apostles, three men whom Jesus counted on as close advisors and who could lead the others as well.

Each of them has an interesting position in the New Kingdom to come that Jesus will found. Peter, will be the rock on whom Jesus builds His Church. We know that. Pope Benedict XVI taught that Peter is to Christianity what Abraham is to Judaism. Abraham was rock on which God created the Jews, Peter is the rock on which He creates the Christian Church.

James, the powerful preacher who will be the first martyr. John, the one apostle who stands at the foot of the cross.

They watch in amazement as they see Jesus transfigured before them and standing in a cloud, which is the presence of the Holy Spirit, with Moses and Elijah. Moses, the Old Testament prophet who delivered the law to the Hebrews and led them out of Egypt. Elijah, the great prophet who brought forth God’s presence on the Mount Carmel. He called down a theophany that brought the end of the prophets of Ba’al and brought forth the wrath of Queen Jezebel upon his head. Elijah who did not die, but was raised in a chariot. A prophet so powerful, it was believed that John the Baptist was Elijah returned.

Both Moses and Elijah, called to do God’s work, needed every ounce of strength they had to bring the message of God to the Hebrew people. So much so that each one reached points of discouragement where they each asked for death. Yet, here they were triumphant and talking to Jesus about what was awaiting him in the cross and His death. They were encouraging Him. For, if successful, He was opening the door to the glory we see on Mount Tabor.

Peter, James and John completely oblivious to what was coming, but this experience would carry them through a horrendous week, in which two of the three would abandon Jesus. This moment would keep them going as they experienced terrified shock when Jesus is arrested and dies on the cross. It would encourage them so much that Peter cites it in the first of his two letters thirty five years later. He explained then that the transfiguration was the reminder of what was at stake. He cited it as proof that they were not preaching some silly story as the atheists try to tell us at Christmas time. He reminds us that the promise we received at baptism is real because he and the others saw a glimpse of it many years years earlier. That memory carried Peter through as the powerful apostle and the Christian version of Abraham our father in faith.

What is it saying to us? This is your future, if you live the life set out for you, especially when you encounter great resistance to moving forward in Christ.

Jesus is transfigured, but his body is a precursor to what all who enter Heaven will become. St Thomas Aquinas teaches us that this moment is witnessed not by angels, but by men so that men may understand their future in Christ. Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John get a glimpse of their future once the gates of Heaven are opened for them by the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Apostles will need to keep this in mind as they do the work of God in their lives, enduring horrible persecution, torture and death to bring the message of truth to the world. A message so powerful all the demons in hell will do all they can to stop it until the second coming of Jesus. It is not about a moral code to get along in society. It is about who we are now and what we will become in the future if we remain in Christ.

So you keep this moment in mind. St. Paul reminds us to keep our eye on the prize and that is the prize. Living in the glory of God as the humans we were created to be: fully human and fully alive. This moment is a glimpse of the glory, but there is a whole lot of life ahead of you between then and now. It is important for us, as it was for the apostles to keep that vision in mind. For that vision is what it is all about. It is a reminder of where God calls us to be. However, the vision is not important if it is a cakewalk. The reality is there are forces in this world doing all they can to discourage us arriving at where that vision calls us. Pope Leo XIII warned that during the time after his reign those forces would be at full strength against each and every one the members of Christ’s Church. We can see that daily in the news.

This vision is there to encourage us when our journey becomes difficult and painful. When we ask what is it all about?
What is it that Jesus promised the good thief on the cross? That very vision. “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

The Transfiguration is an experience so wonderful that Apostles were not in the end terrified, but filled with joy. They wanted it to last forever. This is the meaning of everything we do as agents of God we offer an invitation for people to seek their true selves in Christ, that image is the true self. This whole event began with Jesus praying, this is a reminder of just how powerful prayer is especially when you are interceding for the salvation of others.

However, the vision is also a reminder of what is coming, but there is a dark valley we may have to journey through first where we will be tempted to quit. The fruit of our perseverance in Christ brings forth the glory of our own transfiguration in Christ. The persistence in Christ brings forth the fruit of salvation of ourselves and those God has put in our lives.

Christ wants every person to experience that glorified body for eternity, but many, including not a few baptized Catholics will give up along the way for they never knew or understood the promise of the transfiguration.

How many people who no longer attend mass would be here every Sunday if they understood the meaning of the Transfiguration for each and every one of us. How many times would we not allow discouragement or temptation to water down the Gospel to defeat us if we kept in mind the vision of the transfiguration as a glimpse into our future if we persevere.

How many times will that glimpse of our future reality carry us through painful times of our life: times of fear of financial disaster, of life changing tragedy, of standing up courageously in truth, of living the faith when others mock the idea, of great legal disasters for a member of our family, of a terminal disease afflicting a loved one, of disappointment and discouragement when the unexpected happens. Keep the vision of the transfiguration in mind and you will remember what it is all about and live it so that others see the hope that keeps you motivated to love even when others have stopped loving. You will also understand the power of prayer.

The transfiguration is Jesus’ message to us: This is your future, if you live the life set out for you, especially when perseverance is farthest from your mind.

God bless you,

Fr. Robert J Carr

Fr. Carr is member of the Segundo Elo  of the Canção Nova Community. He is the pastor of Holy Trinity Quincy, MAand is the editor of this blog. He is the author of several books, blogs and hundreds of videos all of which you may find on Youtube.  You can follow him on twitter as @frbobcarr and on Google plus as+FrRobertCarr. Thoughts, comments on the homily? Let us know at Facebook