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Have you ever wondered what heaven is like?

Is it a place of golden roads, pearly gates, and luminous angels? Do we see Jesus? Do we see our loved ones again?

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Today’s Gospel helps to satisfy some of our curiosity.

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Jesus is transfigured before his disciples. He glows like an iPad, his way of revealing his divinity to Peter, James, and John.

While much can be said about that, allow me to point out another detail: 

Peter sees Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus. These were men who lived hundreds of years before him, whose stories are told in the Old Testament.

Yet they’re alive again – so alive that Peter can distinguish between the two men. Moses and Elijah have their own bodies, their own names, and their own history.

Peter recognizes them by the good they did while on earth; they were prophets.

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We, too, will have our names, bodies, and histories in heaven.

And like Moses and Elijah, we shall be seen for the good we’ve done while here on earth.

Herein we find a significant purpose for our lives: to create memories that will last.

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This is the promise of the resurrection, foreshadowed in today’s Feast of the Transfiguration.

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So, what will heaven be like?

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Far beyond our wildest dreams, I’m sure. 

But, amazingly, our names, our bodies, and our stories – edited by the good we’ve done – will be part of it.

I look forward to seeing you there.

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I’m sure many of us have heard this old tale: The Native Americans believe there are two wolves living within each of us.

One wolf feeds on evil things: pride, selfishness, gossip, anger, judgment, and lust. We’d call these things, “sin.”

The other wolf feeds on good things: patience, humility, forgiveness, kindness, and love. 

The question is, “Which wolf wins?”

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The one we feed.

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The heated climate in America today has made it too easy to feed that negative wolf within; to be judgmental; to feel frustrated; to loathe those who disagree with us.

That evil wolf wants to consume our unity and inner peace. Too often, it seems, it does.

Which is why the Lord invites us to choose a different path today; to feed that good wolf instead.

The more we do, the happier we – and everyone else around us – will be. 

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Some of the most common fears include the fear of heights; the fear of flying; and the fear of public speaking.

Today we could add the fear of COVID; the fear of returning to school or work; and, of course, the fear of death.

All of these fears have one thing in common: they push us beyond our comfort zones.

Human beings like being in control. We enjoy doing what’s familiar, yet we know we’re capable of more. 

Sometimes we just need an extra push.

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Consider what happens to Saint Peter in today’s Gospel. 

Jesus invites him to walk on water.

Like us, Peter’s spent his whole life walking on land. Perhaps he never dreamt of doing anything more. The land is solid; sturdy; a place of comfort and familiarity.

But here Jesus is, stretching out his hand to Peter, saying: “Come.”  

Walk on water.

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How often does Jesus invite us to do the same? 

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Consider an addict stepping out of the boat, walking towards sobriety for the very first time.

Or the thousands of teachers who’ve stepped out of their classrooms, moving their careers online.  

Or first-time parents stepping out of the hospital and into their cars, driving their newborn child home.

Or maybe you’re like me, an imperfect believer, trying to step out of the boat of comfort into a deeper life of faith.

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Whatever it may be, the Lord invites us to embrace those words of Saint Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Even walking on water starts with a single step.