Category: Uncategorized

***

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

These are some of the most famous – and difficult – words ever spoken by Jesus.

Some have interpreted his words to mean the heavier the cross, or the harder your life is, the better. Religion is meant to make us miserable.

But they couldn’t be farther from the truth! Jesus doesn’t want us looking for extra burdens; in fact, he promises to help lift them.

So what kind of cross is he referring to?

***

That clumsy, awkward, often hard to carry cross called life. 

***

We might re-interpret Jesus’ words, then, to say: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his life, and follow me.”

So many of us carry the weight of children, stress in marriage, difficult jobs, illness, and bills piling up. Spiritually, we must guard against temptation and try to grow in virtue.

We don’t have to add any extra weight to our shoulders. 

We simply can’t shrug it off. 

That’s the cross.

***

What Jesus asks of us is to be faithful to the tasks we’ve been given in life.

If you’re a parent, provide generously for your children; shower them in love. If you have a job, then do the things no one else wants to do – and do it without complaining. 

If you’re a recovering addict, continue on the road to sobriety. If you’re burdened with an illness, endure it in faith. 

***

“Whoever wishes to come after me,” Jesus says, “must deny himself, take up his life, and follow me.” 

Embrace life as best you can, knowing the Lord is always with us.

***

***

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?

***

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

***

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.

***

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.

***

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

***

So, what will heaven be like?

***

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.

***

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?”

***

The one we feed.

***

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. 

***