Fr Kevin Kilgore

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“Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory” (Luke 9:28-36).

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By a show of hands, how many of you remember the story of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad?

Harriet was born during a very dark time in our nation’s history, when slavery was legal, particularly in the South.

But after years of forced labor, she escaped from her captors, finding freedom in the North.

What makes her story so incredible is the fact that, after finding her own way to freedom, Harriet turned around and spent the next 10 years of her life helping others to do the same.

She did so using a system known as the Underground Railroad.

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By all accounts, the Underground Railroad was a dangerous journey.

It took weeks to complete, as Harriet and her “passengers” as she called them, could only move under the cover of darkness for fear of being caught… or worse, killed.

Making matters even more difficult was the fact that only Harriet knew the way. 

But at the end of her life, she’s recorded as saying, “In all of my travels, I never lost a single passenger.”

Every person that followed Harriet made it safely to the North.

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Eleven days ago we celebrated Ash Wednesday, reminding us that we are dust and unto dust we shall return.

But today’s Gospel tells us that death is not the end of our journey.

Rather, Jesus will raise us up from the ash we become.

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Remember the example of Harriet Tubman.

Just as she led hundreds of people to freedom in the North, so Jesus will lead all of us into the kingdom of God.

But only he knows the way. In order to make it, then, we must remain by his side.

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So what will it look like when we arrive, you may be wondering?

Believe it or not, the Gospel gives us several clues.

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In the most general terms, we can say that heaven will be like one massive family reunion.

For example, raise your hand if someone you love has died – and keep your hand raised if you want to see that person again.

With your hand raised, look around the church and see how many other people share your burden of loss – and your hope of the resurrection.

The Gospel assures us that you will see them again.

And here’s why: 

On that mountain, Peter not only saw Jesus, but also Moses and Elijah, men who died hundreds of years before.

Yet there they are alive again, conversing with Jesus.

And like Jesus, they, too, have a body. They, too, have a name.

When we enter the kingdom of God, our bodies are glorified – they glow like Jesus.

We even keep own names and our memories – all of those beautiful moments in life that make us who we are.

When we see our loved ones, then, we’ll know exactly who they are – no less than Peter recognized Moses and Elijah.

Again, think of heaven like one massive family reunion.

In this sense, our best days are ahead.

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There’s only one caveat.

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Jesus tells us that he is, “The Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

In order to reach his kingdom we must follow him on the way, just as Harriet’s “passengers” followed her to the North.

So set aside 10 minutes each day – especially during this season of Lent – to pray.

Allow Jesus to guide you through the twists and turns of life, knowing that he is always with you, and is guiding you towards your heavenly home, where countless angels, Saints, family members, and friends safely await us.

Rejoice, because the day will come when we can say with Peter, “Lord, it is good that we are here.”

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The one thing we all must do in life is fall in love with Jesus.

There is nothing more important than that… because we are dust and unto dust we shall return.

Christ alone can make us rise from those ashes.

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Out of all the days in the liturgical year, I find Ash Wednesday to be the most personal.

That black smudge of ash on my forehead reminds me of the swift passage of time, that death – my death– is coming.

I know neither the day nor the hour, only that it’s coming for me.

It seems foolish, then, to presume that I can prepare myself for that moment in my later years.

Ash Wednesday tells me to prepare myself now, because I am returning to dust – and not just me, but everything and everyone around me…

… the people I have loved… the stained glass windows that frame our church… the sun that brightens them by day…. the stars that twinkle at night… even all of you.

Everything is returning to dust. 

And one of us here is next.

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Remember, however, some of the final words of Jesus. On the eve of his own death, he says to his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:6).

To be “troubled” in the sense that Jesus used it meant to be, “overwhelmed by the fear of death.”

Do not be overwhelmed by death, he says.

Death is coming for us all. But we do not need to be afraid.

That cross of ash smeared onto our forehead reminds us that we’ve been saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who loved us to the very end.

Our mission in life is to do the same – to love our God to the very end… until the moment we return to dust.

If we do, then we shall rise from those ashes again.

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Make this Lent count – pray, fast, be charitable – for it may be your last.

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“Peter began to say to Jesus, ‘We have given up everything and followed you” (Mark 10:28).

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I once heard a story about two monks. One was an older monk who’d spent his entire life in the monastery.

The other was a young novice, who only recently entered.

One day, the older monk asked the novice to accompany him into town, as he needed several things from the marketplace.

On the way home, the monks came across a young woman struggling to cross a river. Naturally, they went over to help her.

But back at the monastery that night, the young novice was telling the other monks about this beautiful young woman he’d met earlier in the day.

The older monk, on the other hand, acted like he’d never seen her.

Pulling the novice aside, he said to him, “I left her at the river. It seems you’re still carrying her in your heart.”

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In the Gospel, Peter reminds Jesus that he’s left everything to follow him.

And that’s true on the surface: Peter’s left his home, his family, and his job.

But like that young monk, Peter’s carrying something extra in his heart… ambition.

Remember, just a few verses earlier Jesus catches him arguing with the other disciples over who’s the greatest.

They have yet to learn that the true disciple leaves his pride at the river.

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As we prepare for Lent, the Gospel challenges us to check our own ego.

For example, how often is life about me? In what ways am I selfish, making decisions out of a desire for personal gain?

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Even Peter, who gave much away to follow Jesus, didn’t have entirely pure motives yet.

He learned, as we all must, that our pride is the most difficult thing to leave behind.

But we will not be free until we do.