Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Today’s Gospel is a tough pill to swallow. 

It highlights two of the perennial challenges of the Church: remaining relevant in people’s lives and bringing them to Christ.

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Jesus has just been transfigured before three of his disciples: Peter, James, and John.

Now, coming back down the mountain, they’ve come across a public relations nightmare.

The other disciples have very obviously and publicly failed. 

Although they’ve been given authority over evil spirits, the disciples cannot seem to cast a demon out of a young boy.

It wasn’t due to a lack power; it was due to a lack of faith.

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Then there’s the boy’s father. 

Despite the failure of the disciples, he never doubts the power of Jesus. It’s as if he says, “Let me get to Jesus myself, and my problem will be solved. I don’t need the help of the disciples.”

Meaning, “I don’t need the help of the Church. I must go to Jesus myself.”

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How many people today feel like this boy’s father? They push the Church aside and look for Jesus on their own.

This happens for many reasons, but at times the Church is to blame. Like the disciples in the Gospel, we have the authority of Christ, but sometimes lack the faith or courage to use it well.

Herein lies the good news and the challenge for us – and really the Church in every age.

The good news is that many believe in God. But not everyone believes they can find God in the Sacraments of the Church.

Our mission is to show them how they can and why the Church matters.

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What has been my experience of the Church? And how do I draw others to believe God is found here?

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Share those reasons with others today.

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“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?

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

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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.

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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. 

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“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.

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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.