A Glimpse into Heaven

Every Second Sunday of Lent, we hear a gospel passage about the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor.  The apostles – Peter, James, and John – get a glimpse at the future glory of Jesus.  This gospel accounts that the face of Jesus changed in appearance and His clothes turned dazzling white.  He is seen with Moses and Elijah, two Old Testament saints who represent the Law and the Prophets.  The voice of Father is heard and the Holy Spirit is represented by a thick cloud.  In the Transfiguration, we are getting a preview of heaven — the goal of our lives.

So, what is heaven?  Heaven is being with God, the Most Holy Trinity for all eternity, surrounded by Our Lady and all the saints, and the holy angels.  Heaven is seeing Jesus face-to-face — the Beatific Vision – and being united with Him perfectly forever.  We will [hopefully] see many of our lost loved ones.  We will not be sad, we will not suffer, and we cannot sin.  St. Paul says, What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor 2:9).  The best memory we have, the best feeling of which we can conceive, the happiest we can ever remember being — heaven will be better than even these things.

In the meantime, we are here on earth with our eyes set on heaven.  The closest we will truly get to heaven on earth is the holy Mass.  As with the Transfiguration, the holy Mass is a glimpse of what heaven will be like.  In heaven, we will sing with the heavenly choirs in adoration of Almighty God.  In the Mass, we sing our responses and our voices join the chants and hymns of the Church.  In heaven, we will worship Jesus face-to-face.  In the Mass, we worship His presence under the veil of a sacrament.  In heaven, we are united to Jesus perfectly.  In the Mass, we are united to Jesus through holy Communion.

We might ask ourselves on this Sunday of the Transfiguration (March 16): Do I really see the Mass as a foretaste of heaven?  If I am bored or uninterested, why?  Am I the problem?  Do I desire eagerly to be with Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament constantly?  Is Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist truly my light and my salvation?