Jesus is transfigured! Pretty cool. Why does this happen in the middle of Lent? Well, we need to see the Light at the end of the tunnel. The cross of life is tough. I don’t have to tell you that. We need motivation so we can glimpse a hint of joy even while suffering. The hint is a glimmer of Heaven. The Apostles see this in Jesus’ transfiguration. Also, some folks have near death experiences. They too, receive a glimmer that helps through the pain.
I had the fortune of meeting a young Hispanic man who received a near death experience. He had been in a coma because one of his organs had shut down. He was a youth minister and commented that “two churches had been praying for him.”
He said he found himself in a field of gold with beautiful wildflowers. When he looked at the sky, it was riddled with color, with blue or green, and yet it was a blue or green so pristine, so pure, it was as if it were the way blue or green were always meant to be. He heard music that was amazing coming from everywhere. If he put his ear to the ground, he could hear it even coming from the ground. He was filled with peace and joy. He decided to lie down in the field of gold and sleep. He later said, he thought “If I had slept, I might have passed on.” But just then, two angelic beings lifted him up from under his arms. When he looked at them, they had faces like children and yet their eyes contained the wisdom of an adult. They escorted him to the mouth of a cave. The cave extended beyond sight into the sky above. From the mouth of the cave emanated a blinding white light. As he approached the entrance, he closed his eyes to shield them from the light.
When he opened them, he found himself on an operating table with men and women in white attending to him. He later said that he wanted to share this experience with others.
I think it’s good to meditate on Heaven. Sometimes we can have a negative image of Heaven. I never like the idea of levels though some will be more glorified than others. I always felt like even if I made it, I would probably fall short of my best. I might hear St.Peter say, “not bad . . . 6.5.” However, St. Thomas Aquinas said that in Heaven, “The joy of one will increase in proportion to the joy of the whole, because each will love the other as him/herself.” So, some will be more glorified than others, but we will be filled with their joy too. Our vessels or beings, will be full, though they will be different sizes. According to Dante’s “Paradisio,” we will continue to open more and more to God’s love, like flowers to the sun, for all eternity. Also, in a private revelation, a villager saw her mother who had passed away in a heavenly vision. She said, “My mom was beautiful and joyful.” Then, a few years later, she saw her again in another vison. She said, “The second time, my mom was even more beautiful and joyful.” God is infinite so we can always grow infinitely more. I think that’s kinda cool. We will continue to open to mystery and wonder for all eternity. Eye has not seen, ear has not heard what God has planned for us. It will blow us away! Let us then be ready, be prepared, and keep our eyes fixed on the prize . . . Infinite Love.