2 Timothy 1:9
"He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design."
Readings for Sunday: Genesis, 2 Timothy, Matthew
Reflection:
In the Gospel, as Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to suffer and die on the cross, he takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain by themselves. Mountains in Scripture are places where heaven and earth meet—where God reveals himself. This ascent points to heaven itself. Jesus leads them; they do not get there on their own, reminding us that heaven is not something we achieve by our own efforts, nor can we rely on someone else’s faith. Relationship with God is personal, and it is Jesus who brings us there.
On the mountain, Jesus is transfigured: his face shines like the sun and his clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear, representing the Law and the Prophets—the whole of the Old Testament. Their presence reveals who Jesus truly is: the fulfillment of everything God ever promised, from Abraham onward. In Jesus, God’s plan to save humanity from sin and everlasting death is revealed. He is not just a teacher, but God incarnate, come to restore our broken relationship with the Father.
This is why heaven is better than hell. God created us for himself, for relationship with him. We are only truly at peace when we live in loving union with God. Heaven is the fullness of that union—complete, tangible, and loving beyond our comprehension. Hell, by contrast, is the absence of God: no sense of his presence, no experience of his love, no living relationship with him.
That relationship is only possible through Jesus Christ. Through his passion, death, and resurrection, he forgives our sins and opens the way to heaven. Peter wanted to stay on the mountain, but they had to come down, because the cross had to come first—and because the disciples themselves still needed transformation. The same is true for us. Lent reminds us that we must be transformed, sanctified through hardship and grace, so that we may one day share in Christ’s glory. To live with God forever in heaven—that is better than hell.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways am I relying on others’ faith (family, tradition, culture) instead of allowing Jesus to personally lead me into a deeper relationship with him?
- If heaven is complete loving union with God, do I truly desire that relationship now—or do I find myself saying “thy kingdom come… but not yet”? What does that reveal about my heart?
- What crosses, hardships, or areas of needed transformation in my life might Jesus be using to prepare me to share in his glory and grow closer to him?