There’s something powerful about knowing where you belong. I remember the very first time that I went to Rome. I was in seminary and was traveling with a group of my closest friends. The second we walked into the arms of the portico that surrounds St. Peter’s Square, I instantly knew that I was home. If you’ve ever been to Rome, you likely experienced something similar.

We’ve all had experiences like that at some point, where we have walked into a place and instantly felt at home – like everything just fit, and we were exactly where we were meant to be. On the flip side, we all know what it’s like to feel out of place, like a stranger in unfamiliar territory. It can be an unsettling feeling, that sense that you feel deep down that we just don’t quite fit.

In his Letter to the Philippians, St. Paul reminds us today of a truth that we very often forget, or in the very least that we have grown complacent with: our citizenship is in Heaven (Phil 3:20). The fact is, no matter how much we try to settle into this world – no matter how much success, comfort, or security we build – there is a something within us that will make us feel restless. Why? Because we are not made for this world. Our hearts, our souls were made for something much greater, something eternal.

And this is exactly what the Transfiguration reveals to us.

In the Gospel, Peter, James, and John go up the mountain with Jesus, and suddenly, He is transformed before them. They see Him in dazzling glory, talking with Moses and Elijah. That must have been an incredible and terrifying sight. But in that experience, for a brief moment, they get a glimpse of something beyond this world – a glimpse of their true home, their true citizenship. It’s as if Jesus is pulling back some kind of veil and saying to them, “Guys, THIS is what you were made for.”

Understandably, Peter is overwhelmed and wants to stay in that moment. He tells the Lord: “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents.” He wants to hold on to the experience, to stay in the comfort of this divine revelation. And that’s not a bad thing, but it’s not what the Lord wanted. It wasn’t the plan.

In the Transfiguration, Jesus shows his closest disciples His glory, but then He does something that’s important for us to remember: He leads them back down the mountain – back into the struggles of life, back to the road that would lead to the cross, back to the path that will eventually lead to their own deaths. Why? Because they, like us, still had work to do. Their mission was not quite complete…it hadn’t even really begun!

We can relate to that. It’s easy for us to want to escape the difficulties of life, to build our own tents in places of comfort. We want to cling to what is familiar, to settle in and make this world our home. But Lent reminds us that we are on a journey. We are simply pilgrims passing through. Yes, our destination is Heaven, to dwell there with the Lord for all eternity…but we’re not there yet. Right now, we live in the tension of being citizens of Heaven while still walking the roads of Earth.

So, here’s the challenge for this week: we need to live like we belong in Heaven.

When we feel frustrated, ask ourselves, “Is this something that really matters in eternity?”

When we’re tempted to give in to sin, remind ourselves, “This isn’t who I am – I belong to Christ.”

When life gets difficult, hold on to hope, because this world is not the end of the story.

The Transfiguration was a momentary glimpse of the reality that awaits us, a reminder that our true home is not in the struggles of this world but in the glory of God. And it’s a reminder for us, too…we are made for something more. The struggles, the sacrifices, the suffering we endure on this journey – they’re not meaningless. They’re part of the road that leads to eternal life. They help lead us to Heaven.

So, don’t settle. Don’t get too comfortable. Keep moving forward. Because one day, when we finally reach our true home, we won’t just feel like we belong – we will belong. That will be the best feeling we will ever experience.

Readings for Mass: Second Sunday of Lent

Painting: The Transfiguration of Christ, Peter Paul Rubens. 1605. Museum of Fine Arts of Nancy. Wikimedia Commons. Used under public domain.