1) If we are living as true followers of Jesus there will always

be tension in our lives

.
2) Because we are made for heaven
.
That is to say
.
.to SEE God in his glory, majesty, power, purity, brilliance,
goodness
.
.to BE with God in his glory, majesty, power, purity,
brilliance, goodness
.
...to EXPRERIENCE his love
...to live in loving communion with him
...to love others in him
.
.
That is why we exist
.

3) That is why St Paul says in today's second reading that we

are citizens of heaven.this is not our home!!!
.
.
and so it is not surprising that Peter wanted to make tents in
today's Gospel...he wanted to stay with the transfigured Jesus
because that is what he was made for...to stay with Jesus and
be with him in his glory!
.
.
4) BUT...we are not in heaven yet
.
.
We can and should have a foretaste of heaven
.
.
even in this world we can and should SEE something of God's
goodness, and be with him, and experience his love, and love
him back
.
and yet there will always be something missing...our hearts

will always lack the fulness of that for which we were made
and we should always be longing for heaven...our true home
.
.
In this world, there will always be pain, and suffering and
trials and struggles and sin
.
.
only in heaven will there be no more pain, no more crying, no
more death, no more sin
in heaven there will be perfect abundance and beauty and
health and love and joy and peace
.
.
and so we should be longing for heaven, we should have our
eyes, our minds, our hearts fixed on heaven
.
.
BUT THERE IS A TENSION
.
we are still in this world, we must still live fully in this world
.
we must never be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly

good!
.
GOD has given us a mission in this world before we reach
heaven
.
.
we are to start to live the life of heaven right here and now
.
we are to proclaim in this world, the love and goodness and
beauty of God...through our words and through our deeds,
through our life and action and lifetyle
.
we are to help others experience God's love and goodness,
.
we are to help others become prepared for heaven, we are
called to rescue others from death and help them have life
through repentance and faith in Christ
.
we are called to transform this present world
.
and make it as much like heaven as possible...
.
we are called to fight poverty and injustice and sickness and
hatred
.
.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS LET US LIVE LIFE IN THIS

TENSION
.
let us fix our eyes, hearts and mind on heaven our true home,
let us LONG for the time when Jesus will come again,
.
when he will transform our present bodies into glorious
bodies like his,
.
when he will bring about the fulness of the Kingdom,
.
when everyone will know and love him and serve him and
God the Father
.
.
But let us be committed to living in this world and carrying
out our mission in this world, loving in this world andplaying
our part in the transformation of this world to make it more
and more like heaven