Tenting

So, this past week, I took a few days to go camping with some friends at Lake Mineral Wells State Park, near Fort Worth. I didn’t grow up camping in the outdoors, but in the past few years, I have grown to enjoy camping. Not many people know this but, in the back of my Jeep, I always have my tent and hammock ready. If ever there is a need, or if my car broke down in the middle of nowhere, I could easily set up my tent.

This week, the readings have been filled images of a tents. Why tents? Well, I think what makes a tent a tent and not a house or a home, is the fact that tents are temporary. It is when you are just visiting, or on a journey, or passing through that often times you sleep and stay in tents. And normally, you would not stay in tent in one place for very long.

When the Scriptures speak of tents, it is often used as an image for our transitory human life. Our life here on earth is like a tent. It's temporary. We are not meant to settle down in this tent and live forever.

The prophet Isaiah says, “My dwelling, like a shepherd’s tent, is struck down and borne away from me; You have folded up my life, like a weaver who severs me from the last thread.” (Is 38:12)

St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians writes,

“For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven. For in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly habitation…” (2 Cor 5:1-2)

The Church is on a pilgrim journey from this temporary “dwelling” to a “new” and “permanent” dwelling: to Heaven. Far too often, I think we forget this very fact. This life here, is not the goal.

In the gospel today, Peter says to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." At first, it seems like a normal response, but remember what just happened before this. Six days before, Jesus told him of the suffering and death he will have to undergo and he puts his foot in his mouth saying, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” And Jesus rebukes him, “Get behind me, Satan!”

Now, on top of the mountain, Jesus reveals to Peter, James and John his glory in the transfiguration. Jesus gives them a glimpse of Heaven. A glimpse of the end. This is the glory that is promised us. And in this moment Peter says, “Lord it is good that we are here, if you wish, I will make three tents here…” “Let’s not go to Jerusalem, let’s forget about all this suffering and death business.” “Let’s simply stay here in a tent, with your glory.” At this point in his life, Peter has not understood or accepted that this life is a pilgrim journey and that it requires suffering. But he will. As we know, at the end of his life he accepts martyrdom and is crucified upside down.

In the second reading, we read from the second letter of St. Peter. Peter is now mature, he has experienced the resurrection, he has followed Jesus’ command and tended to the sheep. If we read right before this reading, St. Peter writes:

“I will always remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this “tent,” to stir you up by a reminder, since I know that I will soon have to put it aside, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me.” (2 Peter 1:12-14)

 “We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (2 Pt 1:16)

The mature, St. Peter, finally understood what he saw on top of that mountain. He understood with great faith now the power and glory of Jesus Christ. He understood that this life is only a passing state and that the goal is the glory that Christ showed him. He understood that we are on a pilgrimage.

Sometimes, it is tempting to treat this life as a tourist rather than a pilgrim. What is a tourist? A tourist is someone who goes somewhere to see and experience nice things and then return home. Although they are on a journey, their journey is simply exterior. It is only about the things out there. But being a pilgrim is different. If you have ever been on a pilgrimage, you know that it is not only an exterior journey, but also an interior one. You and I are interiorly on a journey, from our own sinfulness and brokenness to becoming more Christ-like. The goal is not only to encounter Christ in Heaven, but that we ourselves have arrived as Christ. If we are successful in this interior journey, we will be able to echo the words of St. Paul and say: “I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me…” (Gal 2:20) A pilgrim is ultimately someone who is changed by the journey.

We are not tourists on vacation. We are pilgrims on a journey.

The question for you and I today is: Are we living as tourists or pilgrims? Have we come to Mass simply to see and experience nice things and then return home unchanged? Or have we come to take another step interiorly towards Christ? Am I moving towards Christ as a disciple? Or am I like Peter? Am I just trying everything I can to enjoy my life now without realizing that God wants so much more for us?

Today, do not return home unchanged. Take one step towards Christ in your life. Be transformed into the figure of Jesus Christ. Be transfigured.