Heaven is near

Thursday February 19^th,  Mark 9:  2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Jesus crossed the reality of this world into the reality of the next.  Something new was taking place.  Something new was breaking into the world.  Something new that was already here and the people just didn’t see it.  We don’t see it today either, most of the time.  That feeling that things are going to be OK in the midst of tragedy, that tingle at the sign of the true beauty of creation, that feeling of closeness and love from another human being, they all let us know in one way or another that the newness of God’s love has touched our souls.  What we have to understand is that newness is only newness because we so seldom open ourselves up to that kind of love.  In reality it has been around since the creation of the world.  Here the chasm between God and humanity is crossed and after the flurry of the moment, Jesus brings that down the mountain into the often dusty and dirty streets of our world.  The Kingdom of Heaven is near.  If you are looking for Hallmark beauty and perfection, you probably missed it.