Dear Friends in Christ,
During the month of November, the Church’s attention turns towards preparedness for the coming of the Lord. Jesus is clear in Scripture that no one, except God Himself, knows the day or the hour of the Second Coming. In faith and hope, each time we pray the Creed, we look forward to that day, asking that God prepare us for it through His grace.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ predictions about the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and the events that will surround the end of time. These predictions seem frightening. But, what is the relevant message Jesus is trying to give us today?
Readiness for the Lord’s coming is a daily exercise. Though we do not know the day or hour of His return at time’s end, we do know that someday we will meet the Lord, face to face, at our death. Our faith teaches us that we will be judged on our love…how we have loved God and our neighbor or how we have not loved them. Our love of God and neighbor is now reflected in our actions of charity as well as our decisions in the moral life. Jesus says, in John 14:15 “if you love me, you will
keep my commandments.”
Each day is a new opportunity that God gives us to get ready for His coming. The following questions can help gauge our readiness. How is my practice of the Faith? How is my prayer life? When was the last time I went to Confession? Do I seek Gods grace in the Sacraments? Do I put my faith into action through charitable works shown towards my neighbor? Am I open to growing in my friendship with God? How much do I want Heaven? Let us thank God for the gift of each new day, hour and moment. In all these, God holds out to us graces which, if we receive, can bring us growth and transformation. Waiting for the Lord’s coming need not be an experience
of fear for us but of joyful longing for our friend and Savior.
In Christ, Fr. Michael