First Sunday of Advent

There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.

If we live our lives in accordance with Jesus’ teachings, we will have nothing to fear at the end of our lives or at the end of time. We will be able to stand erect and raise our head, confident in our redemption. What a wonderful gift God has given us in Jesus and his Good News. He has shown us the way to our salvation. It is by becoming more Christ-like that we will be able to prepare ourselves for the trials and tribulations of life and be able to come out of them with hearts forged in the fires of suffering and tempered with love and mercy. We do not need to be afraid of the end because it shall also be the beginning of our lives with God in Heaven as long as we have lived a good life.

Are we afraid of the end of our lives or the end times? If so, then why are we fearful and what can we do to change our fears into hopes? Are we willing to have our hearts tested, purified, and cleansed through whatever means God chooses?

O Lord, may we stand erect and raise our heads as we wait in hope for your coming.

Amen.

Thirty-Forth Friday of Ordinary Time

Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

After Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the gentiles, he tells his disciples this parable because he wants them to know that although much suffering will be coming to Jerusalem his disciples should not misunderstand it and despair. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the words of his gospel will never perish because they are the truth and never changing. Each of us is called to found our faith upon Jesus’ message of love, mercy, and grace. Unlike worldly things and people, the truths of Christ will not pass away. They will not fail us. They will last now and forever. We can learn a lot from Jesus’ words. We have only to open ourselves to them, study them, and let them work through us from this day forth.

Are we afraid of suffering or the end of our lives? Is our faith firmly founded upon our beliefs in Jesus’ Good News? Do we allow God to work through us in imitation of Jesus Christ?

O Lord, your words will never pass away. Let them remain in our hearts, always.

Amen.