“PEOPLE WILL DIE OF FRIGHT IN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT IS COMING UPON THE WORLD, FOR THE POWERS OF THE HEAVENS WILL BE SHAKEN.” LK 21:20-28
Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
Prayer Prompt before reading LK 21:20-28: Come, Holy Spirit, teach me how to pray, interpret the Scriptures for me so that I may know the Truth about who God the Father and God the Son are so that I may know who I am.
Today, Jesus reveals important spiritual lessons about the end of the world. The Catholic Church defines them in the catechism:
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Christ the Lord already reigns through the Church, but all the things of this world are not yet subjected to him. The triumph of Christ’s kingdom will not come about without one last assault by the powers of evil.
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On Judgment Day at the end of the world, Christ will come in glory to achieve the definitive triumph of good over evil which, like the wheat and the tares, have grown up together in the course of history.
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When he comes at the end of time to judge the living and the dead, the glorious Christ will reveal the secret disposition of hearts and will render to each man according to his works and according to his acceptance or refusal of grace.
Therefore, “The Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory,” is already here in the life of the Church. God’s grace, His life in us, is here right now. Jesus is here in the Eucharist sacrificing Himself for us right now giving us every grace we need to be holy. He is waiting for us to ask for forgiveness and repent in the confessional right now. We do NOT have to remain in our sin and can be holy now!
We are reborn in Baptism, die to our old self, and make vows to fight Satan/sin, follow the Truths of the Creed, and grow in holiness, right now. This grace is working through us to transform us and make us other Christs. We are given a free will to choose grace or reject it. The life of the Church guided by the Holy Spirit in the Mystical Body of Christ is our call to holiness. We accept it or reject it everyday.
Peter Kreeft says, “Our physical death is easier than dying to self right here right now.” It’s harder to give up your will for God’s Will while we are alive than to die physically. Very few people have a change of heart on their death bed. We are set in our ways very early in life, but with God’s grace anything is possible.
His love is the most powerful thing in the world. God IS love and mercy, ready to give it to anyone who asks. Jesus is the light that reveals all things even those things we don’t want others to know and see about us (we all have them, you are not the only one), “the glorious Christ will reveal the secret disposition of hearts and will render to each man according to his works and according to his acceptance or refusal of grace.”
God did not send His only Son to condemn us but to save us. JN 3:16 God does not condemn us, we condemn ourselves by rejecting Him (at Mass, not going to confession or a daily act of contrition, in the people in your home, school, workplace that He put in your life). We cannot hide anything from God.
As we prepare for Advent, may we be mindful of the memorial of God pure Spirit “the Word” becoming Man in the flesh, totally and completely vulnerable as a baby in the manger surrounded by animal dung with an animal trough as His bed. He had to be clothed and fed by lowly humans.
Is there any single event where God teaches us humility better than this. The cross probably beats it, but God becoming a Man is a close second. It is a season of preparation to look inward deep into our heart and ask for a more resolute and contrite heart. If our hearts are hard, may they be pierced with a single ray of Christ’s light to open up and be vulnerable for Him.
If we are holding grudges or have given up on asking for forgiveness because the battle for holiness seems impossible, may a ray of Christ’s light pierce your heart, so that you are ready to make a good confession, get up, dust yourself off, and prepare for the next battle.
Jesus can’t lie. He will return today, tomorrow, or at your death and your heart will be judged. He has given all. His love for you is greater than your own love for yourself. God has done everything He needs to to save you and welcome you into the Kingdom. How will you respond to His love and grace? Your eternal future depends on it.
Today’s challenge: Set a timer on your phone to lessen the time you spend on social media, video games, Youtube, etc. Take the extra time that you have and sit with God in silence. God’s voice is a still small voice. Train yourself to be still and silent. Stop your mind from racing and put yourself in the presence of God. Then, ask God to speak, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3
As John the Baptist said, “He must increase and I must decrease.” JN 3:30 This Advent, make prayer a habit in the same place at the same time. Train yourself to sit in silence and pray, reflect daily on Scripture where God speaks to your heart and moves it, and find a good spiritual book to help you grow in your faith.
We cannot worship something we don’t know. If God gave us an intellect, shouldn’t we use it to continue to get to know Him, our Creator, our Savior, and the Holy Spirit together with Mary and Joseph. God wants a daily relationship with us, that is why He became human!
Be a servant, be a saint today!
#Christian YODO, 212
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