He Will Come

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111818.cfm) reminds me that God’s second coming is certain.

There are a lot of things in this world that we hope for. There are a lot of things that we are made to believe. Media, especially social media nowadays, are powerful in influencing us on things, on what to expect, on what to want. However, these are not always true. Promises and expectations do not always get fulfilled. That is why people find it hard to believe and fully trust anymore, because anything can change and a lot of things can happen. Promises get broken. However, God’s word is not like this. 

When God says he will come soon, he will come soon.

The gospel says that heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will not. Everything can change, and will change, but his word remains. And he tells us what will come. He tells us what to expect. And he tells us that no one knows the specific day and hour of his second coming. We know it will come, that he will come again in glory, that we will all be judged, but no one knows when.

This reminds us that we should always prepare. For the past couple of days, we are being reminded to prepare. And this continues until now. We should prepare for the time when God will come in his glory and judge us.

Do I know that God will come to judge us? Do I prepare myself for God’s coming? Am I prepared to meet him again? 

May we be inspired to prepare, so we can be one of those mentioned in the first reading that will shine when God comes. May we live knowing that this world will pass away, and we should prepare for eternity – either with God or without him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, help me always be aware of this. Sorry for the times I get distracted and focus too much on the world. Sorry for the times I ignore you. You know that I love you and I want to spend eternity with you. help me live preparing for it. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g- 

Daily Readings

November 18, 2018

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 158

Reading 1 DN 12:1-3

In those days, I Daniel,
heard this word of the Lord:
"At that time there shall arise
Michael, the great prince,
guardian of your people;
it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress
since nations began until that time.
At that time your people shall escape,
everyone who is found written in the book.

"Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;
some shall live forever,
others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.

"But the wise shall shine brightly
like the splendor of the firmament,
and those who lead the many to justice
shall be like the stars forever."

Responsorial Psalm PS 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

R. (1) You are my inheritance, O Lord!
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

Reading 2 HEB 10:11-14, 18

Brothers and sisters:
Every priest stands daily at his ministry,
offering frequently those same sacrifices
that can never take away sins.
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,
and took his seat forever at the right hand of God;
now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.
For by one offering
he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.

Where there is forgiveness of these,
there is no longer offering for sin.

Alleluia LK 21:36

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 13:24-32

Jesus said to his disciples:
"In those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

"And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds'
with great power and glory,
and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,
you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that he is near, at the gates.
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.

"But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."