Beloved in Christ,
"You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come" (Lk 12:40). Jesus continues to teach lessons on discipleship and the Kingdom as he continues to head towards Jerusalem. Last week, He taught them to avoid attachment to material things, which St. Paul calls "the greed of that is idolatry" (Col 3:5). A couple of weeks before that, He instructed them on the one thing necessary and how to pray. This Sunday, He speaks on a subject that we are often uncomfortable about, the end of our life, and how to prepare for death.
A call to be watchful, alert, and ready for the coming of Christ is usually associated with Advent. Still, we get to hear about it during the liturgical season of the Ordinary Time. We hear about it from Christ himself: "You must be prepared" for his coming. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, whose feast we celebrate on August 20th, wrote of the third coming of Christ, the middle coming between the other two, when he comes as our rest and consolation. Christ's coming in this instance is associated with the end of life. Then we meet Jesus instantly. We must be prepared for this inevitable moment. This unavoidable coming must not put fear in us but bring about a re-awakening, a metanoia. It must awaken us to see things in the proper perspective.
This awakening and new consciousness that the reality of the end triggers desire for the good. We as people of faith, instead of living in morbid fear of this end, must seek to live a Christ-like life at the present moment- do not procrastinate. We can trust in Christ; He wants all of His flock prepared. He is a compassionate and merciful shepherd. He only asks us to act right and fast, no delay or postponement. It is NOW that we start living for that inevitable encounter with the coming of Christ. Let us gird our loins, let us stay alert, let us seek to reflect all that Christ is NOW, not later or tomorrow. Tomorrow may never happen. What do you need to do NOW to prepare for the unavoidable coming of Christ for you?
I want to express my appreciation for those who attended our parish Eucharistic adoration last Monday. We prayed together as one parish family, and I do not doubt that Jesus heard all our prayers. We must continue to pray and be prepared. We have a good companion and intercessor in Mary, the Mother of God. Let us be reminded that we celebrate the Solemnity of her glorious Assumption this week (Thursday/Friday), a Holy Day of Obligation.
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
"You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come" (Lk 12:40). Jesus continues to teach lessons on discipleship and the Kingdom as he continues to head towards Jerusalem. Last week, He taught them to avoid attachment to material things, which St. Paul calls "the greed of that is idolatry" (Col 3:5). A couple of weeks before that, He instructed them on the one thing necessary and how to pray. This Sunday, He speaks on a subject that we are often uncomfortable about, the end of our life, and how to prepare for death.
A call to be watchful, alert, and ready for the coming of Christ is usually associated with Advent. Still, we get to hear about it during the liturgical season of the Ordinary Time. We hear about it from Christ himself: "You must be prepared" for his coming. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, whose feast we celebrate on August 20th, wrote of the third coming of Christ, the middle coming between the other two, when he comes as our rest and consolation. Christ's coming in this instance is associated with the end of life. Then we meet Jesus instantly. We must be prepared for this inevitable moment. This unavoidable coming must not put fear in us but bring about a re-awakening, a metanoia. It must awaken us to see things in the proper perspective.
This awakening and new consciousness that the reality of the end triggers desire for the good. We as people of faith, instead of living in morbid fear of this end, must seek to live a Christ-like life at the present moment- do not procrastinate. We can trust in Christ; He wants all of His flock prepared. He is a compassionate and merciful shepherd. He only asks us to act right and fast, no delay or postponement. It is NOW that we start living for that inevitable encounter with the coming of Christ. Let us gird our loins, let us stay alert, let us seek to reflect all that Christ is NOW, not later or tomorrow. Tomorrow may never happen. What do you need to do NOW to prepare for the unavoidable coming of Christ for you?
I want to express my appreciation for those who attended our parish Eucharistic adoration last Monday. We prayed together as one parish family, and I do not doubt that Jesus heard all our prayers. We must continue to pray and be prepared. We have a good companion and intercessor in Mary, the Mother of God. Let us be reminded that we celebrate the Solemnity of her glorious Assumption this week (Thursday/Friday), a Holy Day of Obligation.
In Christ,
Fr. Alayode, OP
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