Do you think much about the Second Coming?
The people of Israel struggled with the idea of being faithful to covenant. The author of the Book of Malachi, God’s messenger, writes to remind people that evildoers, those who rely upon themselves and have no need of God, will be lost to the conflagration when the end comes: all the proud and all the evildoers will be like stubble, and the day is coming that will set them on fire. The proud have no substance; they have abandoned the substance God has made and will disappear into the air. But for you who fear my name, the Lord says, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays. In the dark vision of Malachi, there is hope for those who are good. Paul must likewise reassure the Thessalonians, who believe that, since the Second Coming is imminent, they have no need to work: if anyone is unwilling to work, neither shall that one eat, Paul says. The Second Coming will occur, but the Thessalonians are to live actively in the present, supporting their community and continuing to be a witness to God’s love.
Jesus similarly warns of the difficulties of the end times, in Luke’s Gospel: nation will rise against nation, and his disciples will be hated by all because of Jesus’ name. Yet all this is nothing in light of the lives they will secure if they are faithful, eternal lives lived in Christ. Don’t worry about the end times, Jesus says, worry about staying true to God. Be prepared, but know that the Lord will provide all you need: I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist. Participate in salvation by doing the work of Christ now, today, by living the Gospel, even if imperfectly. Be a witness to God’s love and fear not the physical death that is to come, for if you allow Christ to live in you and if you live in him, then you will know salvation and will be reborn eternally in Christ. By your perseverance you will secure your lives, Jesus says. After all, Psalm 98 reminds us, The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice… but in his own time. That promise of justice offers us hope for eternal life. For the moment, though, we don’t need to focus on the timing: just be ready, and remain faithful. The moment the Lord comes to rule our lives is moment we will no longer fear death because we accept his rule, his justice, his embrace. Then and only then will we live entirely in him and he in us, for all eternity.
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
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