Reflections for Sunday
First Sunday of Advent - November 30, 2003
Signs will appear in the sun, the moon, and the stars. People will faint from fear of what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then you will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, for your redemption is near.Luke 21: 25-28
Who Will Be Saved?
A day is coming when the Lord Jesus, the Son of Man, will judge the living and the dead. We do not know what that day will bring for us, whether it will be a day of fear or rejoicing. But what will become of us on that day is a matter of urgent concern. For no matter how deeply we are rooted in this world, no matter how attached to earthly things, or how passionately we embrace life, we are in the end wayfarers in this world. We have a deep yearning within us to be set free from the burdens of our earthly life and be with God.
Nothing is more important than our being with God, yet we cannot assure ourselves of a place in the kingdom of heaven. No one is without sin. The Lord who judges knows everything about us. If none but the perfect can have a place in heaven, who can be saved? We can do nothing but place ourselves at the mercy of the Lord. But must we wait in fear for the coming of the Son of Man? Can we not live in hope that we will be welcomed into the kingdom?
The Lord Jesus gives us hope. He has given his word on who will be welcomed into the kingdom. Those who have fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, welcomed a stranger, clothed the naked, cared for one who is sick, or visited a prisoner will be saved. Others may find a place in God's mercy, but those who heed this teaching are promised salvation.
Do an act of kindness every day. Someday it may be the last thing you do on earth. Our end will not come with terrible portents in the heavens. More likely it will be in a dark, lonely room, when the angel of death comes silently to take us from this life. We will take nothing with us but the good we did to others. May we take enough of kindness to prevail on the Lord to show us his mercy and welcome us into his kingdom.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.Prayer of St. Francis