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Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Meditation
Luke 21:5-11

Jesus’ words to his disciples can sound like something right out of today’s newspapers. It seems that no matter where you look, you will find reports of war, famine, confusion, and unrest. And if you put all the pieces together in just the right way, you may be led to conclude that we really are living in the end times.

But Jesus was careful to tell his disciples not just to look out for signs that might predict the end. And doesn’t our own history bear this out? After all, we’ve seen ages before ours that were far worse off than we are, and still the end didn’t come. It’s just as Jesus told his disciples once: Just as the poor will always be with us, so too will “signs” of the end times. In a sense, we’ve been in the end times since the day Jesus ascended into heaven. He could come back any time, and no matter how hard we try to predict his coming, he will still catch us by surprise.

So how do we stay prepared for an event that we may not even live to see fulfilled? The answer is as simple today as it was two thousand years ago: by staying close to Jesus. Those of us who are married will remember what it was like when we first fell in love. We were so taken with our beloved that nothing could distract us from our desire to be with them. In a similar way, Jesus wants to become our beloved. He wants to so fill our imaginations that we want nothing more than to rest in his love and become pure vessels of that love to the world around us. And as this happens, we can become convinced that no matter what happens in the world, God is still in control.

As we pray every day and read Scripture, even if it’s just for five or ten minutes, our worries will diminish, and we will fall in love with Jesus. Then, whether Jesus comes back today or in ten thousand years, we will be ready to meet him with open arms.

“Lord, you know me and love me so completely that there is nothing I have to fear. Please fill me more and more with you so that my hope rests in your peace and not in the passing of world events.”

One Bread, One Body

<< Tuesday, November 23, 2004 >>

Pope St. Clement
St. Columban
Bl. Miguel Pro

Revelation 14:14-19

Psalm 96

Luke 21:5-11

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END TIMING

“Now is the time to reap.” —Revelation 14:15

At the end, Jesus, the King of kings, will come riding on a white cloud with a gold crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand (Rv 14:14). He will gather the harvest of justice (Rv 14:16). Then an angel will come from the temple in heaven. He will also wield a sharp sickle to gather the grapes of wrath (Rv 14:19). We will all be harvested, either by our loving Lord or by the “grim reaper.”

“When will this be, Teacher? And what will be the sign that it is going to happen?” (Lk 21:7) The answer is: Soon and “very soon” we are going to see the King (Rv 1:1). “Happy is the man who reads this prophetic message, and happy are those who hear it and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near!” (Rv 1:3) “As regards specific times and moments, brothers, we do not need to write you; you know very well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night. Just when people are saying, ‘Peace and security,’ ruin will fall on them with the suddenness of pains overtaking a woman in labor, and there will be no escape. You are not in the dark, brothers, that the day should catch you off guard, like a thief. No, all of you are children of light and of the day. We belong neither to darkness nor to night; therefore let us not be asleep like the rest, but awake and sober!” (1 Thes 5:1-6) “The One Who gives this testimony says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rv 22:20)

Prayer: Jesus, may I be ready for Your final coming at any time. I need to be ready now.

Promise: “Say among the nations: The Lord is King.” —Ps 96:10

Praise: Bl. Miguel’s priesthood lasted only two years before he was captured and martyred. Yet in those two years, he courageously defied Mexico City’s ban on worship and celebrated Mass secretly for thousands of Catholics.

Salvation,Mass bump.