Awaiting Christ’s Return
Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 (11:1-2, 8-12); Luke 12:32-48 (12:35-40)
“The night of the passover”, which was announced to the Israelites, witnessed a viral epidemic among the firstborn of Egypt (Ps 78:50-51). When the Israelites sang the paschal hymns (Ps 113-118), the Egyptians mourned the death of their children (Wisdom 18: 5-10). The Egyptian pharaoh would never ordered the killing of all newborn Israeli boys (Ex 1:16.22), if he knew the future consequences of his evil action. The same goes for the foolish servant who began to beat other servants, eat, and get drunk because of the delay of his Lord’s return (Luke 12: 45-46).
Whether the Egyptians or the foolish servant, both could avoid their fate if only they believed the word of God (Ex 5:1-2; Lk 12:40). The letter to the Hebrews defines faith as an assurance of the tings we hope for and a proof of the existence of invisible realities (Heb 11: 1-2). Abraham and Sarah hoped for a son and God granted their wish (Hbr 11:11). Moses saw a heavenly temple and it became a pattern to build an earthly one (Ex 25:40; Hbr 8:5). The essence of faith is “trust” we place in God and His word. But, we need to be aware that the fulfilment of God’s promise does not necessarily have to take place in our lifetime.
In the resurrection and ascension of Christ, we saw the future of humankind, but we have not yet entered that future. Like our forefathers in faith, we saw it and greeted it from afar. And like them, we acknowledged ourselves “strangers and alien on earth” in search of a “better homeland, a heavenly one” (Heb 11:13-14). During the Mass, we proclaim the mystery of our faith: ‘Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again’. It is this return of the Lord that we await (Luke 12:36), because his coming will “achieve the definitive triumph of good over evil” (CCC, 681). But how should we wait for His coming?
“Let your loins be girded” (Luke 12:35). When the risen Lord appeared on the lake of Galilee, Peter “girded himself” by putting on his coat, “for he was naked” (John 21:7). We cannot stand in front of Christ “naked”. We need to put on a garment symbolizing our new life in Christ. “Faith without works is dead”, writes Saint James (James 2:17). This statement is confirmed by the eleventh chapter of the Hebrews. All those who are mentioned in that chapter (Hbr 11:4-40), responded to God’s call with an active and obedient trust.
“And your candles burning” (Luke 12:35). In the Temple of Jerusalem was a seven-branched candelabrum, called the menorah, that stood before the Holy of Holies. The candles of this candelabrum illuminated the interior of the temple in the evening (2 Chron 13:11). This light symbolized the presence of God, but it was also intended to remind the Israelites that they were called to be “the light of the nations” (Isaiah 42:6). Then, our Savior tells us that we are “the light of the world” (Mt 5:14) and that our light should shine before people so that by seeing our good works they may praise our heavenly Father (Mt 5:16).
Although we do not know the day of Christ’s return (Mt. 24: 42.44), we await Him with our whole being (Psalm 33:20). How could it be otherwise? After all we await the One through whom the universe was created (Ps 33: 6), who frustrates the plans of the nations (Ps 33:10) and who chose us for His inheritance (Ps. 33:12). We trust that His coming will save us from death and keep us alive forever (Ps. 33: 18-19). And so we pray: “May your unfailing love be with us, O Lord, who put our hope in you.” (Ps. 33:22).
You can also visit the author's page: Reading Bible
Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 (11:1-2, 8-12); Luke 12:32-48 (12:35-40)
“The night of the passover”, which was announced to the Israelites, witnessed a viral epidemic among the firstborn of Egypt (Ps 78:50-51). When the Israelites sang the paschal hymns (Ps 113-118), the Egyptians mourned the death of their children (Wisdom 18: 5-10). The Egyptian pharaoh would never ordered the killing of all newborn Israeli boys (Ex 1:16.22), if he knew the future consequences of his evil action. The same goes for the foolish servant who began to beat other servants, eat, and get drunk because of the delay of his Lord’s return (Luke 12: 45-46).
Whether the Egyptians or the foolish servant, both could avoid their fate if only they believed the word of God (Ex 5:1-2; Lk 12:40). The letter to the Hebrews defines faith as an assurance of the tings we hope for and a proof of the existence of invisible realities (Heb 11: 1-2). Abraham and Sarah hoped for a son and God granted their wish (Hbr 11:11). Moses saw a heavenly temple and it became a pattern to build an earthly one (Ex 25:40; Hbr 8:5). The essence of faith is “trust” we place in God and His word. But, we need to be aware that the fulfilment of God’s promise does not necessarily have to take place in our lifetime.
In the resurrection and ascension of Christ, we saw the future of humankind, but we have not yet entered that future. Like our forefathers in faith, we saw it and greeted it from afar. And like them, we acknowledged ourselves “strangers and alien on earth” in search of a “better homeland, a heavenly one” (Heb 11:13-14). During the Mass, we proclaim the mystery of our faith: ‘Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again’. It is this return of the Lord that we await (Luke 12:36), because his coming will “achieve the definitive triumph of good over evil” (CCC, 681). But how should we wait for His coming?
“Let your loins be girded” (Luke 12:35). When the risen Lord appeared on the lake of Galilee, Peter “girded himself” by putting on his coat, “for he was naked” (John 21:7). We cannot stand in front of Christ “naked”. We need to put on a garment symbolizing our new life in Christ. “Faith without works is dead”, writes Saint James (James 2:17). This statement is confirmed by the eleventh chapter of the Hebrews. All those who are mentioned in that chapter (Hbr 11:4-40), responded to God’s call with an active and obedient trust.
“And your candles burning” (Luke 12:35). In the Temple of Jerusalem was a seven-branched candelabrum, called the menorah, that stood before the Holy of Holies. The candles of this candelabrum illuminated the interior of the temple in the evening (2 Chron 13:11). This light symbolized the presence of God, but it was also intended to remind the Israelites that they were called to be “the light of the nations” (Isaiah 42:6). Then, our Savior tells us that we are “the light of the world” (Mt 5:14) and that our light should shine before people so that by seeing our good works they may praise our heavenly Father (Mt 5:16).
Although we do not know the day of Christ’s return (Mt. 24: 42.44), we await Him with our whole being (Psalm 33:20). How could it be otherwise? After all we await the One through whom the universe was created (Ps 33: 6), who frustrates the plans of the nations (Ps 33:10) and who chose us for His inheritance (Ps. 33:12). We trust that His coming will save us from death and keep us alive forever (Ps. 33: 18-19). And so we pray: “May your unfailing love be with us, O Lord, who put our hope in you.” (Ps. 33:22).
You can also visit the author's page: Reading Bible
