coming soon (see aug. 25)
"He will strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus." —1 Corinthians 1:8
We know that Jesus is coming a second and final time, but we don't know when. "You cannot know the day your Lord is coming" (Mt 24:42). This motivates us to "stay awake" and be prepared. "Happy that servant whom his master discovers at work on his return!" (Mt 24:46) We try not to fight with our fellow servants (Mt 24:49). The awareness of Jesus' final coming helps us see things in the right perspective. Time and eternity are too precious for us to be entangled with petty disagreements and selfish jealousies. Also, we refrain from getting involved with the foolish pleasures of the world. In the light of Jesus' second coming, material things lose much of their value. Jesus' final coming is not only concerned with life after death but also transforms our lives before death.
His second coming is and will be such a wonderful part of God's plan of salvation. We rejoice in the final day the Lord has made and try to hasten it by our repentance, intercession, and evangelization (2 Pt 3:12). With the believers of all time, we cry out: "Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!" (see 1 Cor 16:22) He answers: "Soon and very soon" (see Rv 1:1).
Prayer: Lord, I want to be ready. I give my life to You. Do with me as You want.
Promise: "I continually thank my God for you because of the favor He has bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, in Whom you have been richly endowed with every gift of speech and knowledge." —1 Cor 1:4-5
Praise: St. Monica endured the lies, rejection, and sinful lifestyle of her son without ever wavering in hopes that he would be repent and be converted to the Catholic Church. She was not content with mere conversion, but prayed persistently that her son would serve the Lord with abandon. She rejoiced to see her son, St. Augustine, be received into the Church.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, February 17, 1998
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 25, 1998