DEAR FRIENDS –
TODAY’S BLOG MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND YEAR I HAVE BEEN SHARING “A CATHOLIC DEACON’S PERSPECTIVE.” MY HOPE IS THAT IT HAS GIVEN YOU A DEEPER INSIGHT INTO YOUR JOURNEY WITH THE LORD. LAST YEAR’S “B” BLOG SUBMISSIONS WILL REMAIN ON THIS SITE TO REVIEW OR COMPARE THEM TO THIS YEAR “C” WHICH HAS ST. LUKE AS OUR GOSPEL PROVIDER. YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AS WE TRAVEL A PATH TO FOLLOW JESUS TO HIS PROMISE OF EVERLASTING LIFE FOR THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO HIS TRUTH OF LOVE, MERCY AND FORGIVENESS.
GOD BLESS,
DEACON JIM MERLE
Waiting is a common phenomenon these days which calls for patience. We wait in lines at grocery stores, banks, post offices and gas stations to name a few. Our hope is that whatever is happening ahead will be short lived decreasing our time so we can get on with whatever else we have planned.
Our spiritual life somewhat takes the same journey in regards to waiting and having patience as we try to follow God’s ways. It’s not so much about lining up for what we should do next, but it is more about making choices which give us balance in our life. In hindsight, it brings us to a question that asks: What have I planned in tandem with God’s plan for me to ensure that I am on the right path? Our two readings and Gospel today provide us with some insights in how to prepare for the two comings of Jesus and what to do while we wait.
We read about Jesus’ first coming from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah who writes about the lineage of Jesus from King David as promised by God the Father. “He shall do what is right and just in the land,” through His teaching and preaching about God’s plan for our life, His suffering and death on the cross for our sins, His Resurrection from the dead to reopen the gates of heaven for us and Ascension into heaven to welcome us home to the Kingdom of Heaven.
St. Paul’s first Letter to the Thessalonians encourages the community of believers in Thessalonica not to lose hope over the delay of the return of Christ in glory at the end of time. He tells them how they ought to live in this “between time” by loving one another to strengthen each other. They are to be strong in thought, word and deed by supporting all that Jesus taught us while He lived on earth.
In St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples to “be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent.” As Christians we are taught that God created us out of love so we could be with Him forever. One would think with this as a foundation for our lives that our free-will decisions would always point towards God’s ways which provide us with a promise of everlasting life. Unfortunately, they don’t. That is why we are constantly reminded by God in so many different ways of what we need to be alert in thought, word and deed, as well as in love, mercy and forgiveness.
Let us take this Advent season to look deeply into our heart, mind, soul and strength to see how we can and should make time for God in our life. We have been given a wonderful gift of everlasting life if we are faithful to God’s truth about His plan for us. For that reason alone, we need to be more proactive to ensure what we do spreads the Word of God. By doing this, all who are created by God have an opportunity to seize His promises because we have accepted the challenge to which we are called: Be present to those in need.
Reading 1: Jeremiah 33: 14-16
Reading 2: First Thessalonians 3: 12 – 4: 2
Gospel: Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36
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