In the season of Advent we prepare to celebrate the birth among us of He Who alone is Life eternal; life past, present and future without beginning or end. Life existing before us, now and ever after, world without end.
Before we can be born into the eternity that awaits us as a sharing in Life Himself, however, we must prepare to stand before Him as our judge when our earthly sojourn is through.
“In that time, Jesus said to his disciples: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations.” Luke 21:25-33
“Our Lord and Saviour wisheth to find us ready at His second coming. Therefore He telleth us what will be the evils of the world as it groweth old, that He may wean our hearts from worldly affections. Here we read what great convulsions will go before the end, that, if we will not fear God in our prosperity, we may at least be scourged into fearing His judgment when it is at hand.” (Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great,)
Through repentance for sin, amendment of life and faithfulness to worship and prayer we receive the graces of forgiveness and holiness that are His gift.
With the joy made possible by love of Christ and obedience for Him as Lord here and now we can truly receive Him at Christmas in our annual celebration of His first coming at His birth in Bethlehem.
And we will look forward with grateful expectation to His second coming to judge the living and the dead when this life and this world are through.
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