The Second Coming

I. Did you ever wait for something, such as

a) To drive (get your license)

b) To graduate high school and college

c) To begin dating, getting engaged, wedding day

d) New job, new car, new house

All of us wait for these moments, things, and persons in our lives. All of them good, but yet there is even something better that we should be waiting for and waiting for it with more expectation and desire, that is the Lord’s return, what we mistakenly sometimes call the end of the world. It seems odd to want something like the end of the world to happen, but it is exactly what the Lord wants us to do.

Since prophecy began we (human beings) have looked to the heavens for the apocalypse, Armageddon, the return of Christ, or the mistaken notion of “the end of the world.” Yet, our worldly desires for the most part prevail and we do not dwell on the Lord’s return, all the things I mentioned before distract us.

Before anything else this notion of the end of the world does not exist in Scripture, when the prophets, apostles, and Jesus speak of the second coming they are referring to a renewal, a major shift, a returning back to what the universe was like before the fall of man, a place of grace without sin, a new heavens and a new earth. One of our major prayers reminds us of this, “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen”

Even though we get caught up in our lives, our interest and curiosity will flare up from time to time regarding the return of Christ. Prophecy and end of the world scenarios have always peeked human interest. Through the 1950’s and up until the late 1980’s we lived through the cold war with Russia. If you remember there was always the threat of nuclear war. Movies, books, media took advantage of it and further fueled the threat of Armageddon. Some religions, such as Jehovah Witnesses predicted the end of the world in 1974, even Christians did such, ones who were prominent radio and television evangelists. It seems that this interest-curiosity has not subsided; we now have the Mayan prophecies regarding 2012 and a major shift in world events. Basically there is a part of us that wants to know, when will Jesus return?

Today’s Gospel from St. Luke affirms our desire to know, especially since the Apostles themselves asked, “Teacher, when will this happen?” Jesus, both in this Gospel and elsewhere makes it clear, “No one knows the day or the hour.” But that should not lead us to shy away from looking forward to Jesus’ return. Jesus tells us not to be afraid but rather, “When these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand." Lk. 21:28

And St. Peter affirms that we should look forward to the Lord’s return, look at how many times he repeats that notion in his second letter, “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.” 2 Pt. 3:9-15

As Catholics we lean too much towards Jesus speaking symbolically regarding his second coming, we take the passage of, “no one knows the day or hour” too far. Sometimes we are the opposite extreme of fundamentalists who predict dates for the Lord’s return. What we wind up doing is saying things such as, “Jesus’ return means our own death or that these passages mean that we must change.” Both sentiments are true, but Jesus could not be clearer and he repeated himself often regarding a second coming. It will happen! And we will have around about idea when it gets close. Jesus would not leave us in the dark wandering around. It is true we will not know the precise day or hour, but we will be able to feel it and know that it is close. Jesus reminds us that we can read the weather and discern its outcome or what to expect, if we can read earthly signs, then those of us who are God’s children will surely be able to read the signs of our Lord’s return.

The two most important things for us who are awaiting Jesus’ second coming is that we take what St. Peter teaches us very seriously and that is to live holy and upright lives, if we do not we will not only be able to discern the Lord’s return but we will not even be able to recognize him now.

The second thing is, that we must be ready to let go of everything here on this earth, even our very lives and turn them over to God, because if we do Jesus promises us a crown of righteousness. This promise is true and written by St. Paul who was inspired by God. I will leave you with the words of St. Paul.

“From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. 2 Tim 4:8

Fr. John Picinic