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THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING! ARE YOU READY TO MEET HIM?
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November 13, 2020THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING! ARE YOU READY TO MEET HIM?
ARE YOU READY? THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING! STAY AWAKE! This is the message of the powerful parable of the ten virgins we heard last Sunday. Jesus is the bridegroom. Yes, he is coming. Be prepared! Be ready! "Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour!" (Matthew 25:13).
JESUS IS COMING! For 2,000 years, we have been awaiting HIS SECOND COMING. He can come at any time. THE END OF TIME MAY BE NEAR. The final judgment may be near. Do you believe it? I do, IT COULD HAPPEN any time. It could happen at this very moment. It could happen today or tonight, or it could happen in another 2,000 years. We should not be afraid of the end of time. We should all REJOICE at the thought of JESUS' SECOND COMING!
Yes, Jesus warns all of us. He wants us to be ready all the time. Are you one of the foolish virgins, who were unprepared, or are you one of the wise virgins who were well prepared and not only kept their lamps lit, but also had a reserve of oil with them. We know that the bridegroom is Jesus Christ and his bride is the Church, the Catholic Church, which he established and built upon the ROCK, PETER (Matthew 16:18) "You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." The Catholic Church, despite its human weaknesses (as known throughout our 2,000-year history), will always remain headed by Our Lord Jesus Christ and will continue to prevail against the persistent attacks by the devil. It will continue to exist and be strong until the end of time.
We know that the 10 virgins represent all of us, the believers in Jesus Christ. We know the wedding feast is the eternal banquet in heaven that is fulfilled at the end of times. We know that the lamp is our FAITH. FAITH, in Jesus Christ our Savior, is the lamp that guides our footsteps, we walk by faith and not by sight (as we sing so often at church). We know that the oil is what keeps our faith alive. The oil is the HOLY SPIRIT! The oil is our prayer life, our personal relationship with the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The oil is the fire of the Love of Jesus in our hearts; keep the door of your hearts open. The oil is the receipt of the Holy Spirit through the seven sacraments established by Our Lord Jesus Christ. To remain prepared and ready for Jesus' judgment (whether at the end of time or at our natural death if it comes earlier), we need the Church's sacraments, GO TO CONFESSION now, do not procrastinate. If there are past sins you were too ashamed to confess, now is the time.
In the beautiful first letter to the Thessalonians (4:13-18), ST PAUL GIVES US HOPE: HOPE FOR ALL OF US as he describes the imminent return of Jesus as we will be lifted up all at the same time. Listen to St Paul's words: "The Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. THUS, WE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD." This is a beautiful and joyful vision of the Second Coming of Christ. Are you prepared to be lifted up and encounter the Lord coming down from heaven? St Paul introduced this apocalyptic vision with words of FAITH, "IF we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep (meaning those dead).” Our spiritual journey begins with God’s Gift of Faith. Keep Faith in the Risen Lord! This is our HOPE, the promise of ETERNAL LIFE!
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, increase our faith in your Son, our Savior. Help us to keep hope that we will have eternal life with YOU. Help us to not be afraid of death. Help us to be ready at all times to be called back to you.
Heavenly Father, listen to our prayer for peace in the world, peace in our country, peace in our Church, peace in our families, peace in our own hearts.
Heavenly Father, may we always accept YOUR will, not our own will. May Thy will be done today and every day of our lives!
One in Christ,
Fr. Alain
