When one listens or reads the news today, it seems as if it is
the end of the world. It seems Jesus' coming is imminent. Wars abound: Syrian
Civil War, Iranian War, Afghanistan, Boko Haram in Nigeria. Diseases proliferate;
Ebola virus, SARS, Swine flu, Avian flu. Just recently in the country, we have
the African Swine flu. Deadly super typhoons and earthquakes have become common
today, even at the end of the year which before enjoys good weather. Thousands
of Christians are also persecuted, and others are killed today in the name of
their faith (Being in a predominantly Catholic country, this may seem difficult
for us to imagine, but yes, it does happen today in China, Iraq, Palestine, and
in Sri Lanka where 250 people died in an attack during Easter Sunday in 2019).
No wonder predictions on the end of the world and the second
coming of Jesus accompany these catastrophes and persecutions, like wars,
catastrophes and Christian persecution precede the second coming of Jesus as
the Gospel describes (Lk 21:5-19). In 2012, many thought it would be the end of
the world based on a Mayan calendar (motion picture even produced a depiction
of such event). Just recently, a certain Ronald Weinland, who previously
predicted the world would end in 2011, 2012, and then 2013, predicted in 2018
that Jesus would return on June 9, 2019. And we now, we know that his
prediction remained simply a guess. To date, there is a good number of
predictions waiting for their fulfillment detailing the second coming of Jesus
(e.g. Jeane Dixon 2020, Kenton Beshore 2021, Messiah Foundation International
2026). But who among us really knows when will be the time of Christ's second
coming? No one! As earthquakes and thieves are unpredictable, so is the
Judgment Day. But as it is in earthquakes and thieves, our best tool for that
day is to be always prepared to give an accounting to the Lord any time He
comes to our life.
The best preparation we can make for this unpredictable coming
of Jesus is to be faithful to Him; to be close to Jesus; to be always open to
the promptings of the Holy Spirit where it leads us. Our faith in Jesus will
help us persevere in the many trials, hardships, and temptations we may
encounter in life. Our faith in Jesus will enable us to see through lies and
deceptions of false prophets that will mislead us to a different path away from
the Lord. Some would make us believe that he is the appointed son of God, owner
of the universe and of our souls (Quiboloy), the angel of the Apocalypse
(Manalo), divine master (Ecleso), etc. Let us beware of these false prophets
for they are included in the last trials that the Church has to endure so that
as Christ arrives, He may find His Church faithful to Him. Among the events
that will take place before the second coming of Jesus, this, the rise of false
prophets is the most injurious and harmful for us. False prophets lead us away
from God. As catastrophes and persecutions cause physical death, false prophets
cause spiritual death and endanger souls to eternal damnation as they lead them
to sin. Without faith in Jesus, we might listen to anyone and anything he or
she may say. Without faith in Jesus, we may fail to persevere until the end of
the trials ahead of us towards the second coming of Jesus.
How can we be faithful to Jesus?
St. Paul tells us (2 Thes. 3:7-12) that our work has redemptive
dimensions. Through our work, we can be close to Jesus who Himself bore human
labor in His life as a carpenter. Work can make us holy and faithful to
God. Human work proceeds directly from
persons created in the image of God and called to prolong the work of creation
by subduing the earth, both with and for one another. Hence work is a duty:
"If anyone will not work, let him not eat." Work honors the Creator's
gifts and the talents received from him. It can also be redemptive. By enduring
the hardship of work in union with Jesus, the carpenter of Nazareth and the one
crucified on Calvary, man collaborates in a certain fashion with the Son of God
in his redemptive work. He shows himself to be a disciple of Christ by carrying
the cross, daily, in the work he is called to accomplish (CCC2427).
Through our work, we become one with God in His creative action, and therefore
close to Jesus.
But the most prominent way of becoming faithful to Jesus is by
remaining in the Church He himself founded. By becoming faithful Catholic
Christians, observing the precepts of the Church, listening to the teachings of
the popes and bishops, one can be assured that his or her faith in God will be
nourished and be prepared well for the second coming of Jesus. The Catholic
Church’s teachings and guidance are meant to prepare us to face Jesus. Enlightened
by the Holy Spirit, the Church leads faithful Christians to Christ and His
kingdom. This is the wisdom that Jesus provides to us. The grace and strength
that emanates from the Holy Spirit through the Church will enable us to
persevere and secure our lives (cf. Lk 21:5-19).
With the capacity to work and the grace of the Holy Spirit to help
us persevere in our faith struggles, who among us will be afraid of the Last
Judgment? Who among us will be afraid of the Second Coming of Jesus? Those who
are afraid are those who are not faithful to God and His precept. Those who are
afraid are those who work and live away from the Lord. Those who are afraid to
meet the Lord in the Last Judgment; in His second coming are those who have
abandoned the faith and have ceased to persevere in the life the Lord has given
to them.
On the coming of Jesus to our life, will you hide; will you be
afraid to give an accounting of your life? I pray not, for as Christians, we
have no reason to act as such. Jesus provides sure security for our lives. When
that day comes, may we run, not away from Him, but towards Him, excitedly ready
to give thanks to Him for the gift of perseverance and endurance in the midst
of trials and challenges in our journey here on earth towards heaven.
