RUNNING TOWARDS JESUS

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.