Inevitable Second Coming

Author: Chrisma C. Bangaoil
"Living with Heaven in Sight: Preparing Our Hearts for Christ’s Return"
Reflection Date: November 17, 2024 Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings:  Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32

What’s the difference between someone who looks forward to heaven and someone who does not? The first lives beyond the present, while the second is consumed by the here and now. The first sees beyond the physical; the second is fixated on material things.

Today’s Gospel speaks of an inevitable truth beyond human knowledge—Christ’s second coming. While it describes how it will be when Christ returns, our human minds cannot fully grasp how or when it will happen.

So, how do we prepare for something we cannot fully comprehend? The first reading advises us to be wise and just. What does it mean to be wise and just? It means living as the responsorial psalm exhorts us, recognizing that the Lord alone is our inheritance—not the things we work for each day, like titles, money, property, recognition, power, beauty, or anything of this world.

When we recognize the Lord as our true inheritance, our hearts rejoice in Him alone. We abide in Him with confidence, fully trusting that He will not abandon us. We follow the path He has set for us, no matter the sacrifice it entails. This includes nurturing a forgiving heart aligned with the merciful heart of Jesus.

A call to action for Catholic living: When you look at your daily efforts and preoccupations, are they aligned with preparing for the inevitable second coming? Or are they merely focused on the here and now?