Tomorrow is the first day of Advent. We will also be celebrating Mass with the changes that have come about with the new Roman Missal. While these changes will allow our hearts and minds to focus more deeply on the mystery of Christ in the celebration of the Eucharist, change is always hard. But how we look upon change has a huge impact on how that change will affect us. There is always grief with change, even if they are changes that we have been waiting a long time for, like getting married or having a baby. If they are changes that we never dreamed would ever happen such as the loss of a friendship or the death of a child, then the grief is profound. But God uses every moment to bring us closer to Him. We can cling to how things used to be or we can pray for God to reveal to us what he has in store for us.
The focus of the readings and gospels has been the end of the world, the second coming of Christ. For many people this may be a terrifying thing but as Christians, it should be one of hope. Part of spreading the Good News about Jesus Christ is sharing the truth about death and eternal life. How awful to think that everything that happens is just random and that there is no meaning to our lives. When you believe this, there is no reason to think about anyone but yourself. Everything must provide immediate gratification. But for those of us who believe, we know that God created us for Himself. We were created for his pleasure and glory and one day we will stand before his throne and sing our eternal praises. So let us be a sign of hope for all those around us so that they too may hope in eternal life with Christ.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-2, 4)
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