WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD WITH HOPE.
The readings...
"God's promise to us is that those who hear His Word and learn His way by walking in His light, shall find the eternal peace that they seek." [Is. 2:1-5]
"To walk in the light of God is to wear the armour of light by modeling after the Lord Jesus Christ in all things." [Rom. 13:11- 4]
"We never know when the Lord will call us home to account for our way of life. It is imperative that we walk in the light of the Lord everyday, always being ready to answer if we are called." [Mt 24:37-44]
The homily...
The readings of today, the First Sunday of Advent, are holy readings that demand that we reflect upon our lives. Are we ready to stand before the Lord so we can account for our lives?
None of us know the exact moment when our souls will be called to stand before Almighty God to answer for all the thoughts, words and actions of our lives. What will this day of Judgment be like? Will it be a day of joy?
Surely, at that moment, the Lord will remind us of the gift He has given us, the new creation, the new spirit that we have received in faith through the Church Sacrament of Baptism.
Now, we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the [other] gifts bestowed on us by God. [1 Cor. 2:12] Some of these are the gifts of faith, hope and charity, the fruit and spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit to fulfill one's role as an active member of the Church, etc...
Accordingly, we did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but we have received a spirit of adoption. This allows us to cry, "Abba! Father!" [Rom. 8:15]
When our moment of Judgment arrives, if we lived a righteous life, we will be fearless, having an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." [1 Jn. 2:1] We will also have the Holy Spirit Who will bear witness with our spirit that we are heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ - if, in fact, we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. [Rom. 8:16]
This is the reason that the Gospel was proclaimed, that we might live in the spirit as God does. [1 Pet. 4:6]
We have been taught to put away our former way of life, our old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and to clothe ourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. [Eph. 4:22-4]
Jesus said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." [Mt. 10:28]
My brothers and sisters, we must stay awake and pray that we may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing to walk in the light, but the flesh is weak. [Mt. 26:41] It is so easy to fall into the darkness of sin with the abundance of temptations that surround us. Satan will use any means available to him to deceive us.
Always remember, "Each shall be accountable to God." [Rom. 14:12] "It is only the person who sins that shall die" [Ez. 18:4] "If a person is righteous and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live, says the Lord God." [Ez. 18:5, 8]
We should never put aside our salvation until tomorrow. Those who do so will find themselves saying, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved." [Jer. 8:20]
By remaining in the light of God, we will have no fear of standing before the Lord on the day of Judgment. The Holy Spirit will stand there beside our spirits, claiming us as one who truly belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. [Rom. 8:16]
Because of our personal efforts to hear the Word of God and to learn His way by wearing the armour of light, we will be ready. And we will receive our just reward, the eternal joy and peace that we so greatly desire and seek!
Total: 597 words
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