Saturday, 21 May 2011

  • What to do to face the end times?!

    A few things: firstly, be not afraid!

    Next, the end times will probably not be this weekend for a few reasons: everyone who has ever guessed has always been wrong. But most importantly, the gospels make it very clear that the hour of the second-coming will catch everyone unaware. Christ actually says that no one knows the hour and also gives several admonitions not to fall asleep or to be caught off guard while waiting for the master to return. I think Jesus is pretty clear that no one is going to expect the day or time of the second coming, which in my opinion, means that if we are expecting it (like right now) we're definitely wrong!

    Lastly and most importantly, the end of time is not something to be afraid of, it is something that we Christians hope for, the completion of God's work, his full salvation. As with death, we should live our lives everyday as if it could be our last. That means avoiding sin like the plague (we really don't want to caught in a state of mortal sin at our death or the second coming), trying to live out God's message of love and charity for all people, and seeking God's glory rather than our own.

    Regarding sin, if we do have sin on our souls, we must truly repent (for the Kingdom of God is at hand), be sorry for our sins, ask God's forgiveness and do our best to amend our lives, avoiding sin in the future.

    It is very difficult, if not impossible, to avoid all sin (especially small ones), but we should try extra hard to avoid grave sins. If you are Catholic, be sure to go to Confession. (Once or twice a month is pretty good). In Confession, we must be honest with ourselves, examine our faults, admit our errors, and confess with our words just as the people who encountered Christ did. It is very powerful (and a bit intimidating) to actually voice our sins and express our sorrow for them. It is a strong deterrent against committing those same sins in the future.

    Use Confession and/or a frequent examination of conscience to be realistic about your daily sins and struggles as we seek to amend our ways. Striving this way, we can keep our consciences as clear as possible so that there is nothing to fear on the last day.

    In addition to this, we must have hope- a theological virtue. Have confidence in God's ability to save you completely and do not be worried about this. If anything, worry only about your own ability to respond to God. Try to respond to him in all ways and to avoid harming him through sin. But accept that God loves you, knows you, and will help you to do your best.

    Regarding living the Gospel of grace and Christ's message, this means living it out in small ways everyday. Grow in patience, show compassion for others, let others go first and seek not for your own personal glory. Seek for God's glory and to show God to others through your acts. Humility is key here. We Christians must always remember to seek the good of others (and be happy for their good) just as we do for ourselves because all of God's children are just as valuable to him as we are. Often, this means sacrifice and accepting less so that others may have what they need. (This doesn't mean let other people step on us or ignore our own needs. It means to seek for our needs and not for unnecessary wants).

    "live everyday like it was your last" doesn't mean go out and party, ride roller coasters or reach great achievements. It means live everyday in a way pleasing to God. Call your family-- tell them you love them. Help you little sister patiently with homework. Read and meditate on the scriptures. Pray. Do your job (or perform your station in life) with honor and perform it as best you can. Be kind to others, show mercy and help those in need. (This help can take many forms--not just giving money, but conversation, food or physical aid).

    This is how the Christian should live everyday, a life that glorifies God and seeks to live out his commandments. We can never know the time of the last hour, but a life well-lived does not fear the end or death. The Christian life looks forward to eternal life with God in heaven. This should fill us with a great hope even in the face of worldly catastrophe.
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