STAYING AWAKE FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST - 8/25/22 (Optional Memorial of Saint Louis of France)

Matthew 24:42

“Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.”  

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082522.cfm

Blessed Memorial of Saint Louis of France! Are we prepared if today is the second coming of Christ? Sometimes, we hear some people saying that there's nothing wrong with sinning in this life because God will forgive them anyway. But, this is just a temptation because it's contrary to the message of Christ, especially as we read in today's gospel reading. Our Lord Jesus is telling us and commanding us to stay awake because we do not know the day and the hour of the coming of the Lord. This can pertain to two things such as our death where our souls will be judged immediately after our death and the second coming of our Lord which will lead to the general judgment, both of the living and the dead. For the faithful followers of Christ, this is a glorious event. It's an event that we are awaiting for, the event when the Kingdom of God truly comes in its full glory. However, for some people who are not faithful to Christ, this is a terrifying event because this is the time of judgment. We need to stay awake. There are at least two things we should remember so that our souls are always awake for the coming of Christ. 

First, we should always be in the state of grace and avoid falling into the state of mortal sin. The reason why souls go to hell is not because God wants it, but it's because some souls who are so hardened by sins choose to be in it instead of being with God in heaven. Mortal sins are committed when a person willingly commits a sin which he or she knows to be a grave sin. Below this reflection, there is a link that points us to the life of a king, St. Louis. When he was still a child, her mother told her that she would rather see him die in the state of grace than live while in the state of mortal sin. This is truly a wise statement since what's more important is the everlasting happiness that awaits in the afterlife. As we examine our conscience, some of us may remember the times we engage in grave sins. Some of us may have chosen to be drunk, to have hatred over others, to seek lustful satisfactions, etc. The reason why God still gives us life today is for us to repent and turn back to Him. If we know that we are in the state of mortal sin and have not yet gone to the sacrament of confession, then Jesus Christ is inviting us to this sacrament because He is our Merciful Savior. 

Second, for us to stay awake for the coming of Christ, we should not just avoid mortal sins, but we should also seek to glorify God in everything we do. When God tells us to be prepared in every moment of our lives, it's not meant for us to be "afraid" of every action that we do. After all, perfect love casts all fears. Instead, God wants us to love Him and make Him loved always just as how He never stops loving us. It's through this love that we open our hearts and accept His graces and mercy. Even prior to His glorious second coming, Jesus always comes to us through the Mass and in our lives. He's not just with us, but He dwells within us if we are in the state of grace. To give Him greater glory, it's good for us to be detached from some of our activities that are not necessary and to spend more time in our prayer, reflection, and good works. We can also receive the sacrament of confession frequently like once every month or once every two weeks, like what the saints did, even if we are in the state of grace, so we can persevere in holiness and in humility even more. St. Louis was a king, but for him, the Catholic faith was more important than his riches and honors. May we glorify God from morning to evening through our prayers and good deeds, and Jesus will cast away the darkness of sins in the hearts of His faithful servants. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

Life of St. Louis, King

https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/st-louis-king---august-25/

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls