Joyful expectation
Ephesians 2:12-22; Psalm 85; Luke 12:35-38
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of his coming as a time of joy and celebration, not of fear and trembling. The Church affirms this joyful expectation in the second part of the Lord’s Prayer during the Eucharistic celebration when the priest says “…As we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ”.
The coming of Christ is a blessed hope. In the Scripture, the word “blessed” means “happy” or “joyful”. So, the coming of Christ is a happy or joyful expectation as against the fear and trembling that becloud the minds of many whenever end-time sermons are preached.
This expectation is blessed when we prepare diligently. Jesus’ words resonate: “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds ready” (Luke 12:37-40). Vigilance and moral clarity are essential. We must develop a clear conscience, unambiguously identifying good and evil, fostering virtue and addressing shortcomings
Let us pray
Lord, help us to live with our lamps lit and ready to welcome you when you come. Give us a holy and a true conscience that we may serve you in all things and be found ready at your coming. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
