How Are You Preparing For The Second Coming Of Christ?

Romans 5:12,15,17-21
Luke 12:35-38

There are several times with different words in the Gospels that Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us to stay awake to His coming!  “Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast” Lk 12:36) The word in the original Greek text for wait is prosdechomai which means a lot more than waiting in our English expression !  The biblical word comes from “dexomai” which means to welcome.  It adds the preposition “pro” to welcome which means a very strong attitude and emphasis of yearning or longing.    For example, Jesus is criticized by the Pharisees and the scribes: “This man welcomes (prosdechomai) sinners and eats with them.” Lk 15:2   He receives them with understanding and deep love as a doctor to save people afflicted with the deadly cancer of sin.

In today’s Gospel, we are to be like people with an intense loving expectation of the coming of Jesus’ A beautiful example of this we find in Lk 2:26’  “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting (prosdechomai) for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.”  Simeon was among the first among all, like the shepherds and Magi to receive Jesus in His arms like Mary and Joseph!
We must welcome Jesus “like men who are waiting ‘prosdechomaifor ‘ their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks” (Lk 12:35)!

Karl Rahner beautifully expresses welcoming Jesus: “We’re actually, really, dealing with Jesus only when we throw our arms around Him and realize right down to the bottom of our being that this is something we can still do today.”How are you preparing for the coming of the Lord? “Are you at the door dressed for action? Is your lamp lit and burning bright? Don’t be caught up without oil in your lamp in these last days.”

We cannot be Christians only when it suits us. We must be ready at all times at our duty post so that when the master returns he will find us ready and pure. He will rewards us his faithful servants as he had promised. He will serve them himself with the best provision and care beyond their wildest imagination. The horse is prepared for the days of battle, but safety is of the Lord. Always be ready to meet the Lord at all times.

Fr Joseph Osho