"DAY OF THE LORD"
There are many people in our modern day who constantly look for
the end times and the imminent coming of Christ Jesus. Indeed our Creed states
that "we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world
to come." Yet, the Gospel of Luke puts such expectations into perspective.
We are not to let obstacles distract us from living our journey in the now. Our
Christian life is living and affective through our work of peace and charity to
those around us each day. What Jesus Christ means by stating that "the
Kingdom of God is among you," is precisely that the coming of the Lord is
already happening in the transforming power of love and charity in the living
Church. We experience the loving power of God's presence among us in the
Eucharist and the Sacrifice of the Mass, through which we are brought to the
important moment of the Cross of Christ.
Jesus identifies Himself with the "Day of the Lord."
The salutation "Son of Man" was understood as a Messianic title for
the One who would come not only to establish God's Kingdom but who would come
as a loving Judge of the living as well as the dead. Jesus points to His second
coming as the time in which He will return to complete the work of restoration
and transformation of God's people. While we do not know the time of His
return, we will not mistake it when it happens. The Pharisees asked Jesus what
sign would indicate the "coming of the Kingdom of God" (Lk 17:20).
Jesus replied that only one sign would point to that day. The sign was Jesus Christ
Himself!
In today's Responsorial Psalm we acclaim, "Blessed is he
whose help is the God of Jacob" (Ps 146:5a). Our works of love and charity
come from Him, the One Who secures justice, sets captives free; the One Who
gives sight to the blind and Who raises us up and protects us.
Let us "wait in joyful hope!"