Be Holy Before It Is Too Late
2nd Sunday in Advent
“Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.”Ps. 72
WE ARE IN PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS AND FOR THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. The best way to be prepared is to live in holiness, for this is the vocation and dignity that God desires for every human being. It is the wisdom and love that we will all have in heaven and that we are called to begin on earth. A sublime, divine, eternal vocation of fullness of life, of freedom, of happiness. It is the Christian, divine life, the abundant life that Christ came to give us through the gift of the Spirit, the sanctifier.
Holiness is freedom from attachments, idols, and selfish disorder. It is the willingness to do God’s will because that is the most desirable thing. Mary set a good example for us: ‘Let it be done to me according to your word.’ When faced with God’s plans, our own plans fade away. And that will also be His request for all of us: do what He tells you.
It’s a matter of trusting in Him more than anyone else, more than in ourselves. I trust Him, that His will is the best, much better than mine, for He knows more, sees more, understands more, while I, on the other hand, see little and distortedly. We shouldn’t trust ourselves. We should trust God absolutely, totally, unquestionably. His will is the best because only He sees what we cannot see, both in the present and in the future. Let us trust in Him.
And that trust will lead us to always seek His will always. If I know that He tells me something, I do it; if I know He wants something, I do it. It’s not up for debate. It’s God who tells me, sometimes through His Church, through one of His anointed ones, then undoubtedly it is the best for me and for all. Indeed, it is not my will that I must fulfill but God’s. L am as close to God as I am to His will.
Only by doing His will do I truly love Him and can I say that I have faith. For if I do not seek His will, even if my ego deceives me into thinking I have faith because I am a catechist, priest, or bishop, but I do not have faith or love for God.
“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”John 14:23
If He tells me not to steal, I don’t steal. Even if it’s easy for me, within my reach, without anyone seeing me. Whether it’s small or large. Trusting in God will lead me to distrust myself and the flesh.
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD!'”Jeremiah 17:5-6
Therefore, we shouldn’t think it’s very difficult; it’s impossible for man, but for this reason, He gave us His Spirit, to make it possible. As Saint Thomas said, to be holy, three things are needed: to want, to want, and to want. Only that. If someone is not holy, it’s because they lack the conviction to truly and wholeheartedly desire it.
“Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes… BE READY FOR HIS COMING.”Luke 12:43
Readings of the Week
Sunday: Isaiah 11:1-10/Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17/Romans 15:4-9/Matthew 3:1-12
Monday: Genesis 3:9-15, 20/Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4/Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12/Luke 1:26-38
Tuesday: Isaiah 40:1-11/Psalm 96:1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13/Matthew 18:12-14
Wednesday: Isaiah 40:25-31/Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10/Matthew 11:28-30
Thursday: Isaiah 41:13-20/Psalm 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab/Matthew 11:11-15
Friday: Zechariah 2:14-17 or Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Judith 13:18bcde, 19/Luke 1:26-38 or Luke 1:39-47
Saturday: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11/Psalm 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19/Matthew 17:9a, 10-13
Next Sunday: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10/Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10/James 5:7-10/Matthew 11:2-11
Observances of the Week
Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Advent
Monday: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Friday: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Saturday: Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Next Sunday: 3rd Sunday of Advent
