Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our days in Ordinary Time are quickly coming to an end, culminating with the Solemnity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, King of the Universe on November 22nd.  These days remind us to consider the Four Last Things: Heaven, hell, death and judgement. The Sacred Scriptures today especially prepare us to meditate on these aspects of the End Times or as is known in Greek, the “Eschaton”. This anticipates the “Parousia”, also known as the Second Coming of Christ in glory rendering the Final Judgement. Just as these terms and understandings were familiar to the early Church so should they be to us. Always, they were in a state of waiting and anticipation, filled with hope, and not waiting in fear but in joy for the Savior’s return. As the Psalm proclaimed last Sunday: “This is the people that longs to see Your face”; and so we are. The only “fear” that should unsettle us is the fear of not being prepared.  Christ’s remedy is offered to us in the ever available Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). It is a very good spiritual practice to Confess at least quarterly, monthly is better, lest we forget about those sins and imperfections that keep us from being fully alive in Christ. When the Savior calls, we want to be ready. Then the End Times, the Eschaton, will not be so worrisome for we will be as the wise torch-bearing virgins ready to meet the Master when He comes.

With Blessings,

Father Langan