And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory. – Mark 13:36
Advent is nearly here. We have just a couple of weeks left in Ordinary Time. The great cry of Advent: “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!” is a call to Jesus to come back to us at the end of time. And we believe that the Lord will come!
It’s hard to imagine what it will be like when Jesus returns, but we do know that He will gather us, the Church, His elect, to Himself: “and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky” (Mark 13:37). Therefore, we will have nothing to fear, for we will be near the Lord who will protect and defend us from all harm. He will be with us.
Let’s take that truth one step further. If we will have nothing to fear at the end of time because Jesus will be near us, then we should have nothing to fear at all! For God is with us in all things. That’s His literal name: Emmanuel – God with us.
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us).” Matthew 1:23
As I write this in my notebook, I’m sitting in front of Jesus, with us perpetually in the adoration chapel, fully present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. He is here. God is with me. And I’m here with Him. I can come back anytime I choose. I have nothing to fear; God is with me. Even when I leave the chapel to go about the rest of the challenges of the day. I have received Him in Holy Communion, and He remains in me and I in Him. It’s up to me to remember that I am a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Jesus, I can be so fearful at times. Afraid of failing You and others. Afraid of doing or saying something embarrassing. Afraid of what people will say if I make a mistake. Afraid of being seen in a negative light. All these are vanity. Please help me remember the truth that You are with me in all that I do, especially all that I do to build up Your kingdom.
God is my Savior. I am confident and unafraid, because the Lord is my strength and my song. He is my Savior.” Isaiah 12:2