In the first reading today St. Paul gives the Thessalonians some very good advice: do not be deceived about the arrival of the "Day of the Lord!"
Some people were getting all upset and very much afraid at thinking about that promised event: "That day: what would it be like!" "It doesn't sound too pleasant!" "Jesus coming again on the clouds as Judge of everyone!"
But Paul reminds them (and us) that we are called to possess the glory of God: the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ – and that is an amazing thing – that is something very good – something to look forward to! So we need not be worried or afraid – if we are faithful to Jesus and his Church – if we hold on to what the Church presents to us and for us – for our salvation and eternal happiness!
Paul says to us (in the same reading): may Jesus and his Father encourage you and give you hope by the wonderful care that is available to you through the Holy Church – which is his guiding gift to you!
The only ones who really need to be worried at future events are the subject of the gospel passage today: the truly hypocritical: those whose outsides and insides do not match: those who do not practice what they preach; those who are all shiny on the outside but are corroded and rotten on the inside! These are they who neglect right judgment, mercy to others and fidelity to the things of God. These need to be very much afraid at the arrival of the Day of the Lord – for, most likely, fitting judgment and no mercy will be shown them.
The Lord will come to judge the earth – may we find ourselves on the right side of mercy!
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