by Father Alonzo Cox
As a middle school student, the one word that my teachers kept engraining in our minds was “preparation.” This word was used over and over again throughout my time in school. As students, we had to be prepared with the material that was given to us in the classroom. We had to be ready for discussions on various subjects and topics that were presented to us. Preparation was essential for academic success. None of us as students ever wanted to be unprepared for school.
As I grew up, preparation became a big part of my spiritual life. Growing as a disciple of the Lord, I would ask myself, am I prepared to welcome the Lord Jesus when he comes again in glory and majesty? Is my heart ready and prepared to embrace the tremendous love that God has for me as his child?
Each of our Scripture passages for Mass this Sunday speaks to us of the importance of preparation. In just a few weeks, we will begin the season of Advent, a time in which we prepare our minds and hearts for the Incarnation. In these weeks leading up to Advent, we are invited to look at our preparation for the second coming of Christ. In today’s Gospel passage, we are given details of what will happen when the Lord comes. We hear of famine, earthquakes, and plagues from place to place. In reality, we have seen all of this occur recently. In all of this, the Lord is encouraging us not to be afraid or terrified. When all of this happens, we must be prepared to ultimately embrace the Lord of heaven and earth.
With preparation comes the importance of prayer. We cannot be prepared to welcome Jesus if we do not pray for strength, wisdom, and understanding. In today’s second reading from Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians, we are called to present ourselves as a model, imitating Christ in all we say and do. True discipleship must always involve prayer, allowing Christ to be at the center of our lives here on this earth.
Preparing to embrace the Lord means recognizing his power and glory. We must not be afraid of what will happen, but we must rejoice in what awaits us. In our first reading from the Book of Malachi, we must reflect upon the power of the Lord and fear his holy name. It is in that awe of the Lord that we come to see his majesty manifested. It is from this manifestation that we will experience the healing rays of God’s power and justice.
Over these next few weeks, we will be busy with the hustle and bustle of the “holiday season.”
As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, we are preparing to welcome family and friends for the custom Thanksgiving meal. There can be a tremendous amount of stress involved with this preparation. It can be outright frustrating. When we prepare to welcome the Lord Jesus into the very home of our hearts, it comes with no stress or frustration, only joy, peace, and happiness. We know neither the day nor the hour, but let us pray that by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, we will be prepared to open our arms and welcome Jesus of Nazareth in.
Father Alonzo Cox is pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and coordinator for the Vicariate of Black Catholic Concerns for the Diocese of Brooklyn.