Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,
Vigilance is a word that we use for the coming of bad things. Unfortunately, this was the view of many in the Church in regard to Judgement Day (the coming of Christ). However, for the Christian it is a time to look forward to. We are called to a deep expectation of his coming in our lives now and later. For this perspective that already last Sunday we were invited to “look to the things of above”, we are called to faith. Faith is “the fulfillment of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen”. In other words, it is an experience already here on earth of the resurrection. We can only look to heaven if our lives are anchored on the experience of Christ taking us out of Death. The Christian is the living sign for the world that God has power over death because the Christian lives a constant paschal life (from death to life). Only with this perspective of the Lord’s power over death can we live with this “vigilance”, expecting that God may act as he has acted before. Fear disappears once we have this certainty in our hearts that God will not abandon me to death. This expecting heart is the heart that looks constantly to heaven awaiting that God may come and soon. Therefore, Christ says to us “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom”. He is pleased to give you the resurrection, eternal life.
In Christ,
Fr. Kiko