The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
I spend a lot of time thinking about the Second Coming of Jesus. I am just so eager for everything the New Heavens and New Earth are supposed to be. For me, this year started with a death in the family, which has just made me look forward even more to our (hopefully) being united once again.
With all of the turmoil in our fallen world, nearly every generation of Christians has felt like they were living in end times. Even in completely candid conversations, having nothing to do with religion, I’ve heard people I barely know say things like: “Jesus has to be coming soon” in relation to the current state of our world.
And like the Apostles, I welcome Jesus’s return. I want Him to come back — sooner rather than later, please! — and I want everything to be made right. I mean, how could I not want the beautiful world that Revelation describes: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.”
At the same time, I’m so very aware that my relationship with God is not where I want it to be. As excited as I get for the return of Jesus, my immediate follow up thought is: but I’m not ready.
I had a wonderful priest and philosophy professor at Ave Maria University say (paraphrasing St. Augustine, I believe) that the way we live our lives, and the relationship we cultivate with Christ, will impact our capacity in heaven. As we pray and as we live as Christians, we stretch and grow and so will our spiritual capacity. No matter what, we will be filled to the brim with Christ — but, He would ask, would you rather have the capacity of a shot glass or a stein?
Even if we aren’t currently living in end times, we will, sooner or later, have the opportunity to see Jesus face-to-face. Any time we think about the Second Coming, it is an opportunity to reflect on the very real coming of Christ at the end of each of our lives. The way we live is about so much more than just getting into Heaven; it is about our capacity to be filled with Christ in the next life.
Christ wants to dwell with us. He wants to spend forever with us. Will you respond to this invitation and continue to stretch your capacity?
“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God.”
Marissa Rankin is an active cantor within the Diocese of Nashville. She loves her husband and rescue pup, Ewok! She is the creator and founder of a Catholic marriage preparation ministry, Covenant Co. (just launched September 2021!) where she aspires to help Catholic couples and remind the Church that marriage is a vocation, too! Check out Check out Covenant Co. on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.