To walk and to please god

As we begin this Advent journey, St. Paul says to us as to the Thessalonians of his day, ‘Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus’ (1 Thes 3:12-4:2). Already, in the opening prayer to this Mass, (Collect), the Church prays, ‘Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom…’  

Beloved People of God, if we must learn how to walk and to please God, righteousness must be the hallmark of our thoughts, words and deeds on this journey of faith. After the example of our Lord, towards whose Kingdom we march as pilgrims, we must be a people capable of ‘executing justice…in the land’ (cf. Jer 33:14-15). We must resolve to increase and abound in love for one another and for all…with our hearts established, blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints’ (cf. 1 Thes 3:12-4:2). That is the way to walk and to please God.

Trials and temptations will assail us on our way. We are determined therefore that this journey must be started in prayer, sustained by prayer and accomplished through prayer. We do not faint in fear, instead, we take to heart the words of the Lord himself, ‘when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near…stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man’ (cf. Lk 21:25-29, 34-36).

                 Fr. Ted

All to Jesus – Through Mary our Mother