I own a small florist business and over time I get more acquainted with my regulars. The pattern I see is pre-occupation with the next obligation or responsibility in the day and my sales are just a domino in line of those people I meet. The point I want to make is today people, myself included are so engrossed in making more money, moving beyond where we are currently at.

I for one have absolute faith in my possessions, my car never lets me down and all the home comforts support my daily needs. All I have to worry about is will my next days delivery of fresh flowers arrive in time for my customers.

I am only speaking for myself but I don't think I am alone in wondering when Christ announces his arrival will I and others take notice and believe in the person who claims he is Jesus, especially when we have the modern amenities of today. I am Catholic, admittingly a idle one but I still believe in him.

I just ask how people in general will react to an announcement that he is actually here when this world is led by the internet, stock markets, technology, comforts of every imagination and governments who will obstruct anyone showing them righteousness and also in light of the fact that we have had false claims before.

Having said this should I instead just leave "sleeping dogs lie" and carry on as usual. I would appreciate any good opinions to my doubts.

-- audrey (karmichael_a@sars.com), December 08, 2002

Answers

I think you are on to something. Keep up the good work.

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), December 08, 2002.

Audrey,

I think a major difference between Christ's first coming and His Second Coming is being overlooked here. In His first coming He came to us as as a little child who grew into an adult. In the Second Coming, however, "...they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." In other words, it won't be as "subtle" as the first time. You will know when He comes the second time, because the first time He came in mercy the second time He comes to judge. In fact, given the way we are told about the Second Coming in the Gospels, it is evident that supernatural occurrences will accompany His coming.

Mt 24:27: For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man.

Mt 24:30: then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory;

Just to give you a few examples.

There will be many signs preceding the coming, which you can read all about here

Finally, our own Catechism speaks directly to this matter:

When? Definitively "at the last day," "at the end of the world."557 Indeed, the resurrection of the dead is closely associated with Christ's Parousia:

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.558

God Bless

-- (seminarian@ziplip.com), December 08, 2002.

Ooops, didn't finish my thought and cliked it beforehand.

So, given the above, all of those things you mentioned will be seen as little importance in comparison to the major event happening outside. Further, given the way in which He will come, I would think the government might be a little hard pressed in trying to "obstruct" or suppress such an event. Remember next time He comes He will come as a judge and not as a child or criminal.

God Bless

-- (seminarian@ziplip.com), December 08, 2002.

Audrey,

Let sleeping dogs lie because your question will still be questioned a thousand years from now. The only difference will be that most of the world will be cloned and extraterrestrial relationships will be the norm and if it turns out that way then a spanner is put into faiths as we know it.

Two cycles in life have left a mark as to our lives on this world. One, other than natural disasters all of man woes are his own be it wars or depressions. I have often asked myself if parents can part children when they fight then why has Jesus allowed the twentieth century be known as the bloody century, we are after all his children and he should have intervened.

The second mark is that the elderly are the truly courageous to face poverty and loneliness and usually alone (I don't know of two passing away together). Carry on with your business and invest wisely for your retirement because nobody is really going to care when you grow old and dependent on society. Enjoy your wealth because as you entered this world with nothing so you will leave the same way.

Having said that the other precaution even if you are like most "idle in faith" is to repent honestly and give a little to Christian charity after all you need to invest where you go to afterwards and in the Christian faith that is judgement.

Personally I do not think Jesus will return, he has enough evidence of the good, the wrong and the penance that we ask to actually open the gate or keep it shut and the world will continue until the clock stops period

-- kyle (attridgek@worldonline.com), December 09, 2002.

You are right, seminarian! However, I would like to note that we shouldn't be content to know that when the time comes for Christ's second coming, we will all KNOW it is Him. This makes it seem like, "well since I will know when it is Jesus who has come" then I don't need to really worry, etc.

We must know who He is first in order to know who He is when He comes. The Bible tells us that many will come in His name claiming to be Him. And MANY will follow them. But His sheep know His voice. Therefore, although ALL will know it is him when He comes, we must beware of those who will attempt to steel us first. We have to do all that we can to know our Lord, so that we rightly can be called HIS Sheep.

In Christ.

-- Jake Huether (jake_huether@yahoo.com), December 09, 2002.