Paris (France), Sr. ANNE LÉCU, December 10, 2023.- Hastening the coming of the God’s Day.
READING
Second Epistle of Peter (2 Peter 3: 8-14)
"But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years] and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out.
Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought [you] to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth] in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.”
Peter writes a long time after Paul, and the early Christians who were waiting for Christ's return begin to find time a little long. So, he offers us a meditation on patience and time. Time is part of creation, but God, who stands in the eternal present, is master of time. He comes when he wants, in our lives and at the end of time. He comes and comes again when we are not ready to receive him. But because time is part of creation, it is limited by the coming of the Day of God, about which we know nothing, not even the Son.
But Peter offers us a precious and astounding teaching: those who live in holiness and piety can hasten the coming of that Day. The Greek verb "hasten" means both to hurry and to long for. It's the verb used to describe the shepherds' race towards the child at Christmas.
MEDITATION
Holiness is not perfection, nor the result of an effort maintained at all costs; it is belonging to God and to no one else. As for piety, in the Bible it is the attitude of the strong man or woman who begs God for others, for this world, so that He may truly act and give courage to those in need. Here again, it's a question of watching. Do we really want the Day of God to be brought forward, and the suffering of men and women to come to an end?
PRAYER
Come Lord, to our aid, and teach us to continue our supplication for this world and its people. Give us the grace to know how to ask you to hasten your coming.
CONTEMPLATION
"For what we are waiting for, according to the Lord's promise, is a new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness will dwell".