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Á¦¸ñ ¿¹¼ö À縲(2)/Second Coming of Christ(2013-11-24)
ÀÛ¼ºÀÚ °ü¸®ÀÚ ÀÛ¼ºÀÏ 2014-08-16



¿¹¼ö À縲(2) - ¼º½Å°­¸² ¸¶Áö¸· ÁÖÀÏ(2013-11-24) 


»ç¶ûÇÏ´Â ±³¿ì ¿©·¯ºÐ 

 

¿ì¸®´Â Àü·Ê·Â(îðÖÉÕõ)ÀÇ ³¡ ÀÚ¶ô¿¡ ¿Í ÀÖÀ¸¸ç, ¼¼»óÀÇ ³¡, ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ ±Íȯ°ú °ø½ÉÆÇ ±×¸®°í ¿µ¿øÇÑ »îÀ» °õ°õÀÌ »ý°¢Çغ¾´Ï´Ù.¿ì¸®°¡ ¾Æ´Ù½ÃÇÇ, ÀÌ ¼¼»óÀº Á˾ǰú ºÎÁ¤°ú ½½ÇÄ, ½Ã·Ã ±×¸®°í ¸¶Áö¸·ÀÎ Á×À½À¸·Î ÀÎÇØ ¿µ¿øÈ÷ Áö¼ÓµÇÁö ¸øÇÕ´Ï´Ù.¿ì¸®´Â ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ ¡°»ê ÀÌ¿Í Á×Àº À̸¦ ½ÉÆÇÇÏ·¯ ´Ù½Ã ¿À¸®¶ó¡±ÇϽŠ¸»¾¸À» ¹ÏÀ¸¸ç ¡°À°½ÅÀÇ ºÎÈ°°ú ¿µ¿øÇÑ »î¡±À» ¹Ï½À´Ï´Ù.


½Å¾ÓÀÇ Á¦ÀÏ Áß¿äÇÑ Áø¸®´Â '¿¹¼ö´ÔÀÇ À縲'ÀÔ´Ï´Ù.±¸¾à¿¡¼­ ±×¸®½ºµµ À縲¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ±¸º°Àº ºÐ¸íÇÏÁö ¾Ê¾ÒÀ¸³ª, ½Å¾à¿¡¼­´Â ¸Å¿ì ºÐ¸íÇÏ°Ô µå·¯³³´Ï´Ù: ù ¹ø° ¿À½ÉÀº ±¸¿øÇÏ·¯,µÎ ¹ø° ¿À½ÉÀº ½ÉÆÇÇÏ·¯ ¿À½Ê´Ï´Ù; ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ Ã¹ ¹ø° ¿À½ÉÀº ÀÚºñ¸¦ À§ÇÏ¿©, ±×¸®°í µÎ ¹ø° ¿À½ÉÀº Á¤ÀǸ¦ ½ÇÇöÇϱâ À§ÇØ ¿À½Ê´Ï´Ù;

 

ù ¹ø°´Â ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ °â¼ÕÇÏ°Ô ¿À¼ÌÁö¸¸ µÎ ¹ø°´Â ÁÖ´Ô²²¼­ ¿µ±¤ ¼Ó¿¡¼­ ¿À½Ê´Ï´Ù. ½ÊÀÚ°¡·Î½á ¿ì¸®¸¦ ±¸¿øÇϱâ À§ÇØ, ¿¹¼ö²²¼­ ¸ÕÀú °â¼Õ °¡¿îµ¥ ¿À½ÃÁö ¾Ê¾Ò´Ù¸é, ±× ¾î´À ´©±¸µµ À縲 ¶§ ÀÖÀ» ½ÉÆÇÀÇ ¿À¸¥Æí¿¡ ¼­ ÀÖÀ» ÀÚ´Â ¾Æ¹«µµ ¾ø¾úÀ» °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù!

 

ù°, ¿¹¼ö´ÔÀº 2õ³â Àü ¿ì¸®ÀÇ Á˸¦ ¿ë¼­ÇÏ½Ã°í ¿ì¸®ÀÇ °ø·Î ¾øÀÌ ¼ºÃÑÀ» Áֽ÷Á°í ¿À¼Ì½À´Ï´Ù. ±× ¼ºÃÑÀÌ ÀÖ¾î¾ß¸¸ °è¸íÀ» Áöų ¼ö ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù.

 

µÑ°·Î, ±× ºÐÀº ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¼ºÃÑÀ» Àß ¹ÞÀº °ø·Î¿¡ ´ëÇØ ¿ì¸®¿¡°Ô »óÀ» ÁÖ½Ã°í ±× ºÐÀÇ ¼ºÃÑÀ» ¿Ü¸éÇÔÀ¸·Î½á Á¶¼ºµÈ Á˸¦ ÁöÀº À̵éÀ» ¹úÇϱâ À§ÇØ ¿À½Ê´Ï´Ù.


°ú°Å¿¡¼­ Áö±Ý±îÁö ±¸¿ø¹ÞÀº ÀÚµé°ú ÇöÀç ¹× ¹Ì·¡¿¡ ±¸¿ø ¹Þ°Ô µÉ ¸ðµç À̵éÀº ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦ ¹Ï´Â ½Å¾ÓÀ¸·Î ¸»¹Ì¾Ï¾Æ ±¸¿øµË´Ï´Ù. ½ÉÁö¾î ÀúµéÀº ÁÖ´ÔÀÌ ¿À½Å´Ù´Â °ÍÀ» ±×¸®½ºµµ ¿À½Ã±â ÀÌÀüÀ̳ª, º¹À½À» ¿¹º¸Çϱâ Àü¿¡ ¼±ÁöÀڵ鿡 ÀÇÇØ – ±¸¾àÀÇ ¿¹¾ðÀ̳ª ȤÀº ù °è½Ã Àü´ÞºÎÅÍ ¾Æ´ã¿¡ À̸£±â±îÁö- ÁÖ²²¼­ ¿À½Ç °ÍÀ̶ó´Â °ÍÀ» ¾Ë¾Ò½À´Ï´Ù;

 

±×·¡¼­ ¡°¿©ÀÎÀÇ ÀÚ¼ÕÀÌ ¹ìÀÇ ¸Ó¸®¸¦ À¸±ý °ÍÀÌ´Ù¡± ÇÑ °Íó·³, ¾Æº§Àº ¿À½Ç ±¸¼¼ÁÖ¸¦ ¹Ï¾ú½À´Ï´Ù. ȤÀº õ½ÅµéÀ» ÅëÇÑ »çÀû °è½Ã¸¦ ÅëÇÏ¿© (À̱³µµ ±¹°¡¿´¾ú´ø ³ª¶ó¿¡¼­ Á¶Â÷,Áï ±×¸®½ºÀÇ ½ÃºôÀÇ ½ÅŹ¿¹¾ðÀ» º¸½Ã¿À, »þ¸£Æ®·¹¿¡¼­ ºô°í ºü¸®Åõ¶ó·Î ¾Ë·ÁÁö´Â ÇÁ¶û½ºÀÇ µå·çÀ̵åÁ·ÀÇ ¿¹¾ð - µ¿Á¤³à°¡ ¾ÆÀ̸¦ °¡Áú °ÍÀÌ´Ù  µî – ÇÏ´Â ¿¹¾ðÀ» º¸½Ê½Ã¿À) õÁÖ²²¼­´Â ÁÖ´ÔÀ» ã´Â À̵鿡°Ô ºñÃß´Â ºûÀ» °áÄÚ Æ÷±âÇÏÁö ¾Ê½À´Ï´Ù.

 

¡°´Ù¸¥ ¾î¶² À̸¦ ¸»¹Ì¾Ï¾Æ ±¸·ÉÇÏÁö ¸øÇÏ´À´Ï, ´ëÀú ¿ì¸®°¡ ¸¶¶¥È÷ ±¸·ÉÇϱâ À§ÇÏ¿© õÇÏ Àΰ£¿¡ ´Ù¸¥ À̸§À» ÁֽŠ°ÍÀÌ ¾øÀ½À̴϶ó.¡±(Á¾µµÇàÀü 4:12).


±×·¡¼­ ÂüµÈ ±×¸®½ºµµÀÎÀÇ ÀÚ¼¼´Â ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ À縲À» °¥¸ÁÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¡°¸¶Ä¡ Á¾ÀÌ ÀÜÄ¡¿¡¼­ µ¹¾Æ¿À´Â Á¦ ÁÖÀÎÀ» ±â´Ù¸®°í ÀÖ´Ù°¡ ÁÖÀÎÀÌ µ¹¾Æ¿Í¼­ ¹®À» µÎµå¸®°Åµç Áï½Ã ¿­¾î ÁÖ·ÁÇÔ°ú °°ÀÌÇ϶ó, ÁÖÀÎÀÌ ÀÌ¹Ì ¿Í¼­ ±ú¾î ÀÖ´Â Á¾À» ¸¸³ª¸é ±× Á¾ÀÌ º¹µÇµµ´Ù. ³ª Áø½ÇÈ÷ ³ÊÈñ¿¡°Ô À̸£³ë´Ï ÁÖÀÎÀÌ Ä£È÷ ¶ì¸¦ ¶ì°í ±× Á¾µé·Î ÇÏ¿©±Ý »ó ¹Þ°í ¾É°Ô ÇÑ ÈÄ ¿Ô´Ù°¬´Ù ÇÏ¸ç º¹»çÇÏ¿© Áִ϶󡦳ÊÈñµµ ¿¹ºñÇÏ°í ÀÖÀ¸¶ó. ´ë°³ »ý°¢ÇÏÁö ¾Æ´ÏÇÑ ¶§¿¡ ÀÎÀÚ°¡ ¿À¸®¶ó¡±(·ç±î. 12:36-37, 40).


ÁغñÇϽʽÿÀ. ÀÌ´Â ¼ºÃÑÀÇ »óÅ¿¡¼­ Ç×»ó ÁÖ´ÔÀ» ±â»Ú°Ô ÇÏ·Á ÇÏ°í, ·Î»ç¸®¿À ¹¬ÁÖ ±âµµÇϸ鼭 ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ »ý¾Ö¸¦ ¹¬»óÇÏ°í, ±âµµ»ýÈ°Çϸ鼭 ±× ºÐÀ» ´à¾Æ°¡°í, ¼ºÀεéÀÇ ¸ð¹ü¿¡¼­ µå·¯³­ »ç¶û°ú ¼±ÇÑ Çà½ÇÀ» ½ÇõÇÏ´Â °¡¿îµ¥ õÁÖ´Ô°ú Ä£±³¸¦ ³ª´©¸ç »ç´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. 

 

ÀÌ¿Í °°Àº »îÀ» »ì¾Æ°¡´Â »ç¶÷Àº ¼¼»óÀÇ Á¾¸» ¶§¿¡ ´Ù°¡¿À´Â Àç¾ÓµéÀ» µÎ·Á¿öÇÏÁö ¾Ê½À´Ï´Ù. ½ÇÁ¦·Î ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­´Â ÀÌ·¸°Ô ¸»¾¸ÇϽʴϴÙ. ÀÌ·± º¯(Àç¾Ó)ÀÌ µÇ±â ½ÃÀÛÇÒ ¶§¿¡ ³ÊÈñ´Â ¸Ó¸®¸¦ µé°í ¿ì·¯·¯º¸¶ó, ´ëÀú ³ÊÈñ µîÀÇ ±¸¼ÓÇÔÀÌ °¡±î¿ö ¿Ô´À´Ï¶ó¡±(·ç±î. 21:28).


±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ À縲Àº ¸ðµç ¼¼¼ÓÀûÀÎ Àç¹°µéÀÌ Àá½Ã ÀÖ´Ù°¡ Áö³ª°£´Ù´Â ¸Å¿ì Áß¿äÇÑ Áø¸®¸¦ ¿ì¸®¿¡°Ô °¡¸£Ä¨´Ï´Ù. ¿ì¸®´Â ¹Ýµå½Ã ´ÙÀ½°ú °°Àº ¿ì¸®ÀÇ Àǹ«¸¦ ½ÇÇöÇؾ߸¸ ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ±×¸®°í ¿ì¸®¸¶À½ ¼Ó¿¡ Àç¹°À» ³õÁö ¸»°í, Àç¹°Àº Àá½Ã Áö³ª°¡´Â ¹°°ÇÀ̱⿡, ¿µ¿øÇÑ ¼±ÀÌ ¾Æ´Ï±â¿¡, õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¿µ±¤À» À§ÇØ ÀÌ Àç¹°µéÀ» »ç¿ëÇØ¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù.

 

¼¼¼ÓÀûÀÎ »ç¶÷µéÀº ÀÌ ¼¼¼ÓÀûÀÎ Àç¹°À» »ç¶ûÇϹǷÎ, ÀúµéÀÇ ¸¶À½ÀÌ Àç¹°¿¡ °¡ ÀÖ°í ±× Àç¹° ¼Ó¿¡¼­ ±Ã±ØÀûÀÎ »ýÀ» ³¡³À´Ï´Ù; ÀÌ¿Í °°Àº Àç¹°ÀÌ ¸ÕÀú Áö³ª°¥ °ÍÀÌ¿ä, Àúµé ¶ÇÇÑ Á×À½À¸·Î ÀÎÇÏ¿© »ç¶óÁö´À´Ï, ÀúµéÀº ÀúµéÀÌ »ç¶ûÇß´ø Àç¹°À» ¿µ¿øÈ÷ ¼ÒÀ¯ÇÏ´Â °ÍÀº ºÒ°¡´ÉÇÕ´Ï´Ù: ¸¸¾à ÀúµéÀÌ »ç¶óÁö´Â Àç¹°À» »ç¶ûÇÑ´Ù¸é, ÀúµéÀÇ ±â»Ýµµ Àç¹°°ú ÇÔ²² »ç¶óÁú °ÍÀÌ¿ä, ÀúµéÀº °øÇãÇÔ ¼Ó¿¡ ³²°ÜÁú °ÍÀÌ¸ç °øÇãÇÔ°ú ÁË·Î ÀÎÇÑ Áû¾îÁø ¾ç½Éµµ ³²°Ô µË´Ï´Ù.

 

âÁ¶ÁÖº¸´Ù ÇÇÁ¶¹°À» ´õ ÁÁ¾ÆÇÏ´Â °Í, ÀÌ°ÍÀÌ ´ëÁË, Áï Á×À½¿¡ À̸£´Â ÁËÀÇ º»ÁúÀÔ´Ï´Ù. õÁÖ´ÔÀ» °æ¿ÜÇÏ°í õ±¹¿¡¼­ õÁÖ´ÔÀ» ¼ÒÀ¯Çϱ⠺¸´Ù´Â, ÀÌ¿Í °°Àº ÇÇÁ¶¹°(µ·, Äè¶ô, ±Ç·Â, ½ÉÁö¾î ÀÚ½Å)µéÀ» Ãß±¸ÇÏ´Â µ¥ ÀÚ½ÅÀÇ ±Ã±ØÀûÀÎ ¸ñÇ¥¸¦ µÎ´Â °ÍÀº õÁÖ´ÔÀ» ¹«·ÊÇÏ°Ô °ø°ÝÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ÁÖ´ÔÀ» ¹Þµé¾î ¸ð½Ã´Â »ç¶÷¸¸Å­ ´õ °¡Ä¡ ÀÖ´Â »ç¶÷ÀÌ ´©°¡ ÀÖ°Ú½À´Ï±î?


»ç¶÷ÀÇ ¿ì¼öÇÑ (Áö¼º°ú ÀÚÀ¯ÀÇÁö)±â´ÉÀÌ Àú±ÞÇÑ (À°½Å)ºÎºÐÀ» ÃæÁ·½ÃÅ°´Â µ¥¿¡ »ç¿ëµÉ ¶§, ºÐ¸íÈ÷ Ä¿´Ù¶õ ÀüµµµÊ°ú °îÇØ°¡ ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù:»ç¶÷µéÀº Çö´ë»çȸ¿¡¼­ ³Ê¹«³ª ¸¹Àº ÀÌ¿Í °°Àº ¿ªÀüÇö»ó, Áï ÀüµµµÊÀ» º¸°Ô µË´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ´Â À߸øµÈ °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ½ÇÁ¦·Î, ´öÇàÀÇ ½ÇõÀ¸·Î½á, õÁÖ´Ô¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ¹¬»ó°ú »ç¶ûÀ» À½¹ÌÇϸ鼭 Àú±ÞÇÑ ºÎºÐÀÌ ¿ì¼öÇÑ ºÎºÐÀ» ¼¶°Ü¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù.

 

Å丶½º ¼ºÀÎÀÌ °¡¸£Ä¡µíÀÌ ÀÌ ¹Ì´ö¿¡ ÇàÇÏ´Â Àΰ£ ÃÖ°íÇൿÀº ¿ì¼öÇÑ ±â´É,Áï ¸¶À½À» ÃÖ°íÀÇ ½ÇüÀ̽ŠÁö±ØÈ÷ °Å·èÇϽŠ¼º »ïÀ§ÀÏü¸¦ ¹¬»óÇÏ°í »ç¶ûÇÏ´Â µ¥¿¡ »ç¿ëÇÏ´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. À̴ õ±¹¿¡¼­ õÁÖ´ÔÀ» Á÷Á¢ º¸´Â Áöº¹Á÷°üÀ¸·Î ¿Ïº®ÇØÁý´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ´Â Áö»ó¿¡¼­ ±âµµ¿Í ¹¬»óÀ¸·Î½á Á¶±Ý¾¿ ½ÃÀÛÇÕ´Ï´Ù.

 

±×¸®½ºµµ²²¼­ ´Ù½Ã ¿À½Ç ¶§¿¡, ¸ÕÀú Á×Àº ÀÚµéÀÇ ºÎÈ°ÀÌ ÀÖ°Ô µÉ °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¸»¾¸À¸·Î ÀÎÇÏ¿©, ¡±¸¸¹°ÀÌ ´Ù Àú·Î ¸»¹Ì¾Ï¾Æ Á¶¼ºÇÔÀ» ¹Þ¾ÒÀ¸´Ï¡±(¿ä¿Õ. 1:3) °°Àº ¸»¾¸À¸·Î ÀÎÇÏ¿© ¸¸¹°ÀÌ È¸º¹µÉ °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù.

 

ÁÖ²²¼­´Â º¹À½¼­¿¡¼­ ÀÌ·¸°Ô ¸»¾¸ÇϽʴϴÙ. ¡±³ª Áø½ÇÈ÷ ³ÊÈñ¿¡°Ô À̸£³ë´Ï, ¶§°¡ ¿À°í Áö±Ý ´çÇÏ¿´À¸¸Å, ÀÌ ¶§¿¡ Á×Àº ÀÚµéÀÌ ÃµÁÖ ¼ºÀÚÀÇ ¼Ò¸®¸¦ µéÀ¸¸®´Ï, µé¸®´Â ÀÚ´Â »ì¸®¶ó, ¸¶Ä¡ ¼ººÎ ½º½º·Î »ý¸íÀÌ ÀÖÀ½ °°ÀÌ ¼ºÀÚ¿¡°Ôµµ ÁÖ»ç, ±× Ä£È÷ »ý¸íÀ» °¡Áö°Ô ÇÏ½Ã°í ¶Ç Àú¿¡°Ô ½ÉÆÇÇÒ ±ÇÀ» ÁÖ½ÉÀº ÀÎÀÚ°¡ µÇ½Ã´Â ¿¬°í´Ï, ³ÊÈñ´Â À̸¦ ÀÌ»óÈ÷ ¿©±âÁö ¸»¶ó ¶§°¡¿À¸Å, ¹«´ý ¼Ó¿¡ ÀÖ´Â ¸ðµç ÀÌ°¡ õÁÖ ¼ºÀÚÀÇ ¼Ò¸®¸¦ µéÀ» °ÍÀÌ´Ï, ¼±À» ÇâÇÑ ÀÚ´Â ³ª¾Æ¿Í ¿µ»óÀ¸·Î ºÎÈ°ÇÒ °ÍÀÌ´Ù. ¾ÇÀ» ÇâÇÑ ÀÚ´Â ³ª¾Æ¿Í ÁË·Î ÆÇ´ÜÇÔÀ» ¹Þ±â·Î ºÎÈ°Çϸ®¶ó¡±(¿ä¿Õ. 5:25-29).

 

¡®¼±ÇÑ Çà½ÇÀ» ÇÑ ÀÚ'µéÀÎ ÀúµéÀº ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¸öÀÇ ÀÏ¿øÀ¸·Î¼­ ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¼ºÃÑÀ¸·Î ¸»¹Ì¾Ï¾Æ ÀÌ ¼±À» ÇàÇÏ¿´½À´Ï´Ù. ¿©±â¿¡´Â ¸Å¿ì Áß¿äÇÑ Áø¸®°¡ ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù:ºÎÈ°ÇϽŠÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¿µ±¤À» ³ª´©±â À§Çؼ­,¿ì¸®´Â ¹Ýµå½Ã ÁÖ´ÔÀÇ ¸ö°ú ÀÏÄ¡µÇ¾î¾ß ÇÕ´Ï´Ù. ÀÌ°ÍÀÌ ¿µ¼ºÃ¼ÀÇ Å¹¿ùÇÑ ¿­¸ÅÀÔ´Ï´Ù:¡±³» »ìÀ» ¸Ô°í ³» ÇǸ¦ ¸¶½Ã´Â ÀÚ´Â ¿µ»ýÀ» ¾ò°í ³ª ¶ÇÇÑ ³¡ ³¯¿¡ Àú¸¦ ºÎÈ°ÄÉ Çϸ®´Ï¡±(¿ä¿Õ. 6:55).


ºÎÈ°ÀÇ ³¯¿¡ ¿ì¸®°¡ ¿øÇÏ´Â ¸öÀÇ ÇüÅ´ ¹«¾ùÀԴϱî? ¹Ù¿À·Î ¼ºÀÎÀÌ ¸»¾¸ÇϽõíÀÌ ¿µ±¤½º·± ¸öÀε¥, ÁÖ´ÔÀº ¸»¾¸ÇÏ½Ã±æ ¡°Àú´Â ´ÉÈ÷ ¸¸¹°À» ´ç½Å¿¡°Ô ±¼º¹½Ãų ¼ö ÀÖ´Â ´É·ÂÀ¸·Î½á ¿ì¸®µéÀÇ ºñõÇÑ ¸öÀ» º¯ÇÏ¿© ´ç½ÅÀÇ ¿µ±¤½º·´°Ô µÇ½Å ¸ö°ú °°°Ô ÇϽø®¶ó¡±(Çʸ³ÇÇ. 3:21). 


ȤÀº ÀúÁÖ¹ÞÀº À°½ÅÀ» ¿øÇÑ´Ù¸é, È­¿° ¼Ó¿¡¼­ ÁË·Î ÀÎÇÏ¿© ¿µÈ¥ÀÇ ÀúÁÖ¿Í ±âÇüÈ­µÈ ¸öÀ» °®°íÀÚ ¿øÇϽóª¿ä? ¹Ù¿À·Î ¼ºÀβ²¼­ ¸»¾¸ÇϽõíÀÌ ¿ì¸® ÀÚ½ÅÀ» Á×ÀÌ´Â °ÍÀÌ °¡Ä¡ ÀÖ´Â ÀÏÀÔ´Ï´Ù.

 

¡°±×·¯¹Ç·Î ³ÊÈñ´Â ³ÊÈñ ¾È¿¡ ÀÖ´Â ¼¼¼ÓÀû Ã浿, °ð À½ÅÁÇÔ°ú ºÎÁ¤ÇÔ°ú Á¤¿å°ú »ç¿å ¹× ¿ì»ó¼þ¹è¿Í °°Àº Ž¿å µîÀ» ¸»»ìÇÒÁö´Ï¶ó, õÁÖÀÇ Àdzë(ëùÒÁ)´Â ÀÌ·¯ÇÑ ÀÏ·Î ¸»¹Ì¾Ï¾Æ ºÒ¼øÇÑ Àڽĵ鿡°Ô ³»¸®´À´Ï¶ó. Àü¿¡ ³ÊÈñµéµµ Àúµé °¡¿îµ¥¼­ »ì¾ÒÀ» ¶§¿¡´Â ÀÌ·± ÁË Áß¿¡ »ì¾Ò¾úÀ¸³ª ±×·¯³ª Áö±Ý¿¡´Â ÀÌ ¸ðµç °ÍÀ» ¹ö¸±Áö´Ï, °ð ºÐ³ë¿Í ºÐ°³ÇÔ°ú ¾ÇÀÇ¿Í ¼³µæ°ú ÃßÀâÇÑ À̾߱⠵îÀ» ³ÊÈñ´Â ±× ÀÔ ¹Û¿¡ ³»Áö ¸»Áö¶ó. ³ÊÈñ´Â ¼­·Î ¼ÓÀÌÁö ¸»Áö¾î´Ù, ´ëÀú ¹¬Àº »ç¶÷À» ±× Çà½Ç°ú ´õºÒ¾î ¹þ¾î¹ö¸®°í ¶ÇÇÑ ±×¸¦ Á¶¼ºÇϽŠÀÚÀÇ ¸ð»óÀ» µû¶ó (¿ÏÀüÇÑ) ÀνÄÀ» ¾ò°Ô Çϵµ·Ï »õ·ÎÀÌ Á¶¼ºµÇ´Â »õ·Î¿î »ç¶÷À» ¹ÏÀº ¿¬°í(æÞͺ)´Ï¶ó¡±(Äݷλõ. 3:5-10).

 

Á×Àº ÀÚµéÀÇ ºÎÈ°ÀÌ ÀÖÀº ÈÄ¿¡ °ø½ÉÆÇÀÌ ÀÖ°Ô µË´Ï´Ù. ¸¶Áö¸· ½ÉÆÇ¿¡ ÀÇÇÏ¿© ¸ðµç ºÒÀÇ°¡ ÀÖ´Â °÷Àº ¹Ù·Î ÀâÈú °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù: õÁÖ´ÔÀÇ Á¤ÀÇ´Â ¸¶Ä§³» ³Î¸® ÆÛÁú °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù. õÁÖ´ÔÀ» ½Å·ÚÇÏ´Â ÀÚµéÀº ¸¶Ä§³»  ¹ÏÀ½ÀÇ ¿­¸Å¸¦ º¸°Ô µË´Ï´Ù: õÁÖ´ÔÀº ½ÇÆÐÇÏÁö ¾Ê½À´Ï´Ù. ±× ¾î´À ´©±¸µµ ¿ì¸® ÁÖ²²¼­ Á÷Á¢ ¸»¾¸ÇϽŠ°Í º¸´Ù ÀÌ ½ÉÆÇÀ» Àß ¹¦»çÇÑ ÀÚ´Â ¾ø½À´Ï´Ù.


¡±ÀÎÀÚ°¡ Àڱ⠿µ±¤°ú ¸ðµç õ½Å Áß¿¡ ¿ËÀ§ÇÏ¿© ¿Í¼­ Àڱ⠿µ±¤ º¸Á¿¡ ÁÂÁ¤ÇÏ°í, ¶Ç ¸¸ÀÎÀÌ ±× ¾Õ¿¡ ¸ðÀ̸®´Ï, ÀÌ¿¡ ÀúµéÀ» ¾çÆíÀ¸·Î °¥¶ó ¼¼¿ì±â¸¦, ¸¶Ä¡ ¸ñÀÚ°¡ ¾ç°ú ¿°¼Ò¸¦ °¥¶ó ¼¼¿ò°ú °°ÀÌ ÇÏ¿© ¾çÀ» Àڱ⠿À¸¥Æí¿¡ ¼¼¿ì°í ¿°¼Ò´Â ÁÂÆí¿¡ ¼¼¿î ÈÄ¿¡ ¿ÕÀÌ ±× ¿ìÆí¿¡ ÀÖ´Â Àڵ鿡°Ô °¡·ÎµÇ, "³» ¼ººÎÀÇ °­º¹ÇϽŠÀÚµé¾Æ. ¼¼»ó ¹èÆ÷ÇÒ ¶§ºÎÅÍ ³ÊÈñ¸¦ À§ÇÏ¿© ¿¹ºñÇÑ ³ª¶ó¸¦ ¿Í¼­ Â÷ÁöÇ϶ó, ´ëÀú ³ª ÁÖ¸± ¶§¿¡ ³ÊÈñ°¡ ³»°Ô ¸ÔÀ» °ÍÀ» ÁÖ°í, ³ª ¸ñ¸¶¸¦ ¶§¿¡ ³»°Ô ¸¶½Ç °ÍÀ» ÁÖ°í, ³ª ³ª±×³× µÇ¾úÀ» ¶§¿¡ ³ª¸¦ Áý¿¡ ´ëÁ¢ÇÏ°í ³ª Çæ¹þÀ» ¶§¿¡ ³ª¸¦ ÀÔÈ÷°í ³ª º´µé¾úÀ» ¶§¿¡ ³»°Ô ¹®º´ÇÏ°í ³ª ¿Á¿¡ °¤ÇûÀ» ¶§¿¡ ³ª¸¦ ã¾Æ º¸¾ÒÀ½À̴϶ó."

 

±× ¶§¿¡ ÀÇÀεéÀÌ ´ë´äÇÏ¿© °¡·ÎµÇ "ÁÖ¿© ¾î´À ¶§¿¡ ¿ì¸®µéÀÌ ÁÖÀÇ ÁÖ¸®½ÉÀ» º¸°í ¸Ô¿´»ç¿À¸ç, ¸ñ¸¶¸£½ÉÀ» º¸°í ÁÖ²² ¸¶½Ç °ÍÀ» µå·È»ç¿À¸ç, ¾î´À ¶§¿¡ ÁÖ ³ª±×³× µÇ½ÉÀ» º¸°í Áý¿¡ ´ëÁ¢ÇÏ¿´»ç¿À¸ç, ¶Ç Çæ¹þÀ½À» º¸°í ÀÔÇû»ç¿À¸ç, ¶Ç ¾î´À ¶§¿¡ ÁÖÀÇ º´µå½É°ú ¿Á¿¡ °¤È÷½ÉÀ» º¸°í ã¾Æ ºÆ¾ú³ªÀ̱î?"

 

¿ÕÀÌ ´ë´äÇÏ¿© °¡·ÎµÇ "³ª, Áø½Ç·Î ³ÊÈñ¿¡°Ô À̸£³ë´Ï, ³ÊÈñ°¡ ÀÌ ¹Ì¼ÒÇÑ ÇüÁ¦ Áß Çϳª¿¡°Ô º£Ç® ¶§ ¸¶´Ù °ð ³»°Ô º£Ç¬ ÇðÀÌ´Ï¶ó¡¯ ÇÏ°í ¶Ç ±× ÁÂÆí¿¡ ÀÖ´Â Àڵ鿡°Ô °¡·ÎµÇ ¡®ÀúÁÖ¸¦ ¹ÞÀº ÀÚµé¾Æ, ³ª¸¦ ¶°³ª ¸¶±Í¿Í ±× ¾Ç½ÅµéÀ» À§ÇÏ¿© ¿¹ºñÇÑ ¿µ¿øÇÑ ºÒ·Î °¡¶ó, ´ë°Ô ³ª ÁÖ·ÈÀ» ¶§¿¡ ³ÊÈñ°¡ ³»°Ô ¸ÔÀ» °ÍÀ» ÁÖÁö ¾Æ´ÏÇÏ°í ¸ñ¸¶¸¦ ¶§¿¡ ³»°Ô ¸¶½Ç °ÍÀ» ÁÖÁö ¾Æ´ÏÇÏ°í ³ª±×³× µÇ¾úÀ» ¶§¿¡, ³ª¸¦ Áý¿¡ ´ëÁ¢Ä¡ ¾Æ´ÏÇÏ°í, Çæ¹þ¾úÀ» ¶§¿¡ ³ª¸¦ ÀÔÈ÷Áö ¾Æ´ÏÇÏ°í º´µé°í ¿Á¿¡ °¤ÇûÀ» ¶§¿¡ ³ª¸¦ ã¾Æ º¸Áö ¾Æ´Ï ÇÏ¿´À½À̴϶ó."

 

ÀÌ¿¡ ÀúµéÀÌ ´ë´äÇÏ¿© À̸£µÇ, "ÁÖ¿©, ¾î´À ¶§¿¡ ¿ì¸® µîÀÌ ÁÖÀÇ ÁÖ¸®½É°ú ¸ñ ¸¶¸£½É°ú ³ª±×³× µÇ½É°ú Çæ¹þÀ½°ú º´µå½É°ú ¿Á¿¡ °¤È÷½ÉÀ» º¸°í ¹Þµé¾î ¼¶±âÁö ¾Æ´Ï ÇÏ¿´³ªÀ̱î?" ÀÌ¿¡ ´ë´äÇÏ¿© °¡·ÎµÇ "³ª ³ÊÈñ¿¡°Ô Áø½ÇÈ÷ À̸£³ë´Ï, ÀÌ ÀÛÀº ÀÚ Áß Çϳª¿¡°Ô ¾Æ´Ï º£Ç® ¶§¸¶´Ù °ð ³»°Ô ¾Æ´Ï º£Ç¬ ÇðÀ̴϶ó¡¯"Çϸ®´Ï, ÀÌ¿¡ ÀúµéÀº ¿µ¹ú ÁßÀ¸·Î °¡°í ÀÇÀεéÀº ¿µ»ýÀ¸·Î °¡¸®¶ó¡¯ ÇϽô϶ó¡±(¸¶Å¿ÀMt. 25:31-46).


ÀÌ ½ÉÆÇÀº ¿ì¸®¿¡°Ô ¿µ¿øÇÑ ±¸¿øÀÇ Á߿伺À» º¸¿©ÁÝ´Ï´Ù. Áö±Ý ¿ì¸®ÀÇ ¼±ÅÃÀº ¿µ¿ø¿¡ ´ëÇÑ °á°ú¹°ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¸¸¾à ¿ì¸®°¡ ¼±ÇÑ Çà½Ç ¼Ó¿¡¼­ õÁÖ´ÔÀ», ±×¸®½ºµµ¸¦, ´öÇà°ú ÂüµÈ ½Å¾Ó°ú »ç¶ûÀ» ¿­¸Å ¸ÎÀ» ¼ö ÀÖµµ·Ï ¼±ÅÃÇÑ´Ù¸é, ¿µ¿øÇÑ º¸»óÀÌ ÀÖÀ» °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù; ¸¸¾à ¿ì¸®°¡ ÀÌ¿Í °°Àº ¹ÏÀ½°ú ¼±ÇÑ Çà½Ç¿¡¼­ ¹þ¾î ³­´Ù¸é, ±×¸®°í ÀÌ ¼¼»óÀÇ »ç¶óÁö´Â Àç¹°¿¡ ¸¶À½À» µÎ¾î ¼Ó¾Æ³Ñ¾î°£´Ù¸é, ¿µ¿øÇÑ Â¡¹úÀÌ ÀÖ°Ô µË´Ï´Ù. 

 

±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ À縲Àº º¸»óÀÇ ½Ã°£ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¿Ö³ÄÇÏ¸é ´öÇàÀ» ½ÇõÇÑ °Í¿¡ ´ëÇÑ, ±×¸®½ºµµ¿Í ÇÔ²²ÇÑ »ý¾Ö¿¡ ´ëÇÑ ¾öû³­ º¸»ó, Áï ¿µ¿øÇÑ »óÀÌ Àֱ⠶§¹®ÀÔ´Ï´Ù. ¼ºÀε鿡°Ô ÁÖ¾îÁø Ưº°ÇÑ º¸»ó: õÁÖ´ÔÀº ¼ºÀε鿡°Ô ¸î °¡Áö ±âÀûÀÇ ´É·ÂÀ» ÁÖ¼Ì°í ±×·¡¼­ »ç¶÷µé °¡¿îµ¥ ¼¼¼ÓÀûÀÎ ÅëÄ¡ÀÚµé°ú ´Ù¸¥ °æ¿Ü°¨°ú ¿µ±¤ÀÇ ±Ç´ÉÀ» ÁֽŠÀÌ º¸»óÀº ÀÛÀº ºÒ²É¿¡ Áö³ªÁö ¾Ê´Â ´Ù´Â °ÍÀ» ¾Ð´Ï´Ù. ÇÁ¶õÄ¡½ºÄÚ »þºñ¿¡¸£ ¼ºÀÎÀ» »ý°¢ÇϽʽÿÀ.

 

ÀÌ ¼ºÀÎÀº ºÐ¸íÇÑ ½ÇÆÐ ¼Ó¿¡¼­ Á×¾ú´Âµ¥ (ÀÌ ºÐÀº ÀϺ»À» °³Á¾½ÃÅ°´Â µ¥¿¡ ½ÇÆÐÇÏ¿´°í, Áß±¹¿¡ Âø·úÇÏ´Â °Í Á¶Â÷ ½ÇÆÐÇÏ¿´½À´Ï´Ù- Áï ³ë·ÂÀÇ °á½ÇÀ» ¸øº¸°í Á×¾ú½À´Ï´Ù) ¼ºÀÎÀÇ Á×À½ ÀÌÈÄ ¼ö ¸¹Àº ±âÀûµéÀÌ »ý¾Ö±â°£ Çس½ °Íº¸´Ù ´õ ¸¹Àº °³Á¾À» ÀÌ·ç¾ú°í ¿À´Ã³¯¿¡µµ ÀϾ°í ÀÖ½À´Ï´Ù! õÁÖ²²¼­´Â ÀÌ¿Í °°Àº ¿µ¿¹¸¦ ¼ºÀε鿡°Ô ÁֽʴϴÙ! 

 

±×·¯³ª ¸ðµç º¸»ó °¡¿îµ¥ °¡Àå Ä¿´Ù¶õ »óÀº »ïÀ§ÀÏü Áß ÇÑ ºÐÀ̽ŠõÁÖ´ÔÀ» Á÷Á¢ º¸´Â °ÍÀÔ´Ï´Ù:¡±»ç¶ûÇÏ´Â ÀÚµé¾Æ ¿ì¸®´Â ÀÌÁ¦ õÁÖÀÇ ÀÚ½ÄÀ̷δÙ, ¿ì¸®°¡ ÀåÂ÷ ¹«¾ùÀÌ µÉÁö´Â ¾ÆÁ÷ ¸í¹éÇÏÁö ¾ÊÀ¸´Ï¶ó, ±×·¯³ª ÀÌ°ÍÀÌ ¸í¹éÇÏ¿©Áú ¶§´Â ¿ì¸®´Â õÁÖ¿Í ºñ½ÁÇÒ °ÍÀ» ¾Æ³ë´Ï, ´ëÀú »ç½Ç´ë·ÎÀÇ Àú¸¦ ºÆ¿Ã °Í ÀÓÀ̴϶ó.¡±(¿äÇÑ1. 3:2).


¹«¸© ÀÌ·¯ÇÑ Èñ¸ÁÀ» Àú¿¡°Ô ´ëÇÏ¿© °¡Áö°í ÀÖ´Â ÀÚ´Â Àú °Å·èÇϽɰú °°ÀÌ Àڱ⸦ (¶ÇÇÑ)°Å·èÇÏ°Ô ÇÏ´À´Ï¶ó¡±(¿äÇÑ 1¼­. 3:3).


Áö±ØÈ÷ º¹µÇ½Å µ¿Á¤ ¸¶¸®¾Æ¿©, õ»óÀÇ ¿©¿ÕÀ̽ÿ©, ¿ì¸®°¡ ÀÌ°÷ ¾Æ·¡¿¡¼­ ±×¸®½ºµµ²² Ãæ½ÇÇϵµ·Ï µµ¿ÍÁÖ¼Ò¼­. ±×¸®ÇÏ¿© ¿ì¸® ÁÖ ¿¹¼ö ±×¸®½ºµµÀÇ ¼ºÃÑÀ» ÅëÇÏ¿© ¿ì¸®°¡ ±× ºÐÀÇ »ç¶û ¼Ó¿¡¼­ »ì°Ô ÇϽðí õ±¹¿¡¼­ Ãູ¹Þ´Â ¿Õ±¹¿¡ µµ´ÞÇϵµ·Ï ÇϼҼ­.  ¾Æ¸à.    


ÇÁ¶û¼Ò¾Æ ·¹³× ½ÅºÎ(¼ººñ¿À10¼¼È¸ ¾Æ½Ã¾Æ °ü±¸ ¼Ò¼Ó »çÁ¦) 


Second Coming of Christ


We are at the end of the Liturgical year, and we contemplate the end of the world, the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, the General Judgement and everlasting life. The world as we know – with its sins, its injustices, its sorrows and trials and lastly with death – will not last for ever. We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ ¡°shall come again to judge the living and the dead.¡± We believe in ¡°the resurrection of the flesh and life everlasting¡±.

The first important truth of Faith is the ¡°Second Coming of Christ.¡± In the Old Testament, the distinction between the two comings of Christ was not clear, but in the New Testament it has become very clear: the First Coming was to save, the Second will be to judge; the first is for mercy, the second for justice; first Christ came in humility, secondly He will come in glory. Unless He had first come in humility to save us by the wood of His Cross, nobody would be on His right side on Judgement day at his Second Coming! First He came to forgive sins and give unmerited grace with which one can fulfil the Commandments; secondly He will come to reward the merits (done by His grace) and punish the sins (done by refusal of His grace).


All those who have been, are and will ever be saved are saved ¡°by the Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.¡± Even before the coming of Christ or the predication of the Gospel,  they knew He would come because of the prophets – either the prophecies of the Old Testament, or from the transmission of the first revelation to Adam: thus Abel already believed in the Saviour to come, as the ¡°Seed of the Woman, who would crush the Serpent¡¯s head¡±, or by private revelation through angels (even in countries that were otherwise pagan: see some of the oracles of the Sibyl in Greece,  of certain druids in France announcing at Chartres the ¡°Virgo Paritura – the Virgin who shall conceive¡±, etc.): God never refused to give light to those who searched for Him.


¡°Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved –(Acts 4:12)


Thus the true Christian attitude is to look forward to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¡°you yourselves be like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh, shall find watching. Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto them ¡¦ Be you then also ready: for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come – (Luke. 12:36-37, 40)


To be ready, that is to live in the friendship with God, in the state of grace, attentive to please Him at all time, contemplating the life of Jesus in the Holy Rosary, imitating Him in a life of prayer, charity and good deeds¡¦ at the example of the Saints.


The one who lives such a life does not fear the approaching calamities of the end of the world. Indeed our Lord Jesus Christ said: ¡°when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand –(Lk. 21:28).


The second coming of Christ teaches us a very important truth: all earthly goods are passing. We must fulfil our duties here below, and use these goods for the glory of God, but without putting our heart in them because they are passing goods, not the Eternal Good. Worldly people love these earthly goods, and put their heart, their ultimate end in them: either these goods will pass first, or they will pass (by death), but it is impossible for them to have for ever that which they love: if they love passing goods, their joy will pass away with these, and they will be left empty, and not only empty but with the conscience loaded with sin. To prefer the creatures rather than the Creator, this is the very essence of mortal sin; to put one¡¯s ultimate end in the pursuit of these creatures (money, pleasures, power, or even self, etc.) rather than in the honour of God and the possession of God in Heaven, this offends God, Who deserves that we serve Him!

There is clearly a great inversion, perversion, when the superior faculties of men (his intelligence and free-will) are used in the service of the inferior part, the body: one sees so much this inversion in the modern world. This is wrong. Indeed the inferior part should serve the superior part, by the practice of virtue, and freeing the mind for contemplation and love of God. Truly, as St Thomas Aquinas teaches, the supreme activity of man, in which consists his beatitude, is the use of his superior faculty – the mind – for the contemplation and love of the supreme reality, the Most Holy Trinity! This will be perfect in Heaven by the beatific vision. This starts a little on earth in prayer and contemplation.

When Christ comes, there will first be the resurrection of the dead. By the Word of God, ¡°all things were made – (Jn. 1:3) By the same Word, all things will be restored. He says in the Gospel: ¡°Amen, amen I say unto you, that the hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself, so he hath given the Son also to have life in himself: And he hath given him power to do judgment, because he is the Son of man. Wonder not at this; for the hour cometh, wherein all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And they that have done good things, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life; but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment (Jn 5:25-29)


¡°They that have done good things,¡± they did them by the grace of Our Lord, as members of His Body. Here is a very important truth: in order to share the glory of the Risen Lord, we must be united with His Body, and this is one great fruit of Holy Communion: ¡°He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day  (Jn. 6:55).


What kind of body do we want on Resurrection day? A glorious body, as St Paul says, that Christ ¡°will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself(phi 3:21)


Or do we want a damned body, sharing the condemnation of the soul, deformed by sin and in flames? It is worth mortifying ourselves as St Paul says: ¡°Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is the service of idols. For which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief, in which you also walked some time, when you lived in them. But now put you also all away: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth. Lie not one to another: stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds, And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him (Col. 3:5-10).


After the Resurrection of the dead, there will be the General Judgement, where all injustices will be corrected by the Just Judge: Divine Justice will prevail at last. Those who would have trusted in God will at last see the fruit of their trust: God does not fail. No one has ever described this judgement better than Our Lord Himself:


¡°And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty. And all nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separate the sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee? Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee? And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me. Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you covered me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me. And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting¡± (Mt. 25:31-46).


This judgement shows to us the importance of our eternal salvation: our choices NOW have consequences for eternity. If we choose for God, for Christ, for virtue, for the true Faith and Charity fruitful in good works, there will be an eternal reward; if we depart from these and let ourselves be deceived by the passing goods of this world, there will be an everlasting punishment!


The second coming of Christ is the time of the reward, because there is a tremendous reward for virtue, for a life with Christ: an eternal reward! We see a little spark of this reward in that particular reward given to the Saints: God granted them power to make some miracles, and thus a honour and glory even among men that is unequalled by any earthly rulers. Think of St Francis Xavier, who died in an apparent failure (he had failed to convert Japan, and failed even to land into China – he did not see the fruit of his labours), yet after death so many miracles made him achieve more conversions that he had done during his life¡¦ till today! God grants such honours to His Saints! But the greatest of all reward is the very sight of God Himself, of the Three Divine Persons: ¡°Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is (1 Jn 3:2)


¡°And every one that hath this hope in him, sanctifieth himself, as he also is holy –( 1 Jn. 3:3).


May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven, help us here below to be faithful to Christ so that, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we may live in His Love and reach that blessed Kingdom in Heaven! Amen.


Fr. F. Laisney