.

TODAY’S WORD…

.

Dear brothers and sisters,

we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died

so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.

.

For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again,

we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died.

.

We tell you this directly from the Lord:

We who are still living when the Lord returns

will not meet Him ahead of those who have died.

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout,

with the voice of the archangel,

and with the trumpet call of God.

.

First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.

Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

Then we will be with the Lord forever.

.

So encourage each other with these words.

.

– 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NLT)

.

.

.

PRAYER…

.

I know that Heaven awaits us, O Lord my Saviour,

and we owe this only to You

and to Your loving sacrifice on that Cross.

.

Lord, be my Guiding Light,

keep my faith strong,

strengthen my love for You

and fill me with hope

for that day when infinite beauty and greatness

and happiness and Love

will be poured into those who loved You,

who will be filled for eternity

with the freshness of an ever-new joy.

.

Amen.

.

.

[today’s prayer inspired by words of St Josemaria Escriva.]

.

.

.

REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

.

Lord, be my Guiding Light and fill me with hope!

.

.

.

YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

.

We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven

promised by God to those who love Him and do His will.

.

In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God,

to persevere to the end

and to obtain the joy of heaven,

as God’s eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ. […]

.

Hope, O my soul, hope.

You know neither the day nor the hour.

Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly,

even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain,

and turns a very short time into a long one.

.

Dream that the more you struggle,

the more you prove the love that you bear your God,

and the more you will rejoice one day with your Beloved,

in a happiness and rapture that can never end.

.

– St. Teresa of Avila

[CCC 1821]

.

.

.