Advent has begun!

Each year, the season of “Advent” - which literally means “coming” - is a time when the Church turns her attention to the coming of Christ. The Christmas trees, carols, and nativity scenes draw our attention to the celebration of the birth of Jesus, but the Mass readings and prayers for Advent, especially toward the beginning of the season, highlight the truth that Jesus will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. Most of us are preparing for Christmas, but are we also preparing for the Second Coming of Christ? Most of us look forward to seeing Jesus in the manger, but do we also look forward to Jesus on the clouds of Heaven? If we're honest, I imagine that many of us fear this Second Coming of Christ, but should we?

St. Thomas Aquinas distinguishes between several different kinds of fear in the Summa Theologica:

1. “Worldly fear” is the fear of losing the things of this world, because we've made this world - not eternal life with God - our ultimate purpose. Jesus warns against this kind of fear when he says, “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna” (Matthew 10:28).
2. “Servile fear,” like the fear of a servant for his master, is the fear of punishment for our sins, which motivates us to turn from sin to holiness. This kind of fear is good, but this fear of punishment should decrease as we grow in the love of God. As 1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.”
3. “Filial fear,” like the fear of a child for his father, is the fear by which we stand in awe of the goodness of God and try to avoid sinning against him, because of our love for him. This is the kind of fear that is listed among the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2-3) and is most proper to Christians, who have been made children of God through Baptism.

As you think about the coming of Jesus in glory to judge the living and the dead, what kind of fear do you feel?

Is it a worldly fear, which doesn't want to let go of this present life and the things that we have in it? If so, cast aside that fear by trusting that God and his coming kingdom are better than the things we cling to now. Go to Confession and make a commitment to love God more than this present world. As Jesus challenged, “For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?” (Mark 8:36 DR)

Is it a servile fear, which is afraid to face the punishment for sins? If so, turn away from those sins with renewed zeal and trust in the goodness of Jesus, who came to save us, not condemn us (John 3:17, 12:47), and who says to his followers, “I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father” (John 15:15)

Is it a filial fear, which recognizes the profound goodness of God, desires to draw still closer to him, and fears only displeasing him? If so, continue to take steps to grow in holiness and look forward to Christ's coming with hope-filled anticipation, ready to receive the kingdom that he promises. As we grow in our trust in the goodness of God, fear of our own punishment ought to give way to hope that Christ will set all things right when he comes again and that the life that we will have with him in eternity will far surpass anything that this present world offers to us.

A reflection for today, November 29, from the writings of St. Augustine in the book Augustine Day by Day, offers this relevant advice:

My brothers and sisters, believe firmly what you believe - that Christ will return. What does it matter when? Prepare yourself for his coming. Live as though He were coming today, and you will not fear His coming. (Sermon 265, 3-4)