hold on to love

In this second week of Advent, I am faced with a lot of realizations. The most important of all is the fact that we are just pilgrims here on earth - that everything we have now is temporary. The security of our career and finances, the self-confidence that we have with our achievements and experience, and even the comfort of family and friends, all these are futile when judgment day comes and we will come before the Lord to see Him face to face.

There are many things people can hold on to, but what I know for sure is that in this life and the next, I will hold on to only one thing. I will be judged by my Creator by this one thing that I have and what I can carry before Him. It is with this one thing that I hope I will be able to fulfill the purpose of my life - the love that I have from the Lord.

We will lose everything we have now, except the love that we have from the Lord.When the day comes that we face the Lord, faith and hope will already be brought to completion - for our faith is already made real before us and our hope is already fulfilled. Such is the reason why the St. Paul says that love is the greatest of all (1 Cor 13:13)!

I will hold on to the love that I have received first from Him. Before Him, at the end of my earthly life, I will give back this love that I have cultivated in my being - my love for Him and my love for my neighbors (Mt 36:40). I pray that my offering may be pleasing to Him. I invite you to pray this with me.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

- Psalm 136:1