Encouragement

---

Everyone appreciates a warm welcome whenever we retrace our steps back home, to know that our dear ones have eagerly waited for our return and the joy in their voices and hearts when they greet us. On our part, we too look forward and long to be with our own. Face to face with the ones we love and have their very presence with us. Their welcome warms our hearts and all the pain of waiting melts away.

Recently, a friend recounted on how her Mother during one of her visits to the cemetery with her young grandson happened to meet her neighbors who had returned home after a long vacation. She could hardly contain her excitement on seeing them and exclaimed in a loud voice; from one end of the cemetery to the other end where they were standing; “Welcome back, welcome back.” Her grandson looked at her in shock and reprimanded his grandmother for uttering such words in a place that could mislead people into thinking that the dead had come back to life.

But, we all have been given the promise of life after death. We will eventually rise from our deep sleep to a warm welcome by the Lord. We read in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44;” So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body”.

We are all too familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son and the overwhelming welcome that he received when he repented and returned to his father’s house.
In fact, when Jesus sent the disciples out to the towns to preach and heal, He specifically told them to enter only the towns where they would be welcomed and to impart their peace into whichever house they entered. If they found no faith in any town, they were instructed to shake the dust off their feet on leaving the place as a warning to the people living there.

There is a famous saying that anyone can catch your eye but it takes a special someone to catch your heart. I was once quite taken up by a small boy absolutely smitten by a young girl during one of our parish programs. He kept watching her throughout the event and tugged at his mother’s hand to have a look at this girl. After mustering up enough courage, he slowly walked towards her and touched her hand shyly to which he was rewarded with a beaming smile. When the event was over, the young girl kept waving as she left with her mother. But the boy stood sadly with downcast eyes and a lost look on his face, unable to bear the parting and already anticipating the next meeting. Heart wrenching to watch! Those who who through this pain know how difficult it is to be away.

It is said that however many times we say goodbye, it always becomes necessary to say that one final goodbye, that last glance until destiny unites once again.
When the disciples bade the final goodbye to our Lord on His ascension, they were given a beautiful promise by the angels; “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts1:11

Today, we too eagerly await the return of Our Lord. Jesus said in John 14:3; “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
When He returns, will He find the anticipated faith in us? Will we sail through with flying colors? Will we inherit the eternal reward as promised?
These are questions which can only be answered truly from the heart.

Maria Franco

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE