OUR GOD COMES!

"Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad . . . all the trees of the wood shout for joy at the presence of the Lord for he comes, he comes to rule the earth . . . with justice; he will judge the peoples with his truth." Psalm 95 (96)
Who is it that comes? Comes for what? And When? But first, consider why he comes, then how and the "who", the "what for" and the "when" may become clearer.
According to the scriptures, Jesus - God "made flesh" - said: "the Son of man came to seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10); also, we read "I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me." (Rev. 3:20).
We are told in the Gospels that when Jesus entered Jericho a man was there named Zacchaeus, anxious to see him. It seems Jesus was just as anxious to see him: "Zacchaeus", he called to him, "come down" (small of stature, Zacchaeus had climbed a tree to get a better view), "hurry, because I must stay at your house today". Why, if not to share a meal, sit with him and talk with him so that Zaccheaus could find out for himself "what kind of man" Jesus was?
We are also told that Zacchaeus didn't wait for a second offer but "hurried down and welcomed him joyfully". So, a meal was shared - and we can only surmise - a victory, too! (Cf. Rev. 3:21).
It may be his knocking, or his calling out to us, or simply something that stirs our curiosity, but either way when a deep desire to know more about "the Son of man" - God's Son - is born in us, he makes us an offer too good to refuse because this is what leads to faith. The "who" and the "what for?" are questions only answered after the Lord is joyfully welcomed (our goodwill evidences this); and then, taking time to sit down to "listen" and to "talk" with him (both the ingredients of prayer), to find out what kind of person Jesus is.
But another question arises: when does he come? He comes twice. He has already come in the form of the Gospel message which we have "Heard, seen and touched", a message which proclaims a "second" coming ("and then will appear the Son of man coming in the clouds"). First, he ascended in a cloud, but then he will come again in "clouds"; a mystery? That's no reason to dismiss the idea.
Saint Augustine said his first coming was the proclamation of the 'good news' that the whole earth is filled with his presence. "We must not resist his first coming, and then we shall not have cause to dread his second coming. The fact that he has not come yet (i.e., again) is no reason to think he will not come. He will come, but when it will be you do not know. If he finds you ready, it is no disadvantage that you do not know".
"Readiness" is what the Christian life of faith is all about. Because the Lord, God, comes to judge the earth with justice and the peoples with truth, we are ready when our life is predicated on justice - right living - (guided by the Lord's precepts of love and mercy), founded in truth. We have to be honest with ourselves, of course, and have a good conscious before God.
Our greatest enemy is fear. The world enslaves us, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, but as Augustine advised, we "should make use of the world and not be its slave".
Many have found a dynamic opennessto both the gospel message, which is as much about our neighbour as it is about God, and to the "comforter", the Holy Spirit whom God sends to be near us, to live within us and to guide us on our journey. 'Letting go' our preconceived ideas, our prejudices, all the barriers that prevent us from hurrying to welcome him joyfully, this may be all that is necessary to open up the world of faith to our eyes. It is freeedom. It is joy. It is peace. Let us hurry to admit Christ into our lives.