EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Tips Para Maging Happy Ngayong New Year 

 Br. Ariel T. Adolfo, OP

Maraming dahilan ang mga Pilipino para maging malungkot, gaya na lamang ng mga libu-libong Pilipino na umaalis at nangingibang bansa para maghanap-buhay. At gayundin naman karami ang mga pamilyang nangungulila sa kanila. Subalit, kilala rin ang mga Pilipino sa buong mundo sa pagiging masayahin sa anumang pagkakataon. Halimbawa na lamang, may ilang mga Pinoy na kahit nasunugan na o binaha ang kanilang tahanan, makikita pa rin ang ngiti sa harap ng kamera (makikita ito sa mga interviews nila sa telebisyon.) 

Ang isa sa mga sekreto ng pagiging masayahin ay ang pagtanggap kung sino at kung anung meron ka. Kung minsan kasi hindi natin nakikita ang mga bagay na mayroon tayo, sa halip tinitignan natin ang mga bagay na mayroon ang iba. Kaya nagiging mahirap at malungkot ang buhay natin. Sa ating ebanghelyo, si Herodes ay agad na nasurpresa at na-alarma nang malaman niyang isinilang na ang susunod na hari ng mga Hudyo. Kaya naman gumawa agad siya ng hakbang at nagpatawag siya ng isang pagpupulong kabilang ang mga matataas na tao upang itanong kung saan isinilang si Kristo. Ito ay maaaring senyales ng hindi pagtanggap sa katotohanan.

Subukan nating tignan ang ating mga sarili sa mga grasyang natanggap at simulang tanggapin ang mga bagay na wala tayo. Sa gayong paraan, mas magiging masaya tayo.

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

When We Were Baptized  

Br. Rambang Ngawan, O.P.

Today the Church is celebrating the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This feast marks the end of the Christmas season. The Church invites us through this feast to reflect on several important Church teachings that we must understand and live out in our day to day living as Christians.

Many things that happened during our Lord’s baptism at the Jordan River are symbolic of our baptism as Christians. During the baptism of the Lord, the Holy Spirit came upon Him; when we were baptized, the Trinity made us His holy dwellings. When Jesus was baptized, there was a voice crying out from heaven which proclaimed Jesus as the most beloved Son of the Father; and during our baptism, we were made adopted children of God who live under His grace. When the Lord was baptized, the gate of heaven was opened; and when we were baptized, the gate of heaven was opened for us and our salvation. During the baptism of the Lord, He prayed; and we too, as beloved children of God, must pray for strength and perseverance for the life of holiness and a life filled with God’s love.

On this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Church invites us once again to remember our baptismal promise and live under the grace of our baptism. If we are able through the grace of God to be faithful Christians, we would truly have celebrated Christmas and found its meaning in our lives.

2ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

VOCATION: A CALL TO HOLINESS
Br. Jayno Jabonillo, OP

All of us have a gift of vocation from God. Yes, all of us and no one is exempted. We may not agree with the first sentence above but it is the truth. What leads us to disagree, perhaps, is because we do not yet understand the meaning of this and find out the life that God has planned for us.

Life is the greatest gift that we have received from God and he wrapped this gift with a Vocation, a call since our birth. We may not hear him calling us but our faith helps us listen to his Divine calling. But what is this call asking us?

In today’s gospel, Jesus Christ said, “Come, and you will see” so that you will understand and find out that VOCATION IS A CALL TO HOLINESS. “Be Holy, for I the Lord your God, am Holy.” (Leviticus 11:44)

Are you a consecrated man or woman? Are you married? Or are you a single blessed? We know the kind of vocation we are embracing and living now, but do we understand completely the purpose or what benefits us in living our vocation faithfully and joyfully?

Brothers and sisters, God himself is constantly reminding us that our VOCATION IS ALWAYS A CALL TO HOLINESS. Thus, let us live together a Holy Life.

3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

AYOS

Br. Jaymar Capalaran, OP

Bago pumasok sa eskwelahan ang mga mag-aaral, sila ay nag-aayos ng kanilang sarili. Bago pumasok sa trabaho, lahat ng empleyado ay nag-aayos din. Kahit sa pagdalo sa mga espesyal na pagdiriwang o kaganapan, ang mga dumadalo ay nag-aayos.

Ang pag-aaayos ng sarili ay napakahalaga hindi lamang dahil ito ay pangunahing gawain kung hindi isa rin itong maka-Kristiyanong gawain. Sa ating Ebanghelyo, ipinahayag ni Hesus ang magandang mensahe ng Panginoon na ang kaharian ng Diyos ay malapit nang dumating. Sa paghahanda para ditto, lahat ay inaanyayahang magsisi at maniwala sa Magandang Balita, ang ating kaligtasan (cf. Mark 1:15). Sa madaling salita, mag-ayos ng sarili, sa Ingles, to bring ourselves into the order of goodness.

Ipinaalalahanan tayo ni Hesus na mag-ayos ng ating mga sarili hindi lamang dahil tayo ay may inaabangang party. Ayaw Niyang sa huli tayo ay magsisi. Sino ba namang ayaw makarating sa kaharian ng Diyos na puno nang kaayusan? Ako, ikaw, lahat tayo siyempre, gusto. Subalit bago pa man ito mangyari, handa ba tayong ayusin ang ating mga sarili? Maitatanong ba natin sa ating sarili: maayos na ba ako? Maayos na ba ang aking ugnayan sa Diyos? Maayos na maayos na nga ba? Kung hindi pa, tayo ay binibigyan ng panahon upang magsisi sa ating mga nagawang kasalanan at bigyang tuon ang paniniwala sa Magandang Balita. Ito ang nagbibigay kaayusan sa ating buhay. Kung itong maka-Kristiyanong uri ng pag-aaayos ay naisapuso at naisabuhay, masasabi natin sa huli, AYOS!

CHRISTMAS FOR ALL: SALVATION FOR EVERYONE

Every Christmas, we joyfully remember the birth of Jesus. What is the real significance of His birth?

According to the Catechism for the Filipino “The Father sent His Son as Savior of the world”

This means first, that God sent His Son as an offering for our sins. Second, he came to reveal to us God’s love, that we might have life through him. Third, he came to be our model for sanctity, so that, fourth, we could share in his divine sonship.” “Christ’s whole life constituted a redeeming process, begun at the Incarnation when he “was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.”

In the letter to the Hebrews, a canticle reminds us about the great love Jesus has for all. “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” Because of his incarnation “he was truly united with us, who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.” Through his incarnation, we have obtain a true model on how to be a real human person. Through his love, we are able to know more about ourselves.

The long awaited Savior had come during the first Christmas. As we remember the day Jesus came, may we receive the salvation offered to everyone; this is the greatest gift from our loving Father through our Savior Jesus with the Holy Spirit. With much joy, let us celebrate the coming of Christmas for all, give thanks for the blessings brought about by Christmas, and strive to incarnate in our lives the love, which is the true essence of Christmas, so that every day is a Christmas day.

MOTHERHOOD OF MARY

New Year serves as an invitation for a new beginning. It gives hope and inspiration for all to face the new challenges that will come in the future. That is why as we welcome the New Year, it is just proper to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary as the Mother of God, our Mother. We are all reminded that Mary is with us for another year that is filled with blessings from the Almighty.

The Solemnity of Mary as Mother of God is celebrated on the first day of January. It is included in what we call “Octave of Christmas,” or the extended celebration of Christmas starting from the 25th of December. Mary as the Mother of God is one of the most important titles of Mary. This title comes from the Greek word theotokos which means “God-bearer.” In this day, we are reminded of the important role that Mary played for our salvation. Through the Holy Spirit, God the Father prepared Mary to be the instrument of the incarnation of His Son, Jesus. Mary’s fiat serves as the sign of the fulfillment of God’s plan for the salvation of all. That is why, to call Mary as the Mother of God is the highest honor we can give to her.

If Christmas is giving honor to Jesus as the “Prince of Peace”, the Solemnity of Mary as the Mother of God gives honor to Mary as the “Queen of Peace”. New Year’s Day is also the “World Day of Peace”. It announces the place of Mary in our hearts and her special role in our world. With Mary, we are all at peace. Like her care for Jesus, we will also be under her protection. In her company, we will not be forsaken.

She is Mary, the Mother of God, Mother of All, Mother of Peace.

MISSA DE GALLO

Being a Christian is considered as one of the good legacies of the Spaniards to us. It is through the Spaniards that we came to know that there is only One and True God and we learned to worship Him. It has become part of our consciousness to live according to the teachings of Jesus. The propagation of Christianity in the country was accompanied by traditions that serve to strengthen our faith in God. One of these traditions which was started by the Spanish friars is the “Dawn Mass.”

The celebration of the Dawn Masses in the Philippines started in the 1700’s. It was during that time that the friars started to celebrate novena masses in preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the mass, the friars wanted to emphasize in the hearts and minds of new members the importance of the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

The Dawn Masses are also called “Missa de Gallo.” Gallo is Spanish for “rooster”. The crowing of the rooster was a signal for Filipinos to rise up and prepare for mass. Most of the Filipinos then were farmers and fishermen. By celebrating the mass before the sun rises and before the people went to work in the farm or sea, the friars allowed the people still to worship God without neglecting their livelihood. In this way, the parish priests are successful in gathering their parishioners in one mass.

The Dawn Masses are also called “Misas de Aguinaldo.” During these masses, we commemorate the giving of gifts of the three wise men to the Child Jesus in the manger.

The Dawn Mass is an important spiritual tradition that serves as a preparation for Christmas. It helps us to recall and reflect on the spirit of the first Christmas, the birth of our Lord Jesus.

Can you now hear the first crow of the rooster? Let us go and attend the Dawn Mass.

MERCY AND COMPASSION: PREPARATION FOR THE PAPAL VISIT

God is merciful and compassionate. His kindness knows no end and his mercy lasts forever, even if we continue to sin against Him. Because of His mercy and compassion, He sent His only Son to ransom and save us. That is why, in the Incarnation of God, through the mediation of Christ, we felt and saw the mercy and compassion of the Heavenly Father.

Christ is the face of the merciful and compassionate God. In Matthew 9:36, it is said, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” And if we observe all the things that the Lord has made, they are full of mercy and compassion. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, delivered those possessed by evil spirits, preached the truth, gave light and hope to humankind. And the greatest among these is: He offered His own life on the cross so that we can be saved and, become worthy of the everlasting life.

On January 14-19, 2015, Pope Francis will visit our country. The theme of his visit is mercy and compassion. He will come to let us feel and remember the mercy and compassion of God. He knows the situation of the Filipinos. He knows our sufferings, especially the suffering of the victims of calamities in our country. The world will never forget what happened last year, especially in the Visayan Region, when Typhoon Yolanda devastated our country. Thousands of lives were lost, properties were destroyed, many families were separated, and dreams were shattered. Until now, the victims still feel those sufferings. Many people became merciful and compassionate because of happened in the country. And one of those people is Pope Francis.

During the visit of Pope Francis, let us all prepare. Let us dispose ourselves by reflecting and living the mercy and compassion of God. It is important in our preparation that we ourselves feel that mercy and compassion. And since we know that we are all sinful and we experience a lot of sufferings, we also need mercy and compassion. Let us approach God. We have the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Let us go back to Him because He is merciful and is always ready to forgive. We also have the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the real presence of Jesus Christ, who is the source of life and strength of the Church. Let us remember those who are in need of mercy and compassion. Let us pray for them and help them to live their life again. Let us come together and help each other so that our Church will be a Church of mercy and compassion. During the visit of Pope Francis, may he see and feel in us that we are a nation and church full of the mercy and compassion of Christ who is our Lord.

THE GIFT OF SELF

Giving gifts to friends, co-workers, schoolmates, and loved ones has become a part of our celebration of Christmas. This custom originates from the Gospel story of the three wise men who came from the East and offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn Jesus. Our Lord Jesus Christ received gifts during the first Christmas. This is the reason why gift-giving is very much alive during the commemoration of His birth. 

 

But if we will meditate upon this closely, who is really the receiver and giver of the gift during the first Christmas? Is it Jesus who offered his own life for us that we may be saved from sin? Or is it not us who first received the gift of Life of Jesus for our salvation? And is it not us who are tasked to share the gift of Jesus to others? And is it not us who are challenged to give ourselves as gift for others, not just during Christmas but at all times?

Giving gifts during Christmas does not pertain only to the giving of material things. More than these is the giving of oneself to the others, especially to those who are in need of companions in their loneliness, suffering and sorrow. The giving of oneself, perhaps, is the greatest gift one can offer to the other, in imitation of Jesus who offered his life for us all when he was born and crucified on the cross. This kind of gift giving-- giving oneself for the other-- is pleasing to the eyes of God and will remain with Him forever.

This coming Christmas, do not be alone or be selfish. Share to others. As the cliché goes, presence is the best present.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CELEBRATING THE CHRISTMAS VIGIL MASS

There is a great mystery that will unfold tomorrow and vigilance and preparations are needed for the coming of this day. We ordinarily call an overnight watch as vigil. The word vigil comes from the Latin word ‘vigilia’ which means ‘a watching’ or ‘keeping watch.’ In Filipino, pagmamatyag, paglalamay or pagtatanod. Thus our understanding of a vigil does not only mean to keep awake over the course of the night. It involves preparedness and watchfulness in ushering a most awaited day.

The vigil is a living tradition that originates from the early Christians, thousands of years ago. It was their custom to gather together in a church before the day of the feast which they commemorate. If we can stay awake for the things we deem important such as work, studies, even wakes for the dead, we should also keep vigil for the days significant for our faith: a vigil filled with preparedness and watchfulness.

Easter, Pentecost, Ascension at Christmas are some of the days when we hold vigils. In 380 AD, a Christian woman named Egeria went to Jerusalem. According to her, the Christians there hold a vigil that begins in the midnight in Bethlehem. The vigil is followed by a procession, with torches guiding their way to Jerusalem before the dawn. The procession ends in Jerusalem in time for the rising of the sun. Following this tradition, Pope Sixtus III promulgated the Midnight mass in a chapel in Bethlehem in 430 AD.

The present Christmas Vigil Mass that is celebrated a day before Christmas can be considered as a tradition that originated from the Christians in Jerusalem. Since then, as Christians, we continue to hold a vigil filled with preparedness and watchfulness for the coming of the day when our Lord is born. And like the early Christians, may the light of our Lord Jesus Christ remain our guide in the darkness until the new dawn breaks.

AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH

Jesus is the Word of God. He is God together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Through the incarnation of Jesus, we witness a great dialogue: God gave his Word to Mary and Mary gave her answer to God. Both God and Mary have the same word – true and everlasting. Both God and Mary have the same Word – Jesus. This is the reason why Jesus is both true God and true man. He is the great reconciliation, union and communion between God and man.

When Jesus became man, he embraced our humanity. He became like us, especially the lowliest among us. Jesus lived a simple life among us. He was not glamorous, rich and powerful despite his being God. He chose to live simply with ordinary people. He even chose to be born in a stable. He lived a hidden life and like us he experienced how it was to be poor, to go hungry, to mourn and to die. He became man for our sake: that we may experience that God is very close to us, that he is with us in our difficulties and ease.

Christmas is a great celebration of so great a love God has for us. St. Athanasius once said, “God became man so that man may become god.” God shared in our life so that we may share in his life.

PREPARATION FOR THE COMING OF OUR LORD

It is Christmas! All are busy. All are preparing. People are busy in the malls buying gifts. Divisoria is also crowded with people looking for gifts for their godchildren. The Christmas tree in the house is already lit; Christmas parties are held everywhere in schools and offices; families are planning reunions. All these preparations, and the joyful atmosphere, are all because of the coming celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

However, aside from preparing ourselves, our homes and other gatherings, it is better to celebrate Christmas with a clean conscience. It is not only cleaning our surroundings and our homes which brings us a happy Christmas. More than this is to live a life filled by our Lord with grace. This happens when we approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation. According to the Catechism for Filipino Catholics (#1771-1772), through confession, we are forgiven our sins. If sin brings us farther from God, in confession, we are brought closer again to Him and we are able to live in his grace.

Related to our asking for forgiveness for the sins we committed is our forgiveness for those whom we have misunderstandings, those with whom we are not on speaking terms, or those with whom we are angry. The Lord himself says through a parable (Mt. 18:15-35) that we are forgiven through our reconciliation with others. If we do not forgive others, how can we ask or receive forgiveness for ourselves?

In the coming Christmas, let us approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Also, let us pray for the grace to forgive those who wronged us. Through these, we can truly have and experience a happy Christmas.

ST. JOSEPH: ONE WHO FULFILLED THE WILL OF GOD

The celebration of Christmas is not really complete without St Joseph who became Jesus’ father on earth. He was known for his deep and strong faith in God. He was ready to do what God wanted him to do.

According to Sacred Scriptures, when St. Joseph was already betrothed to Mary, he was already aware that Mary was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Since he was kind- hearted and did not wish to put Mary to shame, he planned to break the engagement in secret. However, when the angel appeared in his dream and narrated the truth about the pregnancy of Mary, he embraced and accepted Mary as his wife. He also accepted the child to be born as his child.

St. Joseph played a very important role during the first Christmas. From Nazareth to Bethlehem, St. Joseph and Mary traveled to look for a place where she can give birth to the child. They knocked at different households but no one accepted them until they found the manger where she gave birth to the Child Jesus. And when the angel told St. Joseph that his family was in danger, he left all he had, his friends and countrymen, to go and live in a different country. His priority was the well-being of the family entrusted to him by God.

St. Joseph said “yes” to the invitation of God. In his life, he had only one goal: to fulfill the will of God. Although he did not say a single word in the Sacred Scriptures, we know how he showed his love to Jesus. He was a Servant of God who takes the well-being of his family as his first priority.

Just like St. Joseph, we are also invited to have a deep and strong faith so that we can say “yes” to God’s call and do whatever He wishes us to do. As spouses, as father, mother or a child, St. Joseph reminds us to prioritize the well-being of our family. We look up to St. Joseph who aimed to fulfill the will of God in his life.

CHANGE OF COLOR IN THE LITURGY

Do you know that the liturgy of the Church is divided into seasons? Do you also know that the colors of the vestments of the priest in the Mass symbolize these seasons?

The liturgical calendar of the Church begins with the Advent season or the season of waiting for the coming of the Lord into the world. The Christmas season is about the incarnation and the birth of Jesus. Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday, is a forty-day preparation for us Catholics by repenting for our sins and through sacrifices. Holy week is the climax of this preparation, when we remember the passion and death of Christ. Lent is followed by Easter, the season for remembering the resurrection and ascension of Christ. Pentecost celebrates the Lord’s sending of his Holy Spirit to his people. During ordinary Sundays, we remember the deeds and teachings of Jesus here on earth. Our celebrations during the liturgical year are not only repetitive celebrations. They also bring us to our destination – the Kingdom of God. 

The changing of seasons is signaled by the change in the colors used in the liturgy and the vestments. Violet or lilac, in tradition, is a “color of honor” which was only used by kings and queens. It also stands for mourning and seeking for forgiveness. In our liturgy, it is used during Advent and Lent. White is the color of purity. It is used during the Christmas Season and Easter time. In more solemn celebrations, gold is used to symbolize the light coming from God. Red is the color of blood and courage, used every Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost and in the celebration of the Lord’s passion. Green is the color of Ordinary Time. Rose is used every third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), and every fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday).

The seasons and colors are used in our rituals. They help us grow as Christians who are called to holiness in our faith-life. May the season and color of Christmas not only be material instruments in our faith. May they bring us to the true meaning of the birth and incarnation of Christ our Savior.

THE PEACE OF CHRISTMAS

All of us desire peace. And is this not the foremost message of Christmas? In the eve of the first Christmas, the angels sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest and peace to people of good will.’ Peace or shalom in the bible, is very important. It occurs more than five-hundred times in the Bible. In the New Testament, Jesus would almost always greet His disciples ‘Peace be with you.’ But what does this peace which the angels spoke about mean?

In the entire Old Testament, the prophets often spoke about shalom, peace. This pertains to the harmonious relationship between God and man, between man and a fellow human being, and between man and his will. Because of man’s fall at the Garden of Eden, this harmony or shalom was lost. In the New Testament, genuine peace came in the person of Jesus. St. Luke said “ And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Lk. 1:76-79)

How does Jesus become our peace? The gospels show various ways.

First, by embracing those neglected and rejected by society. In the gospel according to St. Luke, the angels appeared to the shepherds, who in the eyes of the Pharisees were unclean because of their inability to observe the Mosaic laws. Jesus invited the tax-collectors, who were hated for their apparent betrayal and collaboration with the Romans. Jesus mingled with Samaritans and prostitutes, with sinners. Jesus is peace, that is, he restores the relationship of us sinners to each other and to God.

Second, by his miracles. Many of the miracles performed by Jesus concern the healing of lepers and the blind. He also brought back to life the only son of a widow. The absence of a healthy body for those who are sick and the uncertainty of the lives of widows and poor people, are examples of the absence of peace. Jesus came to restore spiritual, emotional, and bodily health. That is why holiness is closely linked with wholeness. Through Jesus, we become whole; we become holy.

Third, shalom, peace means to live in accord with the will of God. Pope Leo the Great said “We wish that our friends be like us or have the same interest and desire. How can we say that God can be our friend if we keep on doing things that He hates?” At the last supper, Jesus said to his disciples “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). Peace does not mean conformity with the ways of this world; Peace demands the denial of sins and efforts to build the Kingdom of God. The seed of peace will sprout and flourish only if we water it with obedience and perseverance.

Thus, if we long for the peace of God, which is the spirit Christmas, we have three tasks: to accept the persons rejected by society and those who have sinned against us; to give healing and security for the sick, widows, and destitute; and to aspire to follow the will of God. In this way, through God’s, the song of the angels will be fulfilled: “Peace on earth to people of good will.”

ADVENT: THE COMING OF OUR LORD

The liturgical calendar being observed and celebrated by the Church is the fruit of the continuous development of the history of the Church. It is divided into the following seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time.

The Advent Season is the beginning of the liturgical calendar of the Church. It starts on the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle on November 30, and is composed of four Sundays. It ends before Christmas day.

The word ‘advent’ comes from the Latin word ‘adventus’ which means ‘arrival.’ The Advent season is divided into two parts. The first is from the beginning of Advent to December 16, with the second coming of Christ at the end of time is the subject of meditation. This is in order to increase our longing for it. The second part is from December 17 to December 24 when Christians commemorate and prepare for the Birth of our Lord.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says about Advent: “When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease." (CCC524)

The Season of Advent is also the season when the Church celebrates the coming of Christ today in the celebration of liturgy and the sacraments.

Thus, in the liturgy of the Advent Season, we remember, celebrate, and long for the three comings of Christ into our lives: His first coming at His birth, His return at the end of time, and his coming in every liturgy and sacrament His Church celebrates.

We know that every arrival demands necessary preparations. If we can prepare for the coming of a visitor to our house, should we not prepare even more for the coming of our Lord in every moment of our lives?