In the First Reading taken from the Book of Isaiah. The people of Israel are asked to prepare themselves to meet the Messiah. However, we now know that it would be over half a millennium later that the prophecy of Isaiah would be fulfilled with John the Baptist repeating the message of prophet Isaiah. That’s a long time of waiting.

In this period of waiting the people of Israel were supposed to prepare their hearts and minds to receive their promised Messiah who would be their Shepherd. According to today’s Second Reading the Second Letter of St Peter tells us that this period of waiting is given to us so that we may reflect on our actions, repent and become holy. True repentance is a complete 180 degree turn away from sin. Being born again in the Spirit as a new creature helps us on the path of true holiness. A perceived delay in Judgement Day isn’t a free license to continue living in sin but it will be considered to be an abuse of the waiting time given to each one of us.

Many in Israel weren’t adequately prepared to recognize Jesus as the Messiah during his first coming but now 2000 years later after Jesus became man, walked, lived and died among us, we are promised that we will see Him again. When would that time be? We do not know. But the time of his return is certain for sure.

So how long is the waiting period? What do we do to prepare ourselves to recognize and meet the Lord when He asks for us? The practical suggestion would be to live a Holy life for today. Try your best to pray, read and reflect on his Word, attend mass and receive Holy Communion, make regular confession and make Christ present in you and your interactions with others. Live with Christ one day at a time. Because when we live our daily lives with Christ, he becomes our shepherd.  There’s nothing to fear. We will be taken care of grazing on good green pastures, restful waters, guaranteed security and loads of divine love.