THE ADVENT JOURNEY – Day 19: “The Conversion of the Jews”

Another sign that will precede the Lord’s Return is the conversion of the Jews. Specifically, this means that many Jews will accept the Gospel and recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

One may wonder why the conversion of the People of Israel is so important that it is mentioned as one of the signs preceding the Second Coming of Christ. Let us try to understand this: it is not that God has rejected Israel, even if only a “holy remnant” of Israelites believed in the Messiah and took on the great task of proclaiming him to all peoples, thus fulfilling God’s will. But we must never forget that it was thanks to the proclamation of the apostles, who came from the Jewish people, that faith in the Messiah of Israel reached us. Therefore, not all the people hardened their hearts and rejected the Messiah; there were those who gave their lives to follow the Lord. Let us think of St. Paul, who tirelessly proclaimed the Gospel.

Let us listen to one of his letters to see how much he loved his brothers “according to the flesh”:

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TRUE COMFORT  

“Do not seek comfort in people. What comfort could they give you? Go to the tabernacle and pour out your heart there. There you will find comfort.” (Saint Padre Pio)

Where do we seek comfort? Often in people; sometimes also in material goods or irrational creatures. Yet time and again we experience that we do not receive true comfort, for this can only come from the Holy Spirit. If we turn to the Lord, will He deny us His comfort?

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