“I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Rev. 3:11).
Yesterday, we reflected on the steadfastness required to follow the Lord. Today, the Lord reminds us that He is coming soon. We are called to walk our path of discipleship with this awareness of the Lord’s return, regardless of exactly when that hour will be.
It is soon! Our time is limited.
It is a sign of wisdom to always keep this in mind, so that we do not become complacent and do not lose what God has entrusted to us. This could happen if we do not use the talents given to us for the Kingdom of God.
In a passage from the Letter to the Philippians, Paul tells us what great gift we must hold fast to and what the mentioned crown consists of.
“Straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)
Our heavenly calling is this immeasurable gift from our Heavenly Father. It is the gift of belonging to the Catholic Church. It is the gift of having encountered the Savior of humanity and having come to know Him. This is what we live by, and this is who we are.
And this is what we must hold fast to and not surrender to the spirit of the age. We must defend this so that we do not lose the prize of victory. What would we be without faith?
Even nations can fail to fulfill their calling. When we think of Europe, for example, we see that most nations, to which so much has been entrusted, have already largely lost their Christian identity. Whereas missionaries once came from Europe to all peoples to bring the Gospel, today they often spread a godless culture of death.
Let us hold fast in the Lord to what our Heavenly Father has entrusted to us—even if we are only a small flock!