The four interviewees were one in saying that the young believe in the Parousia although they have different approaches to it. Monica considered the human expectations like the Jewish people. “They expected a messiah with features of a king, of a leader. They did not expect the simple Christ sent to us. But after all, He showed us more than we ever expected.”

A contemporary perspective is how Therese espouses her views. “As a Catholic and a student of CHJ, I think that generally the young believe in the Parousia. In our catechism class and every time we recite the Apostles Creed, our belief is always centered on the Parousia. Many think the Parousia is a day of judgment, when Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead. The world will be created anew and there will be life everlasting.”

Aware of her history, Sahar says: “I do believe in Parousia or the second coming of Christ. I believe that one day, though we do not know when, the Son shall come and deliver us yet again.” She goes back to the flight of the Jewish people in Egypt. “One day, evil might rule the world and peace shall be rare… We will be like the slaves in Egypt struggling for survival and God shall deliver us again.”

Jessica highlights the salvific power of God’s love. “The love of God for His people is enough to say that He will come again. If He could die on the cross, of course He can come back for us. My faith is strong, and I believe that God is coming back.”

Monica gives a view that is more of a metanoia, a change of heart. “My concept of Jesus’ second coming is quite different from that of many other youngsters. My idea of it is making Christ alive in us. Expecting an earthly king is not what I have in mind. Parousia for me is when people begin to change their bad habits and open their hearts to change for the better. It’s like seeing everyone happy in the streets and knowing that social status does not act as a separator. It is when the rich and poor are bounded as one by filial love. It is seeing Christ in all people, and those whom I know will influence many other people and this is the time that Christ has come.”

An eschatological perspective is how Therese describes her concept. “I think of the Parousia as it is used in the New Testament, which is the second coming of Christ at the end of the world. I believe that Jesus Christ will come back but only the Father knows when. The second coming is a future event from the point of view of our earthly life. The Parousia is the culmination of our life on earth. Everything we do in accordance with God’s will and obedience to the commandments of God will be rewarded with eternal life. It is the fulfillment of God’s love for his people.”

Sahar gives an almost similar view. “My concept of Parousia is the coming back of Jesus Christ into this world, the Day of Judgment or the end of the world. It is the day when we shall all see the glory and power of God. It is death yet life, a life that shall forever live in God’s kingdom and love.”

A stabilizer and a loving shepherd is how Jessica illustrates her concept. “The coming of the Lord is on the day when the earth turns bad, extremely chaotic. I believe in the Parable of the Lost Sheep that God will leave the 99 sheep just to look for the one that is lost. I also believe that the Parousia is a new beginning, a time when God will come down on earth and judge the people.”

Monica says it succinctly: “It will make people better and want to transform their lives. People will be drawn closer to Christ as being like Him will lead to life ever after.”

For Sahar, living our life to the fullest is a preparation for the Parousia. “The Parousia or Christ’s coming back to the earth shall bring our hearts the thought that we should live our lives to the fullest in order to be ready and unafraid when Jesus finally comes.”

“A sheltering thought” is how Jessica looks at Parousia, especially in times of failing an exam, having family problems that for her is difficult to cope with, emotional heartaches like bad breakup, health and social problems. The Parousia serves as a refuge for it is more important than anything else in the world.

Therese echoes the hope that every youngster should have: “During these troubled times of our generation, basing on my own experience, young people should not lose faith and always hope for the fulfillment of the Lord’s promises. Knowing that we cannot tell when the Lord will come again, we actively expect His coming any day or time.”

 Therese says that “the Parousia is represented as the crowning day of Christian hopes and aspirations. Such is the plain teaching both of Christ and His apostles and we find it clearly expressed in the letters of St. Paul. The Parousia occupies a conspicuous place in the teaching and writings of the apostles and relates to the history of our salvation.”

In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul was explicit in speaking about the Parousia (2:1). He cautions however in believing that the day of the Lord is at hand (2:2) for no one knows when it will happen. Instead, Paul admonishes the Thessalonians to remain steadfast in their faith and continue working rather than being idle or acting as busybodies (3:11). Paul exhorts them to follow the examples they set by working and remaining faithful to the Gospel.

This was echoed by Therese, “We must always remember the teachings of our Lord, that is to love God and our neighbors, and which must guide our actions in this life. St. Paul teaches love and forgiveness. The Lord is a faithful God and we His people must remain faithful to his teachings. More important is our trust that the Lord loves us and we continue to hope and look forward to His second coming.”

I’m still looking forward to Christmas. Not so much in anticipation of what I used to associate with it when I was a kid but more on the patient longing that indeed, one day, the Lord will come again in all majesty and splendor to share with us the joy of being heirs of the Kingdom of God. TY