What is truly right and just

In two weeks, we will be entering the season of Advent in preparation for Christmas, which marks the beginning of the new liturgical year of the Catholic church. That is why the Scripture readings and the overall tone of the liturgy begin to shift to one of preparing ourselves for the inevitable end of times, the time of the reckoning of our lives and actions, which we all ought to be well-prepared for — and which the Lord has repeatedly reminded us of, in each and every opportunity that we have been given.

God is a loving and just God who does not overlook injustice and evil, and He is also a loving and caring God who knows righteousness and justice in those who follow Him and His path. This is why in our daily actions, in our manner of living our lives, in our every interaction and in our every moment spent journeying in every aspect of life, we are reminded that we should always do what is truly right and just in accordance with what the Lord has taught us all.

We must not think that we can act with impunity in causing hurt and harm to others, especially in the pursuit of our selfish needs, ambitions and desires. God knows all things and in the end, we will have to account for everything, both good and bad.

Before the disciples and the other people assembled to listen to Him, Jesus predicted the downfall and destruction of the Temple and House of God in Jerusalem, which was the Second Temple of Jerusalem that was also known as Herod’s Temple. It was a magnificent temple and house of worship dedicated to God, but there was a lot of hypocrisy and corruption in many of the religious and intellectual elite, the chief priests and the Pharisees, who had superficial faith in God and were not truly faithful to Him.

And worse, the leaders allowed corrupt practices to creep into the Holy House of God’s Presence, letting merchants, money changers and others turn the courtyard into a place where injustices took place, where they manipulated and profited from those who had come to them to get the goods necessary for the worship of the Divine.

Nothing in this world is permanent, even glorious edifices and worldly fame and power. In the end, what remains is our faith, trust and hope in the Lord, and we are all expected to carry out our lives in good faith and obedience to God and His will.

We should live our lives worthily each day, caring for those whom He has entrusted to us to love, our most beloved ones, family members and those whom He has sent our way, so that our faith can truly shine and we will be ready when He comes again and we have to account for our lives.