God has us ponder on the end times. The readings speak of God's judgment and the destruction of the evil and the unrepentant ones. Although Jesus warns His followers that the end will be accompanied by calamities, wars and persecution of the faithful, He exhorts them not to be led astray by false prophets nor be frightened. (v8-9). The history of Israel is a testimony to God's fidelity. God uses signs to point us to a higher supernatural reality: His love and mercy endure forever(Ps 136).

St Pope Pius X chose the motto ‘Restore all things in Christ'. To restore is to repair, to build up again and to renew. His pontificate was marked by many reforms to engender holy Christian living. To sin is to miss the mark and our mark is rooted indelibly in Christ. The deepest allegiance of our hearts must always be to Him because we are ‘partakers of His divine nature.' (2 Pet 1:4). Restoration, the work of the Holy Spirit, brings our hearts and souls back into right alignment with God, returning us to the truth of who He created us to be - ‘imago dei'. The pathway to restoration is a recalling of the goodness of God, of how far we have strayed and fallen, and a return to Him through confession and repentance. Do not put off till tomorrow what we can do today. Let us be vigilant and work out our salvation with fear and trembling.