A blessed Advent to you all! If ever there were a time when
we Anglican Christians seem out of step with the world, it is the season of
Advent. While the world around us is centered on consumerism and Rudolph the
Red Nosed Reindeer, we are hearing about the end of the world and a call to
repentance.
Advent is the recognition of Christ’s original Incarnation
and preparation for his 2nd Coming. This past week I came across this writing
from St. Cyril of Jerusalem who stated it much more eloquently that I can.
The Twofold Coming of Christ
We do not preach only one coming of Christ, but a second as
well, much more glorious than the first. The first coming was marked by
patience; the second will bring the crown of a divine kingdom.
In general, whatever relates to our Lord Jesus Christ has
two aspects. There is a birth from God before the ages, and a birth from a
virgin at the fullness of time. There is a hidden coming, like that of rain on
fleece, and a coming before all eyes, still in the future.
At the first coming he was wrapped in swaddling clothes in a
manger. At his second coming he will be clothed in light as in a garment. In
the first coming he endured the cross, despising the shame; in the second
coming he will be in glory, escorted by an army of angels.
We look then beyond the first coming and await the second.
At the first coming we said: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
At the second we shall say it again; we shall go out with the angels to meet
the Lord and cry out in adoration: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord.
The Saviour will not come to be judged again, but to judge
those by whom he was judged. At his own judgement he was silent; then he will
address those who committed the outrages against him when they crucified him
and will remind them: You did these things, and I was silent.
His first coming was to fulfil his plan of love, to teach
men by gentle persuasion. This time, whether men like it or not, they will be
subjects of his kingdom by necessity.
The prophet Malachi speaks of the two comings. And the Lord
whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple: that is one coming.
Again he says of another coming: Look, the Lord almighty
will come, and who will endure the day of his entry, or who will stand in his
sight? Because he comes like a refiner’s fire, a fuller’s herb, and he will sit
refining and cleansing.
These two comings are also referred to by Paul in writing to
Titus: The grace of God the Saviour has appeared to all men, instructing us to
put aside impiety and worldly desires and live temperately, uprightly, and
religiously in this present age, waiting for the joyful hope, the appearance of
the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Notice how he speaks of a
first coming for which he gives thanks, and a second, the one we still await.
That is why the faith we profess has been handed on to you
in these words: He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the
Father, and he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and
his kingdom will have no end.
Our Lord Jesus Christ will therefore come from heaven. He
will come at the end of the world, in glory, at the last day. For there will be
an end to this world, and the created world will be made new.
Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-386)
Calendar
Thirty-nine Articles of Religion
V. Of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is
of one substance, majesty, and glory, with the Father and the Son, very and
eternal God.
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