A 3rd Sunday of Advent Thought about the First and Second Coming
It's the 3rd Sunday of Advent. We prepare for the first and second coming of Our Lord.
His first coming was in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. It was an event that shook the world to its foundations, but very few knew it at the time. The Christmas Star appeared in the skies over Bethlehem. How many who saw the Star understood the true meaning of its light?
(Frankly, too few of us really understand it even now.)
His second coming, on the other hand, will mark the end of the world. It could come today. It could come in a thousand, or even a million years. We just don't know.
When it comes, it will bring the General Judgment. By the grace of God, those souls who have already died will already be in Heaven. But, no matter, at the General Judgment, all of us will gathered before the throne of God, sheep and goats.
Remember how that will work? If not, it's time to bone up on your Catholic religion. For now, just know you want to be one of the sheep.
So let's assume you're a sheep. Good times...FOREVER! You're in Heaven. Hallelujah!
But wait. There's more!
Now the Gates of Heaven open up to accept our resurrected bodies, which will unite with our souls. We'll be as we were created to be way back when God put Adam and Eve together in the Garden - before the Original Sin.
If you take a moment to consider it all, can you imagine anything more awesome, more wondrous, more glorious!
So as we forge ahead with our Advent preparations, keep the penitential spirit that should govern our minds and bodies from now until Christmas. Keep these two "Comings" at the forefront of our daily recollection, prayer, and, if we're so inclined, meditation. Doing so will lift us up and out of the secular, commercial noise and nonsense that surrounds us. Our clear Advent "vision" won't be blurred by the distractions the world keeps throwing at us.
So far so good? Let's kick it up a notch.
"We will go today, - God in His infinite mercy grant it actually to us all at last! - away from pain, and sin, and fear of eternal loss , up through the gates of bliss. We that are worn and weary will enter in, where sorrow and care forever cease."
You know where this passage it taking us? Right: Heaven. It's a bold attempt to describe the indescribable. But it's one I found compelling enough to share on this 3rd Sunday of Advent. Let's continue:
"Earth has dropped into nothingness; for us time and night are over; forevermore the sun and stars have ceased to shine; none need their light in the luminous city, which the glory of God makes radiant, and the Lamb is the light thereof. If it be that we died yesterday, and, far below, where earth was, there is weeping, and hearts we loved and leaned on once are breaking, we cannot heed them now. For before us One goes, lovelier than an angel, and His feet are nail-pierced, and His brow thorn-wounded, and His Heart is tenderer than any lover's there below. Turning, one Ascension Day, He smiled upon earth, and left it; and after that men grew homesick for Him and heaven. There has been no rest since, till a voice whispered: 'Arise and follow Him'; and having found Him now, Whom the soul loveth, we hold Him, and we will not let Him go."
Are we homesick for Him and heaven? Do we have the desire to hold Him now and not let Him go? Or are we still enamored of this world and its lures and promises of pleasure?
Advent gives us the chance to set things straight, to turn away from all that's holding us back from complete love and devotion to Jesus Christ.
Next week we'll continue with this little taste of Heaven to help boost our Advent spirit. Until then, we prepare and pray:
His first coming was in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. It was an event that shook the world to its foundations, but very few knew it at the time. The Christmas Star appeared in the skies over Bethlehem. How many who saw the Star understood the true meaning of its light?
(Frankly, too few of us really understand it even now.)
His second coming, on the other hand, will mark the end of the world. It could come today. It could come in a thousand, or even a million years. We just don't know.
When it comes, it will bring the General Judgment. By the grace of God, those souls who have already died will already be in Heaven. But, no matter, at the General Judgment, all of us will gathered before the throne of God, sheep and goats.
Remember how that will work? If not, it's time to bone up on your Catholic religion. For now, just know you want to be one of the sheep.
So let's assume you're a sheep. Good times...FOREVER! You're in Heaven. Hallelujah!
But wait. There's more!
Now the Gates of Heaven open up to accept our resurrected bodies, which will unite with our souls. We'll be as we were created to be way back when God put Adam and Eve together in the Garden - before the Original Sin.
If you take a moment to consider it all, can you imagine anything more awesome, more wondrous, more glorious!
So as we forge ahead with our Advent preparations, keep the penitential spirit that should govern our minds and bodies from now until Christmas. Keep these two "Comings" at the forefront of our daily recollection, prayer, and, if we're so inclined, meditation. Doing so will lift us up and out of the secular, commercial noise and nonsense that surrounds us. Our clear Advent "vision" won't be blurred by the distractions the world keeps throwing at us.
So far so good? Let's kick it up a notch.
"We will go today, - God in His infinite mercy grant it actually to us all at last! - away from pain, and sin, and fear of eternal loss , up through the gates of bliss. We that are worn and weary will enter in, where sorrow and care forever cease."
You know where this passage it taking us? Right: Heaven. It's a bold attempt to describe the indescribable. But it's one I found compelling enough to share on this 3rd Sunday of Advent. Let's continue:
"Earth has dropped into nothingness; for us time and night are over; forevermore the sun and stars have ceased to shine; none need their light in the luminous city, which the glory of God makes radiant, and the Lamb is the light thereof. If it be that we died yesterday, and, far below, where earth was, there is weeping, and hearts we loved and leaned on once are breaking, we cannot heed them now. For before us One goes, lovelier than an angel, and His feet are nail-pierced, and His brow thorn-wounded, and His Heart is tenderer than any lover's there below. Turning, one Ascension Day, He smiled upon earth, and left it; and after that men grew homesick for Him and heaven. There has been no rest since, till a voice whispered: 'Arise and follow Him'; and having found Him now, Whom the soul loveth, we hold Him, and we will not let Him go."
Are we homesick for Him and heaven? Do we have the desire to hold Him now and not let Him go? Or are we still enamored of this world and its lures and promises of pleasure?
Advent gives us the chance to set things straight, to turn away from all that's holding us back from complete love and devotion to Jesus Christ.
Next week we'll continue with this little taste of Heaven to help boost our Advent spirit. Until then, we prepare and pray:
Divine Infant of Bethlehem, come and take birth in our hearts!
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