Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
From an Advent sermon by Peter of Blois
Our task in this world, according to Saint Paul,is to live sober, upright, and godly lives as we look forward to the coming of our blessed hope, the appearing in glory of almighty God.
The Lord’s coming is threefold. He came the first time in the flesh, the second time he comes to the individual soul, a third coming will be at the Last Judgment. The first took place at midnight, the second occurs in the early morning, the third will be at noon. With reference to the first we have the infallible words of the Gospel: Acry went up at midnight, ‘the Bridegroom is coming!’From this I note that the first coming was at midnight, the time when, in deep silence, night was pursuing its course. Jew and Greek alike walked in darkness. Then came the bridegroom. A cry went up, shattering the silence of the night. He who lights up the things that are hidden in the dark had come to dispel the night and create the day. The prophets foresaw that the almighty Word was resolved to descend from his royal throne. Realizing that Christ was to come, they broke that profound silence by bursting into shouts of joy. Individually and in chorus the prophets raised their voices, and what a cry that was!
Our experience of the Lord’s second coming depends on whether we live in such a way as to make him willing to come to us. If we love him we need have no fear; he will surely come and make his home with us. However, there is always an element of uncertainty about this coming, whereas of the third coming there is no doubt whatever. The only thing we do not know is when it will be. There is nothing more certain than that we shall die, yet the hour of our death is unknown to us. Our only security in this life comes from knowing that we are never safe. We vacillate between health and sickness, good fortune and adversity. One minute we are alive, the next we are not. Death spares neither age nor sex.
How blessed is he who can confidently say:My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready!Having gathered the fruit of grace from the Lord’s first coming, they will reap a harvest of salvation and glory from the second; for the first opens up the way for the second, and the second prepares us for the third. Lowly and unspectacular in his first coming, secret and gentle in his second, Christ will come openly the third time, and his final coming will fill the world with dread. He came to us at his first coming in order to come into us at the second, and he comes into us at his second coming in order not to have to come against us at the third. At his first coming he showed mercy, in the second he brings grace, at the third he will give glory, for Scripture says:The Lord will confer grace and glory.
Musical Selection
Just as I am without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me And that Thou bidst me come to Thee O Lamb of God I come I come
Just as I am and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot O Lamb of God I come I come
I come broken to be mended I come wounded to be healed I come desperate to be rescued I come empty to be filled I come guilty to be pardoned By the blood of Christ the Lamb And I’m welcomed with open arms praise God Just as I am
Just as I am I would be lost But mercy and grace my freedom bought And now to glory in Your cross O Lamb of God I come I come
Praise God just as I am Just as I am
Prayer
O God,
in whose mercy the faithful find repose,
forgive the sins of your servants
and grant pardon to all who rest in Christ,
that, freed from every trace of guilt,
they may be united with the risen Lord,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,