These are the three kinds of coming of Christ: the first is past, the second still occurs daily, the third is to be awaited. The first points to the second, for that is why Christ became a man and in His assumed humanity accomplished the work of redemption, so that He might distribute such benefits and gather a Church through the Word. The second points to the third, for that is why we believe in Christ and serve Him in His kingdom of grace, so that we may someday stand in the final coming of Christ to Judgement before Him and be taken up into His kingdom of glory. To that end, God help us through Christ, Amen. -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, *Homily for Advent I*
Interesting. However, I've never heard of the Last Judgment as the third coming, it's always the second coming.
ReplyDeleteIn the anaphora of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, after singing the Sanctus, the priest says, "Having in remembrance this saving commandment and ALL the things that have come to pass for us: the cross, the grave, the third day resurrection, the ascension into heaven, the sitting at the right hand and the second glorious coming..." Time is forever circular and all things have occurred and will occur; I suppose Gerhard is making this statement to appeal to us who are bound by time, but if we step into this parsing of time, I think we can run into the danger (I'm not saying Gerhard does) of limiting God.
Just mho.
The Eucharist is where the ends meet. There the Body and Blood that were upon the Cross are presently offered to us as the gift of the Future salvation. The idea of "three advents" is a common one among Lutherans.
ReplyDeleteCommon among Lutherans perhaps, but I find that it has no history within the historic Church.
ReplyDeleteActually, I think it originated with St. Augustine - but I'd have to do some research to locate it. But in any case, I most certainly reject the silly assumption that only your current jurisdiction constitutes the whole of the Church and that Lutherans have no part in the historic Church - but you already knew that when you wrote it! :)
ReplyDeleteNot just my jurisdiction, but the universal church!
ReplyDelete