Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 27 November 2016

Benedictional of St Aethenwold

First Sunday of Advent November 27th 2016

Do you believe that Jesus will come again in glory at the end of time? I heard somebody discussing that, or rather overheard them, on a train journey recently. It was a surprise, but not a bad one, to hear this theology expressed in such a public venue, but why not? It's a fascinating topic, one that some theologians and church people don't really like examining too often because it doesn't fit in with a neat and tidy expression of death and resurrection. Yet the coming again of Christ at the end of time is something rooted in our belief system, in the Apostles Creed we say: 'he will come to judge the living and the dead", which the Nicene Creed adds to by stating, 'He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end."

So we have three connected thoughts, firstly the Risen and Ascended Christ will return in judgement, secondly the living and the dead will all be part of the action and thirdly from that point the Kingdom will have no end! I'd like to point out that no great claims are made here about the form of judgement or what precisely it means except to say that if we accept Christ and follow him, we should not fear, redemption has already taken place, trusting in him we shall surely find his mercy will not fail us.

That's where Advent takes us, pointing to the larger picture, trying to get us to lift up our heads from a narrow horizon and see not only Christ's enormous gift of salvation, already given, but his promise of our destiny for always! Isaiah hints at this, the mountain of the Lord's house shall be the place where all nations go. (Is 2.5) Matthew's Gospel warns us: Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. (Mt 24.42). This isn't a doomsday cry but a hint of loving excitement. Paul says, 'Salvation is nearer now than when we first believed, the night is far advanced, the day is at hand'. (Rom 13.12)

There is something disturbingly good about that exclamation, because our expectation of Jesus coming should be that of longing not fear. We stay awake not out of terror of darkness or dreadful happenings but as somebody waiting up for a dear and loved person who we long to see.

Reflection

Words from the hymn by FWH Myers (d 1901)
Hark what a sound, and too divine for hearing:

'Thru life and death, thru sorrow and thru sinning He shall suffice me, for He hath sufficed:Christ is the end, for Christ was the beginning, Christ the beginning, for the end is Christ.'