The Church is progressing into a very important time of her liturgical life, namely that of Advent. As many know, the word Advent comes from the Latin world adventus, meaning "coming".
The great Doctor of the Church and the primary builder of the reformed Cistercian Order, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, speaks in detail about the three comings of the Lord. He does so in his fifth sermon concerning our Lord's coming.
"We know that there are three comings of the Lord. The third lies between the other two. It is invisible, while the other two are visible. In the first coming, he was seen on earth, dwelling among men; he himself testifies that they saw him and hated him. In the final coming, all flesh will see the salvation of our God, and they will look on him whom they pierced. The intermediate coming is a hidden one; in it only the elect that see the Lord within their own selves, and they are saved. In his first coming our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness; in this middle coming he comes in spirit and in power; in the final coming he will be seen in glory and majesty" (Sermo 5, In Adventu Domini, 1-3).
The problem is that there are a number of us who are not really giving much weight to Jesus' middle coming. Even if it is a coming which is characterized, according to Saint Bernard, by "his spirit and power", they are still opposing it or taking it lightly. Take heed of the gentle warning of this great saint of the 12th century: "In case someone should think that what we say about this middle coming is sheer invention, listen to what our Lord himself ways: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him. There is another passage of Scripture which reads: He who fears God will do good, but something further has been said about the one who loves, that is, that he will keep God's word."
Saint Bernard knew the weakness of human nature very well. He knew that we, as human beings, can be easily estranged from God by what we see, hear and say about each other. He knew that the allurements of the world can turn our heart of flesh into a heart of stone. That is why he constantly appeals to the heart as the sacred place where God's word can powerfully effect that much needed healing it direly needs.
"Where is God's word to be kept? Obviously in the heart, as the prophet says: I have hidden your words in my heart, so that I may not sin against you," and goes on to encourage us: "Keep God's word in this way. Let it enter into your very being, let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life. Feed on goodness, and your soul will delight in its richness. Remember to eat your bread, or your heart will wither away. Fill your soul with richness and strength."
Since this middle coming of Jesus Christ "is like a road on which we travel from the first coming to the last", it is essentially important for us to realize that "in this middle coming, he [Jesus] is our rest and consolation". Did not Jesus tell us: "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light?" (Matt 11:28-30). Yes! Through Jesus Christ God is the bedrock of our salvation! The protagonist of our hope! "The Lord is near to the broken hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all" (Psalm 34:18-19).
In the present intermediate and hidden coming, how are we receiving Jesus Christ? Are we lovingly and joyfully welcoming him by the way we treat each other? Are we aware of the multiple ways He is visiting us?
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
Paola