Christ’s coming

Vicar's letter
The Church has always taught us to ponder three central comings of Christ, and two personal ones. Christ's first coming as the baby in the manger in the stable in Bethlehem; the Christ who shared this earth with us, walking the highways and byways of Palestine under Roman occupation in the first century of our era. Christ's second coming is understood as his coming at the end of time. Exactly how or when this will happen we are not to know.  Most scientists consider that at some time in the future this planet will no longer be habitable by human beings. Maybe before then we will have wrought some environmental or nuclear catastrophe rendering human life extinct. These two comings of Christ have been considered as comings with love and joy and with a call, a challenge. It is no mistake that the Book of Common Prayer readings on Advent Sunday are the coming of Jesus into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday, riding a donkey. Coming with the joy and the crowds, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'. Hosanna in the highest!' Then Jesus goes to the Temple and throws out the dealers there, 'My house is to be a house of prayer not a den of thieves.'

 

Christ come to the church in a special way each time the church celebrates the Eucharist. There, under the guise of Bread and Wine is the Body and Blood, the very presence of Christ himself. More personally Christ comes into our lives in unexpected ways, at unexpected times, in unexpected places. Lastly, Christ comes into our lives when we die and expect to see him face to face. All these comings too are characterised by that combination of love and joy; call and challenge. These are ways God leads us closer to himself; more deeply sharing the divine life of the most holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

All these comings provide much material for our ponderings in Advent and at Christmas.  This is a busy time of the year for most of us; let us still try to find time quietly for God. If we fail before Christmas there are those lovely four days after Christmas: St Stephen, St John, Holy Innocents and St Thomas of Canterbury when the church celebrates the Eucharist more quietly and often more powerfully as we can again allow ourselves to be caught up into theamazingly diverse and wonderful love that is God's gift to us all at Christmas and always.

 

 Christopher Morgan-Jones

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