A READING FROM A SERMON BY
ST AELRED OF RIEVAULX
The present holy season which we call
Advent directs our thoughts to our Lord’s twofold coming. We have therefore a
double reason for rejoicing because we are meant to derive from it a double
benefit.
Advent calls to mind the two comings of our Lord: first
the coming of the fairest of the sons of
men and the desire of all nations,
so long awaited and so fervently prayed for by all the fathers when the Son of
God graciously revealed to the world his visible presence in the flesh, that is
to say when he came into the world to save sinners; the other that second
coming to which we look forward no less than did our fathers of old. While we
await his return our hope is sure and firm, yet we also frequently remind
ourselves with tears of the day when he who first came to us concealed in our
flesh will come again revealed in the glory which belongs to him as Lord. Of
that day the psalmist sings: God will come openly; it is the Day of Judgment when Christ will come as judge in the sight of
all. Our Lord’s first coming was indeed known only to a small number of good people,
but his second will be evident to good and bad alike, as is known to us by the
prophet’s announcement: All flesh will see the salvation
of God.
To speak more precisely, however, the day we are shortly to celebrate in memory of our Lord’s
birth brings him before us as a newborn child, that is to say it more expressly
signifies the day and the hour when he first came into the world, whereas the
season we keep beforehand represents him to us as the longed-for Messiah and
reminds us of the yearning that filled the hearts of those holy fathers of ours
who lived before his coming.
How beautifully then at this season the Church provides
that we should recite the words and recall the longing of those who lived
before our Lord’s first advent! Nor do we commemorate that desire of theirs for
a single day, but share it so to speak for a long period of time, because when
something we greatly love and long for is deferred for a while it usually seems sweeter to us
when it does arrive.
It
is our duty then to follow the example and recall the longing of the holy
fathers and so inflame our own souls with love and longing for Christ. You must
understand that the reason why this season
was instituted was to inspire us to remember the desire of our holy fathers for
our Lord’s first coming, and through their example learn to have a great
longing for the day when he will come again. We should consider how much good
our Lord did us by his first coming, and how much more he will do for us by his
second. This thought will help us to have a great love for that first coming of
his and a great longing for his return. And if our conscience is not so perfect
that we dare entertain such a desire, we ought at least to fear his second
coming and by means of that fear to correct our faults, so that if perhaps we
cannot help being afraid here and now, we shall at least be secure and fearless
when he comes again.
St Aelred, Sermo 1 in adventu Domini 1-6:
CCCM IIA from Word in Season 1
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