Vigils Reading – 1st Sun Advent

PRAYING FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST

From a sermon by St John Henry Newman1

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Before Christ came, the faithful remnant of Israel were consoled with the promise that “their eyes should see” him, who was to be their “salvation.” “Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” Yet it is observable that the prophecy, though cheering and encouraging, had with it something of an awful character too.

This reflection leads us to a parallel thought concerning the state and prospects of all Christians in every age. We who are looking out for Christ’s coming, we are bid to look out, we are bid to pray for it; and yet it is to be a time of judgment. It is to be the deliverance of all saints from sin and sorrow for ever; yet they, every one of them, must undergo an awful trial. How then can any look forward to it with joy, not knowing (for no one knows) the certainty of his own salvation?

And the difficulty is increased when we come to pray for it, to pray for its coming soon: how can we pray that Christ would come, that the day of judgment would hasten, that his kingdom would come, that his kingdom may be at once, may come on us this day or tomorrow, when by so coming he would be shortening the time of our present life, and cut off those precious years given us for conversion, amendment, repentance, and sanctification? Is there not an inconsistency in professing to wish our judge already come, when we do not feel ourselves ready for him? In what sense can we really and heartily pray that he would cut short the time, when our conscience tells us that, even were our life longest, we should have much to do in a few years?

When we pray for the coming of Christ, we do but pray in the Church’s words, that he would “accomplish the number of his elect and would hasten his kingdom.” That is, we do not pray that he would simply cut short the world, but, so to express myself, that he would make time go quicker, and the wheels of his chariot speed on. Before he comes, a certain space must be gone over; all the saints must be gathered in, and each saint must be matured. Not a grain must fall to the ground; not an ear of corn must lose its due rain and sunshine. All we pray is that he should please to crowd all this into a short space of time; that he would “finish the work and cut it short in righteousness,” and “make a short work upon the earth”; that he would accomplish – not curtail, but fulfill – the circle of his saints, and hasten the age to come without disordering this. Indeed it cannot be otherwise.

All God’s works are in place and season; they are all complete. As in nature, the structure of its minutest portions is wrought out to perfection, and an insect is as wonderful as Leviathan; so, when in his providence he seems to hurry, he still keeps time, and moves upon the deep harmonies of truth and love. When then we pray that he would come, we pray also that we may be ready; that all things may converge and meet in him; that he may draw us while he draws near us, and makes us the holier the closer he comes. We pray that we may not fear that which at present we justly fear; that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming