Vigils Reading

THE LORD’S

TWO DWELLING-PLACES

From a sermon by Ogier of Locedio

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Let us note the Lord’s two dwelling-places: the one along the way, the

other in his heavenly home; the one temporal, when he dwelt with us in the

flesh, the other eternal, where we shall dwell with him glorified in soul and in

body. Of the first he says, ‘I have said these things to you while still with you –

present in the body. But a time is coming when I shall withdraw from you in my

bodily presence and will thereafter speak to you through the spirit. The

Paraclete, the Holy spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach

you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. He will teach you,’

says the Lord Jesus ‘what I have told you.’

Not that the Son says one thing and the Spirit teaches another, for

whatever Christ says and teaches the Trinity says and teaches. Because God is

triune, each person of the godhead must establish himself in our hearts. We

should hear each distinctly and understand them inseparably. Thus when we

say ‘the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’, we do not say these words simultaneously,

yet those whom we name are simultaneous and could not be otherwise.

When the Lord speaks of the Comforter whom the Father will send, we are

to understand: ‘I am leaving you in my bodily presence but not in the presence

of the Spirit. The body I received on earth I now raise up to heaven, but through

my Spirit I will remain with you until the end of time. The Father sent me so that

I might appear visible in the flesh, but the hour has come for me to pay death’s

due, and, rising from the dead, ascend to the Father, and there be seated at his

right hand. Henceforth the world will no longer see me in the mortal guise of the

flesh. But the Paraclete, the spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will

comfort you in my bodily absence by the abundance of his sweetness. He will be

your teacher, not noising his words abroad but teaching the heart within. He

will prompt you and teach you everything I have told you through him, all that I

will have inspired in you. You will not be able to lament my bodily absence so

long as the spirit remains in your hearts.’