Vigils Reading – 4th Sunday of Advent

WAIT PATIENTLY

FOR THE LORD TO COME

From a commentary by Blessed Guerric of Igny

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Our King and Savior is coming; let us go to meet him! Good news from a

far country, in the words of Solomon, is like cold water to a thirsty soul; and to

announce the coming of our Savior and the reconciliation of the world, together

with the good things of the life to come, is to bring good news indeed. How

beautiful are the feet of those who bring good tidings and publish peace! Such

messengers truly bear a refreshing draught to the soul that thirsts for God; with

their news of the Savior’s coming, they joyfully draw and offer us water from the

springs of salvation. In the words and spirit of Elizabeth, the soul responds to

the message, whether it be of Isaiah or his fellow-prophets: Why is this granted

to me, that my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your

greeting came to my ears, my spirit leapt for joy within me in eager longing to

run ahead to meet my Lord and Savior.

Let us too arise with joy and run in spirit to meet our Savior. Hailing him

from afar, let us worship him, saying: Come, Lord, save me and I shall be saved!

Come and show us your face, and we shall all be saved. We have been waiting

for you; be our help in time of trouble. This is how the prophets and saints of old

ran to meet the Messiah, filled with intense desire to see with their eyes, if

possible, what they already saw in spirit…

I believe that the many texts of scripture which urge us to go out to meet

him speak of Christ’s first coming as well as his second… Between these two

comings of his, the Lord frequently visits us individually in accordance with our

merits and desires, forming us to the likeness of his first coming in the flesh, and

preparing us for his return at the end of time. He comes to us now, to make sure

that we do not lose the fruits of his first coming nor incur his wrath at his

second. His purpose now is to convert our pride into the humility which he

showed when he first came, so that he may refashion our lowly bodies into the

likeness of that glorious body which he will manifest when he comes again.

Grace accompanied his first coming, glory will surround his last; this

intermediate coming is a combination of both, enabling us to experience in the

consolations of his grace a sort of foretaste of his glory. Blessed are those whose

burning love has gained for them such a privilege!

And so, my brothers, though we have not yet experienced this wonderful

consolation, we are encouraged by firm faith and a pure conscience to wait

patiently for the Lord to come. In joy and confidence let us say with St. Paul: I

know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am confident of his power to

guard what has been put into my charge until the day when our great God and

Savior Jesus Christ comes in glory.