A SERMON FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT: OUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NEIGH

Christ Pantocrator with Hosts of Saints and Angels, Revealed in Glory at the Last Day, Judging the World and Ruling and Reigning Forever

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West) 

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, as we step deeper into the Season of Holy Advent, the Church leads us to gaze not first upon the manger in Bethlehem, but upon the final consummation of all things: the glorious return of our Lord and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom, at the end of a world-stopping and powerful final war between the forces of Good and Evil! Today’s Scriptures teaches us about prophecy, hope, and the ultimate fulfillment of divine promises, reminding us that the first and second comings of Christ are inseparably linked to the unfurling family tree of salvation’s holy lineage.

Scriptures 

Romans 15:4-13 - 

“Brethren, whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

St. Luke 21:25-33 - 

“At that time; Jesus said unto his disciples: And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”

Prophecy Fulfilled and Awaited

The prophet Isaiah exhorts the people of Sion: “Behold, the Lord is nigh at hand to redeem the nations” (Isa. 30). In this Advent season, we look back to the Incarnation, when the Word was made flesh to dwell among us, fulfilling the promises made to the patriarchs and prophets. As we said on Friday night, reading St. Ireneaus’ “On Apostolic Preaching,” the Incarnation fulfilled God’s plan for the universe, and Christ eternally sits on the Right Hand of God the Father as a Man. Yet, we also look forward, with the Church’s longing cry of “Maranatha!”, “Maran” meaning “Our Lord,” and “Tha” meaning “Come!” It is our ancient call to the final redemption when Christ will come again in power and glory.

The Epistle to the Romans assures us that the promises of God extend beyond Israel to encompass all nations: “There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust” (Rom. 15:12). This prophetic vision finds its fulfillment in the Incarnation, yet its ultimate realization awaits the day when “every knee shall bow…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil. 2:10-11). In this way, we see that, while the Kingdom is present amongst us by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is also coming again by the power of our “Once and Future King.” 

St. Gregory of Nyssa teaches us that the two comings of Christ are like two horizons of one great light: “In His first coming, He veils Himself in our flesh to illumine our hearts; in His second, He will appear unveiled, to illumine all creation.” Thus, the prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John are not mere forebodings of destruction but revelations of hope. The shaking of the heavens, the distress of nations, and the roaring of the sea (Luke 21:25-26) are the birth pangs of the new creation, the prelude to the glory of the Son of Man appearing in the clouds (Luke 21:27).

The End of the World and the Kingdom of God

The Gospel today points us to the signs of the times and the imminence of Christ’s return: “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). The early Church Fathers understood these signs not merely as portents of doom but as calls to readiness. St. Augustine writes: “The Lord delays not His promise, though it may seem long to us. He delays for our repentance, but He will not delay His judgment.”

Christ Cursing the Fig Tree, an Icon of the Fruitless and Disobedient World at the End of Days

The Kingdom of God: An Invitation to Readiness

Beloved, the words of Christ in today’s Gospel remind us that the signs of the end are not merely warnings but an invitation to readiness. He tells us to “behold the fig tree” (Luke 21:29)—a vivid image of discernment, patience, and hope. Just as the fig tree's budding leaves signal the approach of summer, so too the signs of His coming calls us to awaken, prepare, and trust in the certainty of His promises.

What does this readiness look like for the faithful? St. Augustine offers us guidance: “Let the Christian prepare for the Lord’s coming by repentance, faith, and love. For just as He first came in humility to save us, so He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. Let us be ready to meet Him, not with fear, but with joy.”

The signs of the times may shake the heavens and the earth, but they are not intended to shake the hearts of God’s people. Rather, they remind us of our true citizenship, not in the kingdoms of this world, but in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, which is both the old world glorified, and also a “New Heaven and a New Earth.” The Cappadocian Fathers echo this truth: St. Gregory Nazianzus declares, “If you fear the judgment, repent. If you love the Judge, rejoice! For He comes not to destroy but to renew; not to terrify but to glorify.”

Living in the Light of His Coming

As we await the fulfillment of all things, let us walk in the light of His coming, which is an ever-present hope and also a reminder of the great and “terrible” Terror of the Lord in the Last Judgment. Advent calls us to reflect His peace in our relationships, His hope in our words, and His love in our actions. When St. Paul exhorts us to “receive one another, as Christ also received us” (Rom. 15:7), he reminds us that our readiness for Christ’s return is displayed in our readiness to live out His Gospel in the present.

We prepare for the Second Coming not by withdrawing from the world, but by engaging it with the love and truth of Christ, knowing that the time is running out and that we must snatch souls from the fire, hating the garments spotted by the flesh. Let us therefore be diligent in prayer, fervent in good works, and steadfast in hope, knowing that our labors in the Lord are not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58). The time of Christ’s return is near! We must be watchful and awake, knowing that the time is short! 

As T.S. Eliot beautifully wrote in “The Dry Salvages”:

“For most of us, there is only the unattended 

Moment, the moment in and out of time, 

The distraction fit, lost in a shaft of sunlight, 

The wild thyme unseen, or the winter lightning 

Or the waterfall, or music heard so deeply 

That it is not heard at all, but you are the music 

While the music lasts.”

Let us not miss the “unattended moment” in which the presence of Christ may be revealed—in our prayers, in the face of a neighbor, a beggar or a stranger, or in the stillness of our own hearts, where the constant welling up of our internal brokenness shows us the reality of our need for God as a lover and friend. 

Final Exhortation

As we draw near to Christmas, let us not forget that Advent is a season of waiting, yes, but also of expectation and action. Expectation of Christ’s miracles, answered prayer, power to change, and transformative holiness. Action in doing what Christ tells us to do without any philosophical or theological excuses. Christ’s first coming was hidden in humility, but His second coming will be unveiled in brilliant and awesome glory. Until that day, we are called to live as faithful stewards of the mysteries of God, proclaiming His Kingdom in word and deed, and lifting up our heads with joy, for “our redemption draweth neigh!” 

COLLECT 

Let us pray:

O Lord, whose advent we await with longing hearts, grant us grace to prepare ourselves with watchful hearts and active faith. May we lift up our eyes to behold Thy glory, discern the signs of Thy coming, and rejoice in Thy promises. Strengthen us by Thy Word and Sacraments, that we may live as faithful witnesses to Thy Kingdom and stand ready to meet Thee at Thy glorious appearing. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

As Christ Ascended, So He will Descend to Rule and Reign Forever!