Together on the Journey: A Weekly Blog from Fr. Andrew Sheldon
Jesus Is Coming!
It is Advent, and the constant proclamation is some variation of ‘Come, Lord Jesus, come’. Now, I grew up in a church that believed Jesus’ second coming was imminent; even church announcements were accompanied by the term ‘if Jesus tarries’! And I, of course, very much hoped that Jesus would tarry. There was so much I wanted to do, and the return of Jesus to end all things would mess up my plans. As such, much of my young life was wrapped up in fear of Jesus coming and prayers of negotiation that he would delay at least until I had realised all my goals. And here I am closer to the end of my life, and still no second coming.
I have also come to see that this ‘imminent coming of Jesus’ message is theologically problematic. It can lead to an inertia, a passivity, a waiting around. Churches and persons who think this way tend to disengage, when engagement is precisely what Jesus seems to have wanted us to do. And then of course it’s been over 2000 years, so maybe a physical return is not what Jesus had in mind.
But, as much as I’d like to, we cannot simply dismiss this idea. We have many passages in scripture that repeat the refrain that Christ will come again.
As such, I turn to something theologians call ‘realised eschatology’. This perspective names that Jesus not only will come again at some precise future point, but also comes again and again in a multitude of ways throughout our collective and individual lives. Do you remember when Jesus stood before Pilate and was asked, “Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God”? Jesus replied, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven”. From now on, Jesus says, I will be coming. Continuously, repeatedly, coming. Indeed, the Greek word ‘parousia’, which is translated as ‘coming’ in scripture, can also mean ‘presence’. Jesus is present – I am with you to the end of the world – and in his presence, he comes to us on an ongoing basis.
Now, we may have two views of the second coming – physical return at some future point in time, or this more spiritual constant returning – but the stance Jesus is suggesting is the same; we need to be ready.
I can tell you this, Jesus is coming. Jesus will come. In an opportunity, a person, a situation, a request, a crisis. Jesus will come. Are you ready? And it seems to me that readiness for the Christian has to do with engaging actively in communicating the good news in word and deed. As the bumper sticker says, Jesus is coming, look busy!
Andrew +