December 6

n the interval of time between the Lord's first coming and his last, the Lord often visits each one of us in accordance with our merits and desires, conforming us to the likeness of his first advent, and preparing us for his advent at the end of time. He comes to us now to make sure that his first coming shall not have been wasted, and that his last coming may not have to be in anger. His purpose now is to convert the pride of our hearts into the humility of heart he showed when he first came, so that hereafter he may refashion our lowly bodies too into the likeness of that glorious body which he will manifest when he comes again. Eagerly then we long for this intimate coming in our present life, and seek it with all our might, for it brings us the grace of his first coming and promises us the glory of his last.

Indeed it is a wonderful and lovely thing that God who is love comes softly to the consciousness of his lover. How blessed are they whose ardent charity has already won them this privilege! But blessed too are they whose holy simplicity permits them to hope that they too may win it one day. As for us, who are not yet consolded by so sublime an experience, let us as we patiently wait for the Lord's coming find our consolation in faith and a pure conscience.

From John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., Tradition Day by Day: Readings from Church Writers. Augustinian Press. Villanova, PA, 1994.

HTML text prepared by David P. Steelman