Today's meditation: The two coming of Christ

We announce that Christ will come. In fact, his coming is not unique, but there is a second one, which will be much more glorious than the previous one. The first, in fact, had the seal of suffering, the other will carry a crown of divine royalty. It can be said that almost always in our Lord Jesus Christ every event is twofold. The generation is twofold, one from God the Father, ahead of time, and the other, the human birth, from a virgin in the fullness of time.
There are also two descents in history. A first time it came in a dark and silent way, like rain on the fleece. A second time will come in the future in splendor and clarity before everyone's eyes.
In his first coming he was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a stable, in the second he will be dressed in light as a cloak. In the first he accepted the cross without refusing dishonor, in the other he will advance escorted by the hosts of angels and will be full of glory.
So let's not just meditate on the first coming, but we live in anticipation of the second. And since in the first we acclaimed: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" (Mt 21: 9), we will proclaim the same praise in the second. In this way, going to meet the Lord together with the angels and adoring him we will sing: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" (Mt 21: 9).
The Savior will come not to be judged again, but to judge those who condemned him. He, who was silent when he was condemned, will remember their work to those wicked, who made him suffer the torment of the cross, and will say to each of them: "You have done so, I have not opened my mouth" (cf. Ps 38 , 10).
Then in a plan of merciful love he came to instruct men with sweet firmness, but in the end everyone, whether they want to or not, will have to submit to his royal dominion.
The prophet Malachi foretells the two coming of the Lord: "And immediately the Lord that you seek will enter his temple" (Ml 3, 1). Here is the first coming. And then regarding the second he says: "Here is the angel of the covenant, which you sigh, here comes ... Who will bear the day of his coming? Who will resist its appearance? He is like the fire of the smelter and like the lye of the launderers. He will sit to melt and purify "(Ml 3, 1-3).
Paul also speaks of these two coming by writing to Titus in these terms: «The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all men, who teaches us to deny impiety and worldly desires and to live with sobriety, justice and piety in this world, waiting for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ "(Tt 2, 11-13). Do you see how he spoke of the first coming thanking God? On the other hand, he makes it clear that it is what we are waiting for.
This is therefore the faith that we proclaim: to believe in Christ who has ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come in glory to judge the living and the dead. And his reign will have no end.
So our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven; will come in glory at the end of the created world, on the last day. Then there will be the end of this world, and the birth of a new world.

of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop