Behold the start of a new liturgical year, the first Sunday of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the coming of salvation into the world at Christmas. With this, our minds are drawn to the second Advent when Christ will return to judge the quick and the dead and the world by fire on the great and terrible Day of the Lord. It will come upon us like a thief in the night, like the deluge in the days of Noah. So watch, be vigilant, prepared.
To that end, cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, it's a matter of urgency. But that's enough LSP, here's Farrer for real wisdom:
OUR journey sets out from God in our creation, and returns to God at the final judgement. As the bird rises from the earth to fly, and must some time return to the earth from which it rose; so God sends us forth to fly, and we must fall back into the hands of God at last. But God does not wait for the failure of our and the expiry of our days to drop us back into his lap. He goes himself to meet us and everywhere confronts us. Where is the countenance which we must finally look in the eyes, and not be able to turn away our head? It smiles up at Mary from the cradle, it calls Peter from the nets, it looks on him with grief when he has denied his master. Our judge meets us at every step of our way, with forgiveness on his lips and succour in his hands. He offers us these things while there is yet time. Every day opportunity shortens, our scope for learning our Redeemer’s love is narrowed by twenty-four hours, and we come nearer to the end of our journey, when we shall fall into the hands of the living God, and touch the heart of the devouring fire.
Touch the heart of the devouring fire.
God bless you all,
LSP
