Bible illustration by Gustave Dore
Romans13:8-13 * Matthew
21:1-13
What a confusing choice for today's Gospel, the same reading we
have in the Blessing of the Palms on Palm Sunday, before the first Eucharist.
What does this have to do with the main theme of Advent; that we must be
prepared for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in glory to judge both
the quick and the dead? After all, as everyone should know, it is about our own
real preparation to come face to face with God. The season is about the Four
Last Things, Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. Among these, Heaven and Hell
take on powerful significance as the Resurrection to immortality, to live and
reign with Christ forever, and the resurrection of those who will go into the
lake of fire. As the Lord said: "Marvel not at this: for the hour is
coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall
come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they
that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."1 In light of these themes,
it is not enough to be aware of the joy that awaits those who will enter the blessed
state of glorification as the sons of God. We must also be aware of the terror
of the Lord so as to persuade men,2 including ourselves, to be
ready to see Him at all times.
Several religious leaders
from various churches must have voted, about a century or more ago, to close
Hell. Like some prisons, it has perhaps become overcrowded, and so nobody else
can go there, even though some people are dying to get in. Why else would it
sound so strange to hear it mentioned in a sermon-in church of all places?
Maybe hell has become the sort of topic, like for example, sin; something that
fashionable people just do not
discuss in church. The problem is, the ultimate "fire and brimstone"
preacher in the Bible is Jesus Christ himself. Yes, St. John St. Paul
The Greek word for that
ultimate hell is Ge'enna (γε’εννα). It refers to a
terrible place mentioned in the Old Testament as a site where children were
murdered in sacrifice to Molech, the Valley of Ben-Hinnom. It became known as a
place associated with the odor of death, always attracting worms. And so, our
Lord spoke of it in terms of that final and dreadful verse in the Book of
Isaiah: "And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men
that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall
their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."4
No one need be thrown
away, because God "commandeth all men everywhere to repent."5
The Gospel command to repent is also a word of hope. It is centered on the
grace of God, and the love of God demonstrated and revealed in the cross of
Christ. 6
How simple and yet powerful are those words of St. Paul
Why are we given this
selection from the Gospels? Why this picture of Christ’s triumphal entry into the holy city
as the Son of David, the king? and then of his entrance into the temple to cast
out the money changers? We understand why this leads to the Passion, and is
read at the start of Holy Week when we bless the palms. We understand that
other judgment, that in the cross of Christ it was the Prince of this world who
was judged and cast out. 9 When we begin Holy Week it makes sense.
What, however, does this have to do with the coming again in glory of our Lord
Jesus Christ, to judge the quick and the dead? As an event in history,
how do we place some meaning of it in the future? as a recorded past event, how
does it find its way into eschatology (the study of the End)?
The answer is that, in
her wisdom, the Church puts before our eyes this picture of our Lord Jesus
Christ, from his first coming, that most closely resembles his second coming. Here the Lord suddenly
comes to his temple and cleanses it. We see the Lord cast out from the holy
presence, the Shekinah, those who have been living in unrepentant
willful sin. The authority of the Lord, to mete out judgment, to evict sinners
from his presence, to cleanse, to purge, and to purify, is seen in this Gospel
passage. That picture of the same One who also forgave and healed with compassion
is set before our eyes. This picture shows the judgment of the Lord; it shows
his unique authority as the Word and Son of the Everlasting Father, that power
that comes so genuinely from within himself that all of these men felt
compelled to obey his voice, and had no power in themselves to resist his words
of eviction from the Holy Place
St. Peter
wrote: "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall
the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous
scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"10 If we submit to the work of the Holy Spirit among us, we will
experience that gentle judgment that saves us here and now. After all, even
though St. Peter makes direct reference to the End, that is the Last Day when
Christ comes again, and does so with words to place the fear of God in our
hearts, he begins with "the time is come." If the message is about
"the end" of those who are removed into Ge'enna with its
hungry worms and perpetual burnings, what judgment is there that begins now in
the house of God? Jesus cast out the works of darkness from the house of God,
the temple in Jerusalem, casting out those who had worked that darkness openly
and unashamed, and who insulted the holy place no less than the sons of Eli had
done long before.11 But, St. Peter urges us with a present
hope: "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God." What is this judgment that must
begin now? Pray God, let it be for each one of us the very self-examination
that aids those who repent to make a good confession of their sins with all of
the sincerity of a heart moved by the Holy Spirit.
What are we planning to
do here today? What follows every sermon in a Mass? Before I supply the answer,
let us recall that other name, that specifically Anglican name that we give to
this service: "The Holy Communion." Other names are good too, such as
The Divine Liturgy (the Orthodox name), and the Holy Eucharist. But, I like the
Anglican name, The Holy Communion. It was first used to make something
very clear to the people of the Church of England, which is that the purpose of
the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood, is that it be taken and received. The
Catechism tells us that two of the sacraments are generally necessary for
salvation, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The purpose of coming here and
receiving this Blessed Sacrament is to feed on the Living Bread that comes down
from heaven, which if a man eat, he may live forever. Jesus told us that He is
the food and drink of eternal life, and to eat his flesh and drink his blood.12 First we make confession of sin based on the self-examination
we should make every time; as St.Paul wrote: "But let a man examine
himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup."13 It is in that self-examination and the resulting sincere
confession, that we prepare for the coming of the Lord right now, that is, his
coming to our altar, and then into our very bodies as we eat the bread and
drink the cup of eternal life - His flesh and blood. If we live always ready for this Sacrament, we will
live always ready to meet the Lord
face to face.
In today's Gospel
passage, we see important elements of His Second Coming, elements that are true
to the Person of the Son of God, the everlasting Son of the everlasting Father.
He is the only king and savior. He is the judge “Whose fan is in his hand, and
he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but
he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 14 Judgment will begin at
the House of God, until his whole creation is cleansed and purified, made ready
for a habitation of his righteousness, a dwelling place of his glory among men.
The purpose of a Penitential season is to learn to sharpen and focus our
self-examination, the same self-examination that we should do every time we
draw near to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. I know that a “feel good”
religion is the popular model for success in today’s “spiritual” market; but
the only good feeling we should ever trust is that spoken of by the Psalmist:
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” 15
To be
ready for the last Judgment, we must be willing to let the Holy Ghost cleanse
and purify our very selves. Indeed, to prepare for the coming again of Jesus
Christ, we must draw near "with hearty repentance and true faith" in
order to make a good confession, sincere and resolute of purpose to "walk
in newness of life." Indeed, to prepare for the coming again of Jesus
Christ, we need do no more, and no less, than we do when we prepare to receive
the Communion of His Body and Blood. 16
1. John 5:28, 29
2. II Corinthians 5:11
3. Mark 9:42-50
4. Isaiah 66:24
5. Acts 17:30
6. Romans 5:8
7. I Corinthians 15:3
8 From Weary of Earth and laden with my sin, Hymn 58 in The Hymnal
1940.
9. John 12:31, 32
10. I Peter 4:17, 18
11. I Samuel 2:12f
12. John 6:26-59
13. I Corinthians 11: 29
14. Matthew. 3:12
15. Psalm 32:1
16. I Corinthians 10:16
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