The world as His coming (Ecclesiasticus, 1,1-10; Acts 1) /Monday after 23rd Sunday after Trinity, BCP lectionary, Matins./

‘The world of God most high is the fountain of wisdom; and her ways are everlasting commandments.’ The created world which surrounds us, including our social realm, is a window onto God’s - heaven’s life. We should spend sufficient amount of quality time in engaging this humbling vision: that our reality is rooted in God’s person. Recognising the world as God’s dwelling place (and working on it!) is a great motivation for our daily work.
 
The passage from Acts takes this thought further, from a new aspect. This is the event of Jesus’ ascension to Heaven after Pentecost. When it happened, ‘two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.’ We Christians, added to the above said, have a special sensitivity . We can look at our physical and social realm as an icon, which radiates the Lord’s return. Our world is never in idle running. In every moment, it vibrates to the frequency of God’s own life: his presence, his coming, his grace. This ‘tangible’ ‘second coming’ (His return) is our utmost motivation to prepare our world as the Messiah’s dwelling place.
 
19.11.2017