The first advent
of the Lord was in virtuous humility, and this already
is past, when He wished to descend through incarnation,
conversation, captivity, scourging and passion, that
those believing in Him and obeying might ascend into
Heaven. The reason why He came in such humility was the
pride of Adam and Eve, because they preferred not to
obey God, but rather their own will. The sin of Adam was
pride.
Why is someone avaricious? It is
from pride, because he does not wish to obey the precept
of God saying, "You should not lust", or "not commit
thefts" etc. Why is someone lustful? Is it not from
pride, because he does not wish to obey the precept,
"You shall not commit fornication?" Same for gluttony
and the other sins. "Pride is the beginning of all sin"
(Ecclus. 10:15). Therefore Christ comes in great humility to
reform us, like a servant in administering to us the
works of redemption through human incarnation.
In the first coming Christ came
as a servant, but in this second coming He comes as a
friend. The second coming is of gracious charity, and
this is present, because every day in the Sacrament of
the Altar in the Consecrated Host He is really there
just as He came in the first coming in the womb of the
Virgin. Thus in every Mass, when the Priest says the
Words of Consecration Christ comes to the Host. And so
we adore Him in the Sacrament of the Altar. Of this
coming we should eat Him and praise Him saying, "Blessed
is He who comes in the name of the friend". In this way
He does not show His dominion.
The third coming shall be in
rigorous majesty, when He shall come for Judgment, for
judicial retribution. Thus the Lord shall come for the General
Judgment and shall render retribution not only
to the souls but also to the bodies according to their
works. Then He shall not come in humility, as in the
first, nor as a companion as in the second, but He shall
come as Lord with such majesty and power that the whole
world shall fear and tremble. He shall come like the
most powerful of kings, who comes to his castle or city
rebellious to him with armed troops, with bombs and
catapults etc. So shall the Lord come to the city of
this world in which there are many rebels and
disobedience to Christ the King, that He wishes and
commands humility and they are proud, vain etc. Belief
without obedience will not save a man, no king would be
content with the belief of his subjects without
obedience, on this account Christ shall come to the city
of this world not as a servant, nor as a companion, but
as Lord with many soldiers because on that day the
Heavens will be emptied. If Heaven and Earth and the
creatures which never have sinned against God are not
able to stand up to His coming, what will it be for
sinners, who have committed so many sins against God?
Then it would be better to be in Hell than to see God.
