ADVENT WITH EVELYN 3 Where is He coming from?

    

 (From the Sermons of St Bernard)

 “…Ponder well, in assiduous meditation…and diligently reflect on the meaning of this ADVENT, asking yourselves: Who is it that comes? Whence does he come? To what place does he come? For what purpose does he come? At what time does he come? By what road does he come?” St Bernard

Second Question: WHENCE DOES HE COME? (from where?)

“Behold, you have heard Who He is that comes, consider now whence and to whom He comes. He comes from the heart of God the Father to the Womb of a Virgin Mother; He comes from the highest heaven to this low earth, that we whose conversation is now on earth may have Him for our most desirable companion. For where can it be well with us without Him, and where ill if He be present? "What have I in heaven, and besides Thee what do I desire upon earth? Thou art the God of my heart and the God that is my portion forever"; Ps 72(73):25 and "though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil," if only "thou art with me." Ps 22(23):4. But here I see that our Lord descends not only to earth, but even to hell; not as one bound, but as free among the dead; as light that shines in the darkness, "and the darkness did not comprehend it." Wherefore His soul was not left in hell, nor did His holy body on earth see corruption. For Christ "that descended is the same also that ascended . . . that he might fill all things"; Eph 4:10 "who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil." Acts 10:38. And elsewhere we read, He "hath exalted as a giant to run his way His going forth is from the highest heavens, and his circuit even to the end thereof." Ps 18:7 Well might St. Paul cry out: "Seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God." Col. 3:1 In vain would the Apostle labour to raise our hearts upwards if he did not teach us that the Author of our salvation is sitting in heaven. But what follows? By considering Who He is that comes, we see His supreme and ineffable majesty, and by contemplating whence He comes, we behold the great highway clearly laid out to us. The Prophet Isaiah says: "Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from afar."Is 7:14.”