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The final coming of Christ (Rom 8, 18-24a)

Catechesis by Pope Saint John Paul II on the History of Salvation
General Audience, Wednesday 22 April 1998 - in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish

"1. While the path to the Jubilee recalls the first historical coming of Christ, it also invites us to look forward with expectation to his second coming at the end of time. This eschatological perspective, which shows the fundamental orientation of Christian life towards the ultimate realities, is a continual call both to hope and to involvement in the Church and in the world.

We must not forget that for Christians the "eschaton", that is, the final event, is to be understood not only as a future goal, but as a reality which has already begun with the historical coming of Christ. His Passion, Death and Resurrection constitute the supreme event in the history of humanity. This has now entered its final phase, making a qualitative leap, so to speak. The horizon of a new relationship with God is unfolding for humanity, marked by the great offer of salvation in Christ.

This is why Jesus can say: "The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live" (Jn 5, 25). The resurrection of the dead expected at the end of time already receives its first, decisive realization in spiritual resurrection, the primary objective of the work of salvation. It consists in the new life given by the risen Christ as the fruit of his redemptive work.

It is a mystery of rebirth in water and the Spirit (cf Jn 3, 5), which deeply marks the present and future of all humanity, even if its effectiveness at the moment is shown only in those who totally accept God's gift and radiate it in the world.

2. This twofold dimension, both present and future, of Christ's coming is apparent in his words. In the eschatological discourse which immediately precedes the paschal drama, Jesus predicts: "They will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven" (Mk 13, 26-27).

In apocalyptic language clouds signify a theophany: they indicate that the second coming of the Son of Man will not take place in the weakness of flesh, but in divine power. These words of the discourse suggest the ultimate future that will bring history to an end. However, in the answer he gives to the high priest during his trial, Jesus repeats the eschatological prophecy, formulating it in terms of an imminent event: "I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Mt 26, 64).

By comparing these words with those of the previous discourse, one can grasp the dynamic sense of Christian eschatology as a historical process which has already begun and is moving towards its fullness.

3. We know, on the other hand, that the apocalyptic images of the eschatological discourse about the end of all things should be interpreted in the light of their intense symbolism. They express the precariousness of the world and the sovereign power of Christ, in whose hands has been placed the destiny of humanity. History advances towards its goal, but Christ has not specified any chronological date. Attempts to predict the end of the world are therefore deceptive and misleading. Christ has assured us only that the end will not come before his saving work has reached a universal dimension through the preaching of the Gospel: "This Gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come" (Mt 24, 14).

Jesus says these words to his disciples who are anxious to know the date of the end of the world. They would have been tempted to think of a date close at hand. Jesus makes them realize that many events and upheavals must occur first and will be only "the beginning of the sufferings" (Mk 13, 8). Therefore, as Paul says, all creation is "groaning in travail", waiting impatiently for the revelation of the sons of God (cf Rom 8, 19-22).

4. The evangelization of the world involves the profound transformation of the human person under the influence of Christ's grace. Paul pointed out that the goal of history lies in the Father's plan to "unite all things in him [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth" (Eph 1, 10). Christ is the centre of the universe, who draws all people to himself to grant them an abundance of grace and eternal life.

To Jesus the Father has given "the power to judge, because he is the Son of Man" (Jn 5, 27). If judgement obviously foresees the possibility of condemnation, it is nevertheless entrusted to the One who is the "Son of Man", that is, to a person full of understanding and in solidarity with the human condition. Christ is a divine judge with a human heart, a judge who wants to give life. Only unrepentant attachment to evil can prevent him from offering this gift, for which he did not hesitate to face death.
"




After the Catechesis, Papa San Giovanni Paolo II greeted the pilgrims in various languages:

"Rivolgo un cordiale benvenuto ai pellegrini italiani, in particolare ai giovani sacerdoti dell'Arcidiocesi di Catania, qui giunti insieme con il loro Arcivescovo, Monsignor Luigi Bommarito, per partecipare ad un incontro di formazione permanente. Carissimi, vi auguro che questa venuta a Roma presso le tombe degli Apostoli e dei Martiri offra a ciascuno di voi l'opportunità di una forte esperienza di fede e vi esorto a prepararvi con generosità e gioia ad essere apostoli del Vangelo nella cara terra siciliana.

Saluto, inoltre, il Superiore Generale dell'Ordine dei Minimi e la delegazione venuta dalla città di Paola per far benedire la prima pietra del nuovo Santuario in onore di san Francesco da Paola. Auspico di cuore che tale provvida iniziativa valga a rilanciare, alle soglie del terzo millennio, il messaggio di conversione e di rinnovamento spirituale che ha caratterizzato la vita e la missione del grande maestro della penitenza e della misericordia.

Saluto, poi, il numeroso gruppo di aderenti al Movimento di spiritualità vedovile "Speranza e Vita" dell'Opera Madonnina del Grappa, fondato dal Servo di Dio, Padre Enrico Mauri. Carissime Sorelle, mentre esprimo a ciascuna la mia vicinanza spirituale nella prova che l'ha colpita, desidero manifestare cordiale apprezzamento per l'attività di formazione religiosa e di fraterna solidarietà che svolgete tra le vedove. Vi esorto a continuare con generoso sforzo il vostro cammino di "testimoni della risurrezione", di evangelizzatrici della speranza cristiana, donando un esempio concreto e silenzioso di santità vissuta in famiglia, nella Chiesa e nella comunità civile. Vi accompagni la mia Benedizione.

Con grande cordialità penso, infine, ai giovani, ai malati ed agli sposi novelli presenti.

Il Signore risorto riempia del suo amore il cuore di ciascuno di voi, cari giovani, perché siate pronti a seguirlo con l'entusiasmo e la freschezza della vostra età; sostenga voi, cari malati, nell'accettare con serenità il peso quotidiano della sofferenza e della croce; e guidi voi, cari sposi novelli, a fondare nella fedele donazione reciproca famiglie impregnate del profumo della santità evangelica.

Con tali auspici, tutti vi benedico.

Graag wil ik nu de Belgische en Nederlandse pelgrims welkom heten, in het bijzonder de leden van de "Personeelsbond Reigerlo" uit Beernem.

Moge u in deze Paastijd de liefde en de genade van de verrezen Christus ervaren, en uw christelijke roeping opnieuw ontdekken.

Van harte verleen ik u de Apostolische Zegen.

Isten hozott Benneteket, Kedves magyar zarándokok BudapestrŒl és Székesfehérvárról. Holnap lesz Szent Adalbert ünnepe, aki a hagyomány szerint Szent Istvánt keresztelte. Legyetek h?ek ehhez a keresztséghez és mindig valljátok meg hitetek. Ezt kérem nektek és szeretteiteknek imámban és szívbŒl adom apostoli áldásomat.

Dicsértessék a Jézus Krisztus.

Srdacno pozdravljam sve skupine hrvatskih hodocasnika me?u kojima se nalaze clanovi obitelji poginulih u domovinskome ratu i invalidi istoga rata. Na poseban nacin pozdravljam biskupa Jurja Jezerinca, prvoga hrvatskog vojnog ordinarija, zajedno s predstavnicima Ministarstva obrane i Ministarstva unutarnjih poslova Republike Hrvatske.

Predragi, svakome pojedinom od vas zelim da svjetlo i radost uskrsloga Krista ispuni vaša srca te vam vrlo rado udjeljujem apostolski blagoslov.

Hvaljen Isus i Marija!

Srdecne vítám poutníky ze Starého Hrozenkova, z Olešnice na Morave a cleny Klubu vozíckáru Petýrkova z Prahy!

Zítra se bude slavit svátek svatého Vojtecha. Nemel lehké poslání ve své zemi. Casto byl pronásledován, ale vzdy dokázal odpustit a znovu jít za hlasem Bozím, a to az na smrt.

Necht jeho slavný odkaz ve vás roznítí touhu po sluzbe Bohu s nerozdeleným srdcem!
K tomu vám velmi rád zehnám!
Chvála Kristu!

Nuoširdziai sveikinu choro "Suvalkija" narius iš Lietuvos. Brangieji, dekoju jums uz vizita ir linkiu turiningos viešnages Romoje. Likite visados ištikimi Kristui ir jo evangelinei Tiesai!

Su dziaugsmu laiminu jus, jusu artimuosius ir visa jusu Tevyne Lietuva. Garbe Jezui Kristui."




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