The Middle Coming (Latin: Adventus medius) is a concept in Christian mystical theology introduced by Bernard of Clairvaux, based on John 14.
The idea was coined in the monk's third sermon of Advent, in which Bernard elaborates on the "three Advents of the Lord", namely that "to men, in men and against men". In his fifth sermon, the author explicitly develops the Middle Coming concept.[1]
Bernard also calls it the Third Coming, despite it being chronologically previous to the Second Coming. The mystic stresses that, despite the First and the Second Coming would be evident to all of mankind, most people remain "asleep" during the Third.[2] The Middle Coming implies a "spiritual" awakening only perceived by the elect, in which Jesus interacts personally with the mystic in order to give him salvation, rest and consolation, and as a link between the First and the Last one.[3]
Bernard presents the concept by arguing that
We know that the coming of the Lord is threefold…The first coming was in flesh and weakness, the middle coming is in spirit and power, and the final coming will be in glory and majesty.[4]
And that
This middle coming is like a road that leads from the first coming to the last. At the first, Christ was our redemption; at the last, he will become manifest as our life; but in this middle way he is our rest and our consolation. If you think that I am inventing what I am saying about the middle coming, listen to the Lord himself: If anyone loves me, he will keep my words, and the Father will love him, and we shall come to him.[4]
The Middle Coming refers to the interior and hidden experience of the mystic, and is not an end but a mean of preparation to the Second.[5] The coming of God the Son to the human soul through the mystical experience has the transformation of the sinner's soul as a main goal, renewing the mystic's spirit and making it more in the image of God.[6]
The Middle Coming is commonly associated with Catholic sacramental theology, particularly regarding the Baptism and the Eucharist.[4]
References
edit- ^ Gómez 2021, p. 133.
- ^ Gómez 2021, p. 134.
- ^ Gómez 2021, p. 135.
- ^ a b c "What are the 3 comings of Christ?". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ Gómez 2021, p. 138.
- ^ Gómez 2021, p. 144.
Bibliography
edit- Gómez, Pedro Edmundo (2021). "Tres meditaciones sobre el "Adventus medius" de Bernardo de Claraval". Cuadernos monásticos (in Spanish) (216): 133–148. ISSN 0327-2141.