Ad Orientem

We often speak about an “eastern perspective,” but we don’t think often enough of an “eastward perspective.” We Christians, however, in every aspect of life, stand firm to a posture “facing” the East. This of course doesn’t mean physically but inwardly; our hearts gaze in that direction and yearn for the day the symbol of the rising sun becomes reality with the return of the risen Son. Since ancient times the sun’s dawning in the East has been seen as a cosmic image of our Lord’s second coming in judgment at the end of time. This is a beautiful image, but it’s not an invention of creative theologians; it stem from Christ himself: “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man” (Matthew 24:27). Just as the sun is present beyond the horizon, and the world waits in the cold and darkness for its appearance to bring upon the earth its warmth and light, so too does our cold and dark world wait for the full manifestation of Christ, with whom will come his divine warmth and glorious light. 

The Qurbana which we celebrate is already a foretaste of our Lord’s return: Christ comes to be present to his people in the Qurbana, meant to sustain us until he comes definitively in the last day. This is why in the tradition churches faced east, because when the priest and people, facing the same direction, prayed in the Mass, they weren’t only inwardly facing east, the symbolic place from which Christ will return, but even physically. In the Mass, we already celebrate and share in what will happen fully on the last day: Christ’s return and presence with his people. This is why to live in a truly Christian manner we must be eastward-facing in our hearts, ordering our entire lives to that joyful day when our Lord comes to us and we to him, when we will see him again and “he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). 

Let’s turn our hearts to the East, then, and in every circumstance of life, whether joyful or painful, remember that our good Lord, the Friend of our hearts, is coming to us. Let’s live now in hopeful anticipation of that great day and turn all of our words and works over to it, which will make us not only eastern, but eastward, people.