Gerhard on Advent 2 – Luke 21:25-36

Despite the fact that as a result of this spiritual captivity under sin we, too, have been subjugated into captivity under death and various crosses, here we have the hope that Christ our Redeemer will, in His final coming, lead us out from  under this captivity of ours, and will escort us to true freedom. If we properly ponder this, then we will most certainly long for such a Day of Redemption. Why, even all of creation longs with us, as St. Paul says in Romans 8:22: For the anxious, hopeful longing of creation waits for the revelation of the children of God – especially since all creation is subjugated into futility against its will – for the sake of those who are subjugated for hope. For also creation will be freed from the perishable essence of its slavery into the glorious freedom of the children of God. So you see, creation longs to become free from its servitude to futility, so that it no longer has to serve the godless in sin. Why would we not much more longingly desire to be totally rescued from the kingdom of sin and death so that we may attain complete freedom? Anyone who has not desired this redemption does not yet know what sin is. However, anyone who desires this is of one mind with this very day, for the Lord Christ has established this very day so that it will be a day of redemption for the true Christian (Postilla 1:19).