Paruzijos teologinės dimensijos

Abstract

Paruzijos tema yra tai, kas visiškai atbaigia eschatologinį diskursą – viso krikščioniškojo mokymo pagrindą. Tačiau ši svarbi krikščioniškojo tikėjimo tiesa dažnai susiaurinama iki primityvoko pasaulio pabaigos ir ją lydėsiančių sukrėtimų vaizdinio. Todėl darbe siekiama išryškinti svarbiausias teologines paruzijos dimensijas, atskleisti, kaip paruzija vertinama įvairiais teologiniais aspektais ir kokia jos tikroji reikšmė išganymo ekonomijos kontekste

Parousia, or the second coming of Christ, often receives a very narrow interpretation: this event is seen only as an impressive appearance of Christ, followed by apocalyptic phenomena. On the contrary, this event is distinguished by a wide range of theological meanings. First of all, parousia, as an event, encompasses two stages: the first one coming when the divinity of Christ and his heavenly glory has been screened by his humanity and thus it has been made invisible to the world; and the second – when the glory of the Risen Christ will reveal itself and will shine to the entire mankind. From the Christological point of view, parousia is the beginning of the final epiphany of Christ and of his eternal honour and glory. From the ecclesiological perspective, parousia represents the end of the Church pilgrimage on the Earth, the fullness of mutual oneness among its members and at the same time total communion with Christ, i.e. full participation and sharing of eternal life. It is the final rescue of the Church as the mystical body of Christ from the evil, its cleansing and accomplishment, enabling the Church to live the most perfect communion with Christ. The Bible calls it eternal or eschatological feast. On the anthropological level, the parousia of Christ is a guarantee of the resurrection of the whole human person: not only the spirit, but also the material human body will be resurrected. In other words, parousia assures that the human being will be resurrected in full integrity of the person and summoned into the Last Judgment, the triumphal hour of divine truth, justice, mercy, and the power of love. From the eschatological point of view, parousia is the culmination of fulfillment of the promise to create “a new heaven and a new earth”. The Paschal resurrection of Christ inspires the Christians to act for expansion and fortifying of the divine Kingdom. [...]