Jesus is Lord. He was, he is, and he is to come

 

Welcome to my blog. Peace be with you.

We are in the last days before the new year of Advent. The readings look towards the end, to encourage to live now.

Since for many the Book of the Apocalypse is confusing and we are reading it now, you will find a reflection on it. May it help you to receive the encouragement to live the life of Christ as was the author's intention.

Wednesday 18 November 2020

Jesus is Lord. He was, he is, and he is to come

 

 

First reading

Apocalypse 4:1-11

He was, he is, and he is to come

In my vision, I, John, saw a door open in heaven and heard the same voice speaking to me, the voice like a trumpet, saying, ‘Come up here: I will show you what is to come in the future.’ With that, the Spirit possessed me and I saw a throne standing in heaven, and the One who was sitting on the throne, and the Person sitting there looked like a diamond and a ruby. There was a rainbow encircling the throne, and this looked like an emerald. Round the throne in a circle were twenty-four thrones, and on them I saw twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white robes with golden crowns on their heads. Flashes of lightning were coming from the throne, and the sound of peals of thunder, and in front of the throne there were seven flaming lamps burning, the seven Spirits of God. Between the throne and myself was a sea that seemed to be made of glass, like crystal. In the centre, grouped round the throne itself, were four animals with many eyes, in front and behind. The first animal was like a lion, the second like a bull, the third animal had a human face, and the fourth animal was like a flying eagle. Each of the four animals had six wings and had eyes all the way round as well as inside; and day and night they never stopped singing:

‘Holy, Holy, Holy

is the Lord God, the Almighty;

he was, he is and he is to come.’

Every time the animals glorified and honoured and gave thanks to the One sitting on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders prostrated themselves before him to worship the One who lives for ever and ever, and threw down their crowns in front of the throne, saying, ‘You are our Lord and our God, you are worthy of glory and honour and power, because you made all the universe and it was only by your will that everything was made and exists.’

 

Prayerful reflection

We are in these last days of Ordinary Time listening to the Book of Revelation/Apocalypse. This is a difficult book to understand for those who do not know why and for whom it was written, and the style of the author. I will show you what is to come in the future – don’t think the author was given secret information about what may happen in a hundred years or more. The author knows no more about the future than you or I do. It is not a prophecy in that sense. He doesn’t know when the end of the world will come.

He is writing to people undergoing persecution for their faith in Jesus. Many have had to die. Others have not had the courage to persevere. Others are feeling that the faith is too difficult and are tempted to give in. He wants to encourage them to be strong in the faith and persevere to the end.

The constant theme is ‘You will have trouble in this world, but do not fear, for I have overcome the world.’ Jesus, himself, was bitterly persecuted and killed. But, he is triumphant over all oppressors. He rose triumphantly from the dead to rule the whole of creation.

In words taken from the Old Testament he describes the victory of God and Jesus. He describes in Biblical terms the heavenly victory. We must look for the meaning of individual phrases in the Old Testament. For instance the Twelve Elders: the twelve tribes of Israel, the new people of God with  their foundation of the Twelve Apostles. White: purity, free from all sin and imperfection. Crowns, they are victorious and ruling creation. Peals of thunder and lightning: the theophany on Sinai. The rainbow: God’s promise of peace to Noah. The sea made of crystal: the sea is fearful and destructive in the O.T. but it is now harmless and placid. In heaven all is under God’s control. The animals: we g to Ezekiel for this. The whole of creation worships God and falls prostrate before him. They are there ony because of his mercy and power.

We too can even now share in this victory over the forces of evil in the world. The reality is already here, but we share in it through our faith. In every Mass we openly share in it when we join with all the creatures in heaven in their adoration when we sing the Sanctus, the Holy, Holy, Holy. We offer this through the one Mediator in Creation, the Lamb who was slain but now lives for ever. Jesus Christ.

Since none of us have witnessed the glory of heaven, including the author, how can we describe it. The author describes it through the images he found in the O.T.

Every time you go into a Catholic Church before the tabernacle you can be through faith in the scene we have just heard about. We are already victors and in faith in the presence of God and the Lamb who was slain. We join in the everlasting praise. Pray for the grace to persevere and enter into the visible reality.

Gospel

Luke 19:11-28

The parable of the talents

While the people were listening, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and there. Accordingly he said, ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and afterwards return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. “Do business with these” he told them “until I get back.” But his compatriots detested him and sent a delegation to follow him with this message, “We do not want this man to be our king.”

‘Now on his return, having received his appointment as king, he sent for those servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first came in and said, “Sir, your one pound has brought in ten.” “Well done, my good servant!” he replied “Since you have proved yourself faithful in a very small thing, you shall have the government of ten cities.” Then came the second and said, “Sir, your one pound has made five.” To this one also he said, “And you shall be in charge of five cities.” Next came the other and said, “Sir, here is your pound. I put it away safely in a piece of linen because I was afraid of you; for you are an exacting man: you pick up what you have not put down and reap what you have not sown.” “You wicked servant!” he said “Out of your own mouth I condemn you. So you knew I was an exacting man, picking up what I have not put down and reaping what I have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest.” And he said to those standing by, “Take the pound from him and give it to the man who has ten pounds.” And they said to him, “But, sir, he has ten pounds…”. “I tell you, to everyone who has will be given more; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

‘“But as for my enemies who did not want me for their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence.”’

When he had said this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

 

Prayerful reflection

They are the point of entering Jerusalem. The follows od Jesus have got it all wrong. They think Jesus, the Messiah, is going to establish the kingdom of David again. He is going to establish it, but not in the way they think. So Jesus tells the parable. The man of noble birth is going to be appointed king by the emperor. That is in the future. Meanwhile he gives money to his servants to work with. Jesus will eventually be made king, not of Jerusalem, but of the whole of creation. That is in the future, for us. Meanwhile his enemies do not want him as king. The chief priests will crucify Jesus. Eventually, at the end of time, when Jesus is visibly Lord of creation there will a reckoning. Those servants who have worked hard for the king will be rewarded according to their zeal and hard work. Those who have persisted in hatred of Jesus will find their lot in hell along with the angels who eternally rebel.

The message: Jesus is the hidden king of creation. We are to work for him now with zeal and energy. He will give us the fruits of our labours. The day will come when all is revealed. That is when God’s plan for the universe is fulfilled. We too should now ‘be about our Father’s business’ (Luke 2:52).