Homily for Wednesday, 33d Week of Ordinary Time

Homily for Wednesday
33d Week of Ordinary Time

Nov. 19, 2020
Rev 5: 1-10
Provincial House, New Rochelle, N.Y.

In yesterday’s episode (Rev 4:1-11), our heroes—the 24 elders and 4 living creatures—were engaged in the heavenly liturgy before God seated in splendor on his throne.  John the Seer’s vision reflects OT imagery from Ezekiel, Isaiah, Zechariah, and Daniel; the God whom Christians adore is the same God of the earlier covenant.  The 24 elders are usually taken to represent the 12 tribes of ancient Israel and the 12 apostles of the new Israel, while the 4 living creatures represent Earth’s 4 directions—thus the whole of creation.  All of these join in worshiping God the Almighty.

That much from ch. 4, yesterday, continues in ch. 5 today.  But a new element is introduced, the 7x-sealed scroll that no one can open (vv. 1-4).  Written on both sides, it contains divine richness.  It is, in fact, God’s plan for the universe, solemnly sealed, hidden from humanity—until the triumphant lion of the tribe of Judah, the offspring of David, comes with power to open the scroll, to unfold the Almighty’s plan (v. 5).

Then the Lamb appears, endowed with supreme power and wisdom—the 7 horns and 7 eyes (v. 6)—the Lamb who triumphed (v. 5) over death after having been slain in sacrifice for the sins of the world (v. 9).  

The elders take up a new chorus of praise because the Lamb has won for God a kingdom, a priestly people whom he will lead in heavenly worship (v. 10).  This is the divine plan hidden in the secret scroll.

Many of you have probably heard the story of how the Rus, the ancestors of Russia, became Orthodox Christians.  According to the story, Vladimir, prince of Kiev, toward the end of the 10th century wanted to convert his people from paganism but was unsure which faith they should adopt.  Accordingly, he sent ambassadors to Crimea, where a Muslim people dwelt, to investigate their religion.  The envoys weren’t much impressed.  He sent other ambassadors to Germany to look at Latin Christianity and, sad to say, they weren’t much impressed either.  He sent a third delegation to Constantinople, where the ambassadors witnessed the glories of Byzantine liturgy:  beautiful vestments, majestic icons, golden vessels, incense, chanting, and all the ritual—and they were very much impressed, reporting to Vladimir, “We didn’t know whether we were in heaven or on earth.”  So Vladimir and his people converted to Eastern Christianity.

Altho our liturgy isn’t so elaborate, and very few Catholics are carried into ecstasy thru it, still, our earthly liturgy—the sacred mysteries—is our entry to the heavenly liturgy.  Yesterday’s reading began, “I had a vision of an open door to heaven” (4:1).  We are privileged to approach that door every morning, to worship the Lamb of God, and thru him, God the Almighty on his throne.

We are further privileged to unroll for God’s priestly people the sacred scroll, to open up for them, as St. Paul writes to the Ephesians “the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God, who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known thru the Church” (3:9-10).

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to break open the 7 seals, and worthy are we whom he has purchased with his blood.  Thanks be to God!