Our first readings at Mass this week have been taken from
the Book of Revelation. On Wednesday, we read of John’s Vision of the Heavenly
throne room filled with angels and saints singing God’s praises. A thousand
years before St. John was born, the prophet Ezekiel had a similar vision at the
beginning of his life as a prophet—a vision of the throne room of heaven with
God seated on the throne surrounded by heavenly creatures.
In today’s reading, John is handed a scroll and told to eat
the scroll. Here is another parallel to Ezekiel. Ezekiel, was handed a scroll
by an angel and told to eat it and that the scroll would be sweet as honey, but
sour to the stomach.
What’s going on here?
First of all, these parallels with Ezekiel indicate the
importance of John’s visions. Just as Israel needed to take Ezekiel’s prophetic
messages seriously, now the Church needs to take John’s messages seriously. So
the message of the Book of Revelation is to be taken very seriously.
And like Ezekiel’s prophecy, John’s Revelation is both Sweet
and Sour. Sweet in that it contains consolations, sour in that it communicates
challenge.
It is consoling to read in the Book of Revelation how God is
aware of the challenges of being a Christian in the world. He knows the hostility
the world has for the Gospel—he knows the sufferings we endure for being a
follower of Jesus. And the message of the book of Revelation is that God is
going to deliver his people from the hands of the wicked. But that’s also a
word of warning to the wicked, isn’t it. You better align yourself with God.
You better repent, before it is too late.
The scroll is sweet, the message of the Gospel is consoling
because it promises eternal life, but it is also sour and bitter, because the
Gospel tells us that we, like Jesus, must take up our own crosses and follow
him.
Today the Church celebrates an early Roman martyr: St.
Cecilia. St. Cecilia was a life-long Christian, she loved Jesus more than
anything. But living in a time of Christian persecution, Cecilia was arrested
and sentenced to death by beheading. The legend states that her executioner
failed at beheading her multiple times. And as Cecilia lay dying in her cell
for three days, she sang God’s praises. In pain, as she lay dying, she and praised
God.
She accepted the bitterness of the Gospel because she knew
that believing in and following Jesus leads to eternal life. And that sweet
message of salvation consoled her so much, that she was filled with song and
praise as her earthly life ended, knowing that heaven awaited her.
We honor St. Cecilia today, knowing that she teaches us to
deepen our hope in the promises of Jesus—that those who die with Him as Lord
will be raised to everlasting life, for the glory of God and the salvation of
souls.
Let us bring our prayers and petitions before God, whose
Word is sweet and consoling, yet challenges us to take up our cross and follow
Christ.
For the Church, that she may faithfully proclaim the message
of the Gospel, sweet in its promises and challenging in its demands, and guide
the faithful to eternal life.
For leaders of nations, that they may align themselves with
God’s justice and promote peace, reconciliation, and respect for human dignity.
For all those who suffer persecution for their faith in
Christ, that they may be strengthened by the example of the martyrs and remain
steadfast in their hope of eternal life.
For all who are sick, lonely, or in pain, that they may find
consolation in God’s promise to deliver His people from suffering and bring
them eternal peace.
For all the faithful departed, that they may share in the
sweet promise of eternal life with Christ, especially those who bore witness to
Him through suffering.
God of eternal sweetness and truth, you call us to embrace
both the consolations and the challenges of the Gospel. Hear our prayers and
grant us the grace to persevere in faith, hope, and love. We ask this through
Christ our Lord.
