Revelation begins with a series of seven visions and messages John is to give to seven Churches in Asia Minor. Yesterday’s reading ended, actually, with a message to the Christians at Ephesus, the place where John to the Blessed Mother to live with her before her Assumption into heaven. And today we heard the messages to the Church in Sardis and the Church in Laodicea, the fifth and seventh churches to be addressed. The messages share many similarities, the primary one being that Jesus Christ is aware of the situation in their communities, and that he offers them words both of comfort and challenge.
As we heard, the situation in Sardis was pitiful. The Christians were on the verge of losing their faith entirely. Jesus said, “I know your works, you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” There couldn’t be a stronger rebuke. Could you image? Jesus himself saying to the Church at York Rd, “You claim to be Christian, you claim to be faithful, but your faith is dead because your works are incomplete in my sight.”
Jesus urges all the Catholics-in-name-only of the Church of Sardis, here, but it is a message to all Christians of all time. He says, fan into flame what little faith you actually have, or else you will be caught unaware on the day of judgment. In other words, you don’t want to be a Catholic-in-name-only on the day of judgment. Each of us has a responsibility to increase, strengthen, preserve our own faith.
Jesus’ message to Laodicea is nearly just as correctional: he says, the Christians there are neither hot nor cold for the faith, simply lukewarm, and it makes him want to spit them out of his mouth. The Christians had become complacent, and had begun to place more trust in money and politics than in the teaching of the Church.
Rather, we are to be like Zacchaeus in the Gospel today, who hears that Jesus is coming and takes drastic measures to see him: he climbs a tree, he recognizes his short stature and he does what he needs to do, in order to see Jesus. And when Jesus does come to him with a word of challenge, Zacchaeus flings open to the doors of his home to the Lord.
"'Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.” Often the doors of our hearts are closed to Jesus out of fear: fear of what Jesus might be calling us to, fear of what worldly behaviors and attitudes he is calling us to give up, fear of appearing as a devout follower of His before our neighbors and family.
But when we open the door to him, he enters our homes and dines with us, we get to experience the joy of an intimate friendship with Him.
May we respond generously to the Lord who calls us to fan our faith into flame, to open wide the doors of our lives, that we may come to experience more deeply the joy of his friendship for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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We bring to God our prayers of petition
That our Holy Father and all bishops and priests may lead the Church in absolute faithfulness to the Gospel.
For our families and friends and our loved ones, that we may be ever more united in the bonds of faith and charity.
That all teachers of the faith, and teachers of young people, may be servants of goodness and truth.
That our President and all civic leaders may govern in the spirit of righteousness, justice, and peace.
For the weak, the poor and afflicted, the sick and the suffering, and the dying, that they may be consoled by the healing light of Christ.
And that our beloved dead may come to enter the gates of heaven, for all of the poor souls for whom we pray in a special way this month of November, and N., for whom this mass is offered.
For the grace to trust the Lord in all things.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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