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| "The Presentation of the Virgin” by Vittore Carpaccio, 1504-08 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Revelation 14:1-3, 4b-5
Commentary on Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5
The symbolism is clear in this passage from the Revelation of St. John. Mount Zion represents the heavenly kingdom, and the Lamb of God, Jesus. In the context of St. John’s numerology the numbers are significant: “One hundred and forty-four thousand: the square of twelve (the number of Israel's tribes) multiplied by a thousand, symbolic of the new Israel (cf Revelation 14:1-5; Galatians 6:16; James 1:1)." [4] This symbolism embraces people from every nation, race, people, and tongue (Revelation 7:9). These faithful and unblemished (” On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished”) seem to be the saintly nucleus that forms the immediate worshipers of the Christ.
CCC: Rv 14:1 1138, 2159; Rv 14:4 778, 1618
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Commentary on Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
Psalm 24 is a processional song. It recalls that God is the great creator, and he calls his people to be faithful. It is part of a hymn of entrance, sung as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Temple, followed by the faithful. The song asks the question: who can come into his presence, and answers: only those who are sinless (completely reconciled to God). Those who achieve that beatified state will receive the reward of eternal life from the savior.
The hymn focuses on the character of the one who worthily seeks God, and the one who is worthy to come into God’s kingdom and stand before him. This same concept is borrowed in a passage from John’s Revelation (Revelation 14:4ff): who are the ones allowed full access to God? They are those: “whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.” In other words they are clean in heart, body, and spirit.
CCC: Ps 24:6 2582
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Gospel: Luke 21:1-4
Commentary on Lk 21:1-4
The widow in this Gospel story represents the poor whose focus must be on God rather than on material wealth. This emphasis in their lives brings them the blessing of God because of their genuine praise and love. The passage is a principal example of Jesus’ teaching on the importance of the gifts of the spirit.
“The widow is another example of the poor ones in this gospel whose detachment from material possessions and dependence on God leads to their blessedness (Luke 6:20). Her simple offering provides a striking contrast to the pride and pretentiousness of the scribes denounced in the preceding section (Luke 20:45-47). The story is taken from Mark 12:41-44.”[5]
CCC: Lk 21:4 2544
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Reflection:
It is appropriate that on the eve (metaphorically speaking) of Advent we are given a scriptural arrow that points us to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Notice how, in the Book of Revelation, we hear of the “hundred and forty-four thousand” who are unblemished and in the presence of the Lamb of God, and then again, in the Psalm, we hear of the ones who are clean in thought, in body, and in intent or spirit.
Finally we are given the story of the widow in the Gospel who gives from her need rather than her excess. The purity of her intent is praised by Jesus himself. The message begs us to evaluate our own worthiness to stand before the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
We are asked to have the courage to look inside ourselves and see there the blemish that is a barrier to Jesus, and to hold it up in contrition. In this way the Lord of Mercy can forgive it and it can be washed away.
There are some that argue that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is not necessary, that if we say we are sorry to Jesus in prayer, that is enough. We argue that there is an analogy that shows how wrong they are.
If you go to the doctor because you are not feeling well, and he says he’d like to do some tests. Then, if you went home, and sometime later started feeling better, you might think: “I’m OK.” In this scenario, you would be in similar to the person who does not recognize the mercy and grace offered in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but feels that, since they were sorry for whatever sins they had committed, they must be forgiven. Would it not be better not to guess and to have the doctor call you up and say: “I’ve looked at the test results and you are fine”?
That’s what happens in Reconciliation: the priest, standing in the place of Christ, tells you directly, you’re all right. God’s love operates through the sacraments; grace is transmitted through them. We are foolish not to take advantage of it as we approach God’s great gift in the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord.
For those who avoid participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we would encourage you to ask this question: why not? Is it because, in your opinion, no sins worthy of God’s notice have been committed? Is it because it is embarrassing to go to your priest and bare your soul, telling him your innermost regrets? Is it because it is inconvenient, it takes time to make a special trip to church? Is it because it does not seem like it has any real benefit to you spiritually?
We would ask one more question. Which underlying flaw does your reason represent: arrogance, pride, or laziness? Each time we take advantage of a sacrament, graces appropriate to that sacrament are given. (CCC #1131)
We hope to enter that eternal home as a people of whom scripture says: “…whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.” We pledge to avoid sin as best we can, and take advantage of the spiritual grace imparted by sacramental reconciliation with the Lord frequently. In doing so, may we also approach that spiritual place where the peace of Christ waits to embrace us.
Pax
[2] The picture used today is "The Presentation of the Virgin” by Vittore Carpaccio, 1504-08
[4] See NAB footnote from Revelation 7:4-9
[5] See NAB footnote on Luke 21:1-4
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