(Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
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| “New Heaven and New Earth” Mortier's Bible. Phillip Medhurst Collection, 1700’s |
An angel showed me the river of life-giving water,
sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,
On either side of the river grew the tree of life
that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;
the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.
Nothing accursed will be found anymore.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,
and his servants will worship him.
They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,
for the Lord God shall give them light,
and they shall reign forever and ever.
And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true,
and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits,
sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.”
“Behold, I am coming soon.”
Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book.
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Commentary on Rv 22:1-7
When the reference is made to the name inscribed on their foreheads: “They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads,” it is a direct corollary to the Hebrew phylactery, a small, black leather, cube-shaped case containing Torah texts written on parchment worn on the forehead to symbolize they had internalized God’s law. (Note: the sign of the beast is in the same place for those who are thrown down.)
Our passage ends, appropriately: “Behold, I am coming soon.” This passage is used on the last day of the liturgical year.
CCC: Rv 21:1-22:5 117; Rv 22:1 1137; Rv 22:4 1023; Rv 22:5 1029
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7ab
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
For the LORD is a great God,
and a great king above all gods;
In his hands are the depths of the earth,
and the tops of the mountains are his.
His is the sea, for he has made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
R. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
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Commentary on Ps 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7ab
Psalm 95 is a song of praise. These strophes rejoice in God’s saving help and extol his greatness as the creator of all things. The psalmist enjoins the faithful to bow down and worship the one who is the great shepherd, who protects his flock from all ills.
The Advent response itself is explained thus: “Marana tha: an Aramaic expression probably used in the early Christian liturgy. As understood here (‘O Lord, come!’), it is a prayer for the early return of Christ. If the Aramaic words are divided differently (Maran atha, ‘Our Lord has come’), it becomes a credal declaration. The former interpretation is supported by what appears to be a Greek equivalent of this acclamation in Rev 22:20 ‘Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!’” [5]
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Gospel: Luke 21:34-36
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”
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Commentary on Lk 21:34-36
This selection is the end of Jesus' final public exhortation before his passion and death. Some scholars have speculated that the Gospel author could be using a fragment of some forgotten scroll from St. Paul because the Hellenistic form is so similar (see 1 Thessalonians 5:4).
CCC: Lk 21:34-36 2612
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Reflection:
On this last day before the season of Advent begins, it is good to think about this past year and what we have done, right and wrong: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) As the analogy we have been using implies, take one more good look in the mirror of our souls. What do we see there that we had not noticed before?
Let’s think about our interactions at work or school. Were we living God’s law of love as best we could? Did we consciously hurt or degrade a person? Do we need to make amends and apologize to anyone specifically?
What about in our family: did we set the good example that we are asked to? Did we show those we love the most that God does rule in our hearts? (This is one of the most difficult!)
And finally, in our solitude, have we worked hard at allowing the Lord to guide our inmost thoughts and therefore drive our actions with those about us? Have we been diligent in our prayer, in praise of the one who saves us all, for ourselves, and for the world? Have we been faithful in our participation in the sacraments of the Eucharist, reconciliation, and, as needed, anointing? Have we allowed God’s grace to buoy us up and give us strength?
As we think through this short list, most of us will find ways to improve, to grow closer to God in the coming new year of grace. Let us add a prayer for strength, that we might walk hand in hand with the Lord throughout the year.
Pax
[1] General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar Miscellaneous Notes no. 5: “Outside Advent, Christmas Time, Lent, and Easter Time, on Saturdays which have no commemoration having the rank of Obligatory Memorial or higher, a Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated. This is indicated in the calendar by “BVM.” The readings and prayers may be selected from the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
[2] The picture used today is “New Heaven and New Earth” Mortier's Bible. Phillip Medhurst Collection, 1700’s.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] See NAB footnote on 1 Cor 16:22.
[6] Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Inc., © 1968, 44:149, p. 155.
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