Wednesday of the
Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(Revelation 15:1-4; Luke 21:12-19)
Eastern Europeans are largely incredulous of wide-eyed
Westerners who show little stomach for arms.
Tempered by the bitter experience of iron-hand Communist rule, Poles,
Czechs, and Ukrainians suffer few illusions that nations will live in harmony
anytime soon. They would resonate with
John, the Presbyter, in the first reading.
After being exiled, he only revels at the dream of angels preparing
plagues to be hurled at his people’s persecutors.
People who have not experienced persecution can barely
stomach the Book of Revelation when it describes divine retribution. They believe the accounts fanciful and basically
un-Christian. But they should recognize
at least the possibility of fearful retribution. After all, the gospels are full of of teeth-grinding
and hell-fire. Perhaps, however, the punishment
warranted after failing to heed such admonitions is more of deprivation
–missing out of life’s fulfillment – than of pain – burning in oblivion.
We may have difficulty gauging a response to God. He is often portrayed in Scripture as the
Almighty King capable of wreaking havoc upon the nations. Yet Jesus describes God as a loving father. Perhaps both conceptions are
over-simplified. God transcends our
understanding. We are less likely to
come to terms with God than an amoeba with us.
But out of a similarly incredible love, God has invited us into a
relationship of Him. Our response can
only be that of the victors in the reading: “Great and wonderful are your
works…”
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