Wednesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(Revelation 4:1-11; Luke 19:11-28)
Today’s first reading from the Book of Revelation describes
the heavenly liturgy. Above all sits God
Almighty whose indescribable presence is represented by flashes of colored light. The meaning of the twenty-four thrones and
twenty-fours elders remains obscure. They
may be considered saints from churches the world over praising God. The four
creatures, who in later Christian tradition represent the four evangelists, are
better said to signify the best of creation: the lion is the noblest beast; the
calf, the strongest; the man, the most intelligent; and the eagle, the
swiftest.
Christian liturgy participates in its celestial correlative. Hence, the words of the “Sanctus” at mass are
heard: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of almighty … “ In imitation of the Gloria
at Mass, the elders worship: “Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory
and honor and power”.
We likely ask ourselves whether this is all there is to
eternal life and whether we want to be part of it. Before answering “no,” we should consider
that heaven lies outside of time. It is
eternal. Beyond worship, which is
wonderful, there is the rejoicing with good friends and the wonder of meeting
the Lord Jesus, face-to-face.
