These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. They sang a new hymn: “Worthy are you to receive the scroll and break open its seals, for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.” (Rev 5:1-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112124.cfm
As the liturgy of heaven continues, we get a new hymn praising the Lamb Who was Slain and proclaiming that we are now a kingdom of priests for our God. Today is the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple of Jerusalem, and we celebrate our share in the One Priesthood of her Son as we echo her hymn of praise.
The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.” The twenty-four elders throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming: “Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.” (Rev 4:1-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112024.cfm
The hymns in the Book of Revelation are an echo of the liturgy celebrated and sung in this early Christian community. Perhaps it is the liturgy that provides the best key to understanding what many see to be a mysterious book.
"To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this: “‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this: “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:1-6, 14-22)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111924.cfm
This is one of the unforgettable passages in the Scriptures. It is part of the Letters to the Seven Churches (of Asia Minor). When I had the privilege to visit the ruins of the ancient city of Laodicea in what is now modern day Turkey, I visited the church of Laodicea which is in ruins and looks like it has been spit out.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. (Rev 1:1-4; 2:1-5)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111824.cfm
As we begin the reading of the Book of Revelation, we have this wonderful insight from the liturgy of the early church, and the importance of lectors (public readers): one reads, the rest listen—just like the liturgy today. The dedications of the Vatican Basilica of Saint Peter and the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls are kept on the same day—just as the two apostles are celebrated together on the feast of their martyrdoms (June 29).
"But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mk 13:24-32)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111724.cfm
I’ll always be grateful to my grandmother’s wisdom. One day I was worried about something I had heard at church about the “end of the world.” My grandmother responded, “Son, don’t be worried about all that foolishness. The world ends every day when someone dies.”
