For the last two weeks of this particular liturgical year, we will be reading from the last book of the Christian Scriptures, the Book of Revelation, sometimes called “The Apocalypse.” I am sure that no one would be surprised to hear that this book causes more questions and poses many difficulties in the efforts we make to interpret the strange language and (for some) the terrifying creatures and images. However, if we keep several things in mind as we read the book, it tends to be less frightening and more encouraging.
First of all, we need to remember that like any book of prophecy in the Scriptures, the author’s purpose is NOT to tell us about the future. Rather, prophecy in the Scripture is a matter of bringing the Word of God to bear on the PRESENT. In the case of the Book of Revelation, it was written during a time of great persecutions for those who placed their faith in Jesus. The persecutions resulted in thousands being martyred for their faith. The author’s purpose in writing is to give these people something upon which they can fall back when their lives are threatened. It is as if the author is saying to these people: “Fear not, we have read the end of the story and know how the story resolves. We win! God wins!”
Another thing that we should keep in mind is that the man who is writing these words is in an altered state of consciousness. For those of us who are Westerners, this is hard for us to digest. While most of the people of the world understand the “dream state” or the “out of body” experience, it is a foreign concept to people of the Western World. We tend not to put too much stock in dreams and visions. Other cultures, in particular the Middle Eastern culture, are far more accepting of such experiences.
When it comes to the various images and figures that the writer says that he sees in the sky, it is helpful to remember the various constellations, groups of stars that have been part of our culture for centuries. Mariners steered their ships by the stars. The various figures of Greek and Roman mythology, the signs of the Zodiac, etc. are all part of the night sky for astronomers. It is quite obvious that the sacred writer is such an astrologer.
With these ideas in mind, we read the Book of Revelation as it was intended. It begins as a letter to the various Christian communities of the Middle East, some of which are familiar to us. Today’s reading mentions the community of Ephesus and commends the people of Ephesus for their endurance under trial while at the same time chiding them for failing in the virtue of love.
For those of us who bear the burden of chronic illness or disability, the commendation for endurance is certainly apt. Perhaps we also need to look at our lives and ask ourselves whether we have been faithful in loving our neighbor and in expressing our love for God.
As we continue to read during these next two weeks, let us set aside notions of predicting the future; rather let us read with hearts and minds open to the admonitions we will hear to remain faithful in our vocations as those who have taken up their cross and seek to follow after Jesus.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator