The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present a vision of the characteristics of a community that lives in response to the Love and Grace of God.
The reading from the Book of Revelation is a vision of the Lamb and the 144,000 companions of the Lamb.
* [14:1–5] Now follows a tender and consoling vision of the Lamb and his companions.
* [14:1] Mount Zion: in Jerusalem, the traditional place where the true remnant, the Israel of faith, is to be gathered in the messianic reign; cf. 2 Kgs 19:30–31; Jl 3:5; Ob 17; Mi 4:6–8; Zep 3:12–20. A hundred and forty-four thousand: see note on Rev 7:4–9. His Father’s name,foreheads: in contrast to the pagans who were marked with the name or number of the beast (Rev 13:16–17).
* [14:4] Virgins: metaphorically, because they never indulged in any idolatrous practices, which are considered in the Old Testament to be adultery and fornication (Rev 2:14–15, 20–22; 17:1–6; cf. Ez 16:1–58; 23:1–49). The parallel passages (Rev 7:3; 22:4) indicate that the 144,000 whose foreheads are sealed represent all Christian people.
* [14:5] No deceit: because they did not deny Christ or do homage to the beast. Lying is characteristic of the opponents of Christ (Jn 8:44), but the Suffering Servant spoke no falsehood (Is 53:9; 1 Pt 2:22). Unblemished: a cultic term taken from the vocabulary of sacrificial ritual. (Revelation, CHAPTER 14, n.d.)
Psalm 24 is a hymn for entrance into the Temple.
* [Psalm 24] The Psalm apparently accompanied a ceremony of the entry of God (invisibly enthroned upon the ark), followed by the people, into the Temple. The Temple commemorated the creation of the world (Ps 24:1–2). The people had to affirm their fidelity before being admitted into the sanctuary (Ps 24:3–6; cf. Ps 15). A choir identifies the approaching God and invites the very Temple gates to bow down in obeisance (Ps 24:7–10). (Psalms, PSALM 24, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke describes the Widow’s Offering.
* [21:1–4] The widow is another example of the poor ones in this gospel whose detachment from material possessions and dependence on God leads to their blessedness (Lk 6:20). Her simple offering provides a striking contrast to the pride and pretentiousness of the scribes denounced in the preceding section (Lk 20:45–47). The story is taken from Mk 12:41–44. (Luke, CHAPTER 21, n.d.)
Chas Kestermeier, S.J. discusses the spirituality of Mary, today, the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
If we ourselves had that same spirituality we would use God’s gifts perfectly and gratefully recognize that everything good about us is the result of his love. We would embrace our lowliness, a humility which permits God to sweep aside all merely human values and expectations, to create a Kingdom in which the poor and disregarded come to be lifted up and shine with God’s light for the sake of all. (Kestermeier, 2022)
Don Schwager quotes “Mercy and compassion are never worthless,” by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.
"Although the spite of some people does not grow gentle with any kindness, nevertheless the works of mercy are not fruitless, and kindness never loses what is offered to the ungrateful. May no one, dearly beloved, make themselves strangers to good works. Let no one claim that his poverty scarcely sufficed for himself and could not help another. What is offered from a little is great, and in the scale of divine justice, the quantity of gifts is not measured but the steadfastness of souls. The "widow" in the Gospel put two coins into the "treasury," and this surpassed the gifts of all the rich. No mercy is worthless before God. No compassion is fruitless. He has given different resources to human beings, but he does not ask different affections." (excerpt from Sermon 20.3.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 21:1-4 comments that there’s much to do to get ready for Christmas. If our time for prayer seems depleted by a long “to-do” list, give the Lord “two small coins” (Luke 21:2). Offer a few minutes of prayer, whenever you can. God knows our heart and all that we need to do, and he treasures every minute we give him out of our “whole livelihood” (21:4).
And if you have a wealth of time, wonderful! Lift up prayers and intercession for people who can’t pray—for those who must work extra at this time of year to make ends meet. For priests and parish staff working to help their people celebrate the season. Then rejoice and give thanks! But remember, it’s not the amount of time you spend with the Lord in prayer; it’s the heart you bring to that time, however much or little you have. Jesus commended the poor widow’s “mite” because of the generosity with which she offered it. He will commend you as well.
“Lord, help me to find ‘mites’ of time for prayer to offer you this Advent.” (Meditation on Luke 21:1-4, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler explains the connection of the old and new Israel, Creation and the Church in the “radically new” vision of the companions of the Lamb in the passage from Revelation. The widow in the Gospel of Luke gave from her need and not from her excess. Friar Jude reminds us of being differently gifted and our mission to do our best in giving to others.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the thoughts of author and historian Diana Butler Bass, who writes that gratitude begins with awareness of God’s grace.
If we change a closed system to an open one, banishing transaction and substituting grace, the picture of gratitude shifts. In the closed cycle of debt and duty, the roles of benefactor and beneficiary are static, and gifts are commodities of exchange, based in transaction and control. . . . But in an open cycle of gratitude, gifts are not commodities. Gifts are the nature of the universe itself, given by God or the natural order. Grace reminds us that every good thing is a gift—that somehow the rising of the sun and being alive are indiscriminate daily offerings to us—and then we understand that all benefactors are also beneficiaries and all beneficiaries can be benefactors. All that we have was gifted to all of us. There would be no benefactors if they were not first the recipients of grace. In other words, gifts come before givers. We do not really give gifts. We recognize gifts, we receive them, and we pass them on. We all rely on these gifts. We all share them. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the restoration of our faith when we lose our gratitude for the gifts we have received that come to fruition in serving others.
References
Kestermeier, C. (2022, November 21). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112122.html
Luke, CHAPTER 21. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/21?1
Meditation on Luke 21:1-4. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/11/21/540565/
Psalms, PSALM 24. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/24?1
Revelation, CHAPTER 14. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/14?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/sharing-gods-grace-2022-11-21/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=nov21
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