Plagues Praise and Persecution

The texts from the Roman Catholic lectionary today pose questions about discipleship. The imagery of the Book of Revelation takes the reader from visions of great struggle and today the hint of the last of many plagues visited upon people. This contrasts with praise to God for glorious action and judgement. The psalmist also praises the victory of God and the faithfulness to Israel which is seen in the judgement of the Divine. The Gospel of Luke gives us Jesus teaching that persecutions will be endured by those following His Way and the indwelling Spirit will provide in communion with the Divine the words to address the persecutors. The battle between good and evil is not mythical. It is raging continuously as a part of our being and the nature of human frailty. We can rejoice in the daily victories over self and in the anticipation of a greater “New Jerusalem” for those who endure and are “washed clean in the blood of the Lamb”.( Revelation 7.14)