Looking to see

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary use symbols and narrative to reveal truths which cause us to reflect on our actions as people attracted to be followers of Jesus. Friar Jude Winkler comments on the use of pseudonyms and symbols in the opening of the Apocalypse or Book of Revelation. The author is addressing both spiritual and physical ideas of Church. We gather in time and place to be in relationship with the eternal and infinite. Some practical problems surface when the orthodoxy of those attracted by Jesus comes into question. The history of the Church is a story with many initiatives to combat heresy and reinforce sound doctrine. Friar Jude comments on the concern of the author of the text from Revelation that the Church not loose charity as it attempts to root out those who hold different views. Today we seem to be continuing our campaign for doctrinal purity as we define and declare the seamless garment which we all must wear and profess to be real Catholics. Standing up for the orthodoxy as the absolute right may again be offering a less than charitable presentation of life in relationship with Jesus. The understanding with which we are blessed is similar to the sense of the blind man of Jericho who calls out in the Gospel of Luke today for the attention of the Son of David, who is moving toward Jerusalem to establish His reign of peace and love. We are drawn to Jesus and we seek to be enlightened and healed by Him so that we might live in the Kingdom which is based on Love. The attempts of the learned who understand protocol and our place are resisted by the fire of faith which the King acknowledges is the path to participation in His Church.