Punish good deeds

The text from the Book of Revelation in the Roman CatholicLectionary today presents the vision of the triumph of Jesus, the Lamb, over evil. Friar Jude Winkler expands the symbols of glass and water to show Jesus as the New Moses and those following the Way as being in the new Exodus to freedom from the slavery of sin through Jesus sacrifice on the cross. FatherRobert Barron, in the video series Catholicism, seeks to present the ‘edginess’ of Jesus. This includes Jesus person as God and the triumph for Christians over the secular empire of Rome represented by the mechanism of terror and torture, the crucifixion, becoming the sign of forgiveness, mercy and love and the victory of the Lamb. The Gospel of Luke tells the followers of Jesus that they will endure persecution. We continue to find that the Way of Jesus is in conflict and tension with so much of modern life. The powerful continue to oppress the children of God as the Pharaoh once dominated the Israelites. The philosophies of “get “attract many to reject the message of Christ to “give”. Living as a Christian will attract attention. We know that Francis of Assisi directed followers of Jesus to make their lives models which preached the love of God. We know that our lives may be the only Bible that some people may read. The decision presented by Jesus to people is extremely consequential. Luke asserts that the believer trust in the support of Jesus for those who decide to follow the Way.