Truth amid tribulation

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today encourage us to contemplate the triumph over tribulation of the Spirit.

Seeking truth and action

The declaration of the Lamb worthy to open the Scroll in the Book of Revelation is symbolic of the authority of Christ to free us in the Spirit.

* [5:1] A scroll: a papyrus roll possibly containing a list of afflictions for sinners (cf. Ez 2:9–10) or God’s plan for the world. Sealed with seven seals: it is totally hidden from all but God. Only the Lamb (Rev 5:7–9) has the right to carry out the divine plan.

In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus laments for Jerusalem as the city rejects Him and suffers destruction at the hands of the Romans.

* [19:41–44] The lament for Jerusalem is found only in Luke. By not accepting Jesus (the one who mediates peace), Jerusalem will not find peace but will become the victim of devastation.
* [19:43–44] Luke may be describing the actual disaster that befell Jerusalem in A.D. 70 when it was destroyed by the Romans during the First Revolt.

Tamora Whitney, reflecting today on the Memorial of St Cecilia, like Cecilia’s husband, was baptized and converted. She thinks singing is the purest means of praise.

In the first reading from Revelation, when the lamb who was slain was worthy to open the scrolls, the elders sang a hymn praising the one who paid for our salvation in blood. They sang a new hymn. Until Jesus’ sacrifice, no one could open the scroll. But now this wonderful occurrence deserved a new song worthy of situation. Their song was created from the sacrifice of love. The psalm encourages us to sing a new song to God, to praise him in singing and dancing, to use music and movement to express our love for God where ever we are, since he loves us so much. We need to sing a new song like the elders. We should not harden our hearts, but should sing in our hearts to God.

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus fulfills the beatitude for those who weep”, by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).

"When our Lord and Savior approached Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept... By his example, Jesus confirms all the Beatitudes that he speaks in the Gospel. By his own witness, he confirms what he teaches. 'Blessed are the meek,' he says. He says something similar to this of himself: 'Learn from me, for I am meek.' 'Blessed are the peacemakers.' What other man brought as much peace as my Lord Jesus, who 'is our peace,' who 'dissolves hostility' and 'destroys it in his own flesh' (Ephesians 2:14-15). 'Blessed are those who suffer persecution because of justice.'"No one suffered such persecution because of justice as did the Lord Jesus, who was crucified for our sins. The Lord therefore exhibited all the Beatitudes in himself. For the sake of this likeness, he wept, because of what he said, 'Blessed are those who weep,' to lay the foundations for this beatitude as well. He wept for Jerusalem and said,'If only you had known on that day what meant peace for you! But now it is hidden from your eyes,' and the rest, to the point where he says, 'Because you did not know the time of your visitation'" (excerpt from HOMILY ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 38.1–2)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 19:41-44 suggests it may be surprising to see Jesus weeping over Jerusalem.

There is no reason that we should be any different: you’re allowed to have feelings! If you care enough about standing for righteousness and truth, you will speak and act with conviction. You will live out your faith, not only when you’re engaged in meditation, prayer, and study, but also when you are full of the passion of life.

Friar Jude Winkler describes the type of scroll in the Book of Revelation. Seven horns and seven eyes symbolize the Lamb of God, slain and risen gives the Holy Spirit with full authority. Friar Jude explains the details in Luke’s Gospel concerning the destruction of Jerusalem.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, observes that in one way or another, almost all religions say that you must die before you die, and then you will know what dying means—and what it does not mean!

Kathleen Dowling Singh explains why we must die before we die: “The ordinary mind and its delusions die in the Nearing Death Experience. As death carries us off, it is impossible to any longer pretend that who we are is our ego. The ego is transformed in the very carrying off.” [1]
Some form of death—psychological, spiritual, relational, or physical—is the only way we will loosen our ties to our small and separate false self. Only then does it return in a new shape which we might call the Risen Christ, the soul, or the True Self

Nondual consciousness helps to begin to view reality in a holistic, undivided way.  Truth amid tribulation is a pattern that can be experienced as nondual reality.

References

(n.d.). Revelation, chapter 5 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 22, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/revelation5:23
(n.d.). Luke, chapter 19 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 22, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/19
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved November 22, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 22, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved November 22, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 22, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/