The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present the vision of the uncountable number of people responding to the invitation of the Lamb to full life and the total self emptying that characterizes that fullness.
The reading from the Book of Revelation presents the vision of the Lamb and the 144,000.
* [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 CH 14, n.d.)
Psalm 24 is a prayer 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 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus praises 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 | USCCB, n.d.)
Gladyce Janky comments that human poverty comes in many forms, some of which are not visible but buried deep within the suffering person. Perhaps one of the reasons this account is so powerful is because her poverty is not named. The lack of details lets readers imagine what they might have in common with her story.
Her life might be more difficult than I imagine, but she appears to have abundant faith, hope, and trust in God’s promises, as demonstrated by her actions in the temple. Her choosing to let go of the two small coins reminds me of the Suscipe of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.Although I will never know her name, her story is an enduring account of how even the smallest actions can have a lasting influence throughout salvation history. She knows everything she has is from God and gives her life-sustaining coins back to God. What seems like a small action on the part of a person of limited social status in antiquity is an inspiration that has lasted for more than two thousand years. And she reminds me that I never know (besides God) who is watching me or how my actions might influence them. (Janky, n.d.)
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 when we give in a spirit of selfless love, we are opening ourselves up to Jesus in a way that giving from our excess does not. So ask yourself whether there is an area in your life that you might be reluctant to offer to the Lord.
If you listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit, he will help you discern how to give and where. He may call you to give more money to a local charity or maybe to give more of your time to your family, your coworkers, or your friends. Or maybe he will ask you to give attention to your prayer. Whatever sacrifice you are led to make, you can be sure that it will bring you closer to Jesus!
“Lord, help me to live a sacrificial life—to give without counting the cost out of love for you!” (Meditation on Luke 21:1-4, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler recalls the attack of Satan and his minions on the Church before the Lamb reveals the symbolic assembly of 12 patriarchs times 12 apostles times more people than we can count to make Christ the centre of life to destroy evil. In the Gospel, the rich may give more but the widow has given her all! Friar Jude reminds us to try our hardest with gifts and weakness we receive from God.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how several of Jesus’ parables use the image of a wedding banquet.
Jesus is always undercutting what we think is common sense. This passage calls us to nondual thinking and to change our entire form of consciousness. “When you have a party, invite those who are poor, crippled, maimed, or blind, because the fact that they cannot pay you back will mean you are fortunate” (14:13)—because now you are inside of a different mind that will allow you to read all your life from a worldview of abundance instead of a worldview of scarcity. God is clearly into abundance and excess, and God’s genuine followers share in that largesse: first in receiving it and resting in it, then in allowing it to flow through them toward the world. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the Wisdom of the Spirit to enlighten our thinking and open our mind to act in response to the Way that Jesus invites us to follow.
References
Janky, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112524.html
Luke, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/21?
Meditation on Luke 21:1-4. (n.d.). https://wau.org/meditations/2024/11/25/1136568/
Psalms, PSALM 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/24?1
Revelation CH 14. (n.d.). USCCB Bible Readings. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/14?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Wedding Banquets. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-wedding-banquets/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=nov25
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