Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

The readings today speak of persecution and fear, yet the overwhelming theme is one of triumph. The battle is won and the beast has been conquered. The scene described by the visionary is one of complete awe. The vision describes a song: “Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty.” (Rev. 15:3) As the song continues it asks, “Who will not fear you, Lord or glorify your name?” (Rev. 15:4) The word fear can also be translated awe. Either way, it is a question we need to answer for ourselves? The responsorial psalm today gives a reply to the question above, especially as the refrain is taken from Revelation 15:3; “Great and Wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!” This is connected to Psalm 98 which is a praise psalm. The psalm exalts God’s wondrous deeds, and how the Lord has made salvation known to all the nations. Yet the glory of the Lord is not limited to the people, even the rivers clap their hands and the mountains shout for joy. (Psalm 98:8) The image is a depiction of all of creation praising the Lord.

Images flood into my mind of standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon and looking down on the colorful landscape bathed in the incredible glory of a sunset. Those are the moments stop us in our tracks and if we listen clearly we can hear the wind whispering or sometimes even shouting the praise of creation. Many of us have a place like this where we feel one with all creation.

The gospel from Luke says that there will be consequences for believing in and witnessing about the Lord. This belief calls on us to witness or share that belief with others. This good news is not for us to keep to ourselves. The world ought to be able to look at the way we live our lives, or the things we say, and know that our lives are dedicated to Jesus the Christ.

Today, let us take a few moments to recall a time when we were stopped in our tracks by the awe inspiring beauty of creation. Allow that instant to bring that same sense of awe and peace upon you this day. Lord willing, we can carry this peace with us everywhere we go today so that people will encounter in us our awe inspiring God.

-Mike Montgomery