Memorial of Saint Andrew Dŭng-Lạc, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
Am I the only one who gets puzzled when face with the Book of Revelation? I have done studies, reviewed commentaries, and attended sessions presented by scholars and have always come away a bit perplexed. One thing I have come to believe about Scripture is that my immediate grasp of the specific passage I am reading is not the point. In fact, my inability to grasp said passage to my own satisfaction is a direct challenge to my faith in the Word and my faith in Jesus. And that is a good thing!
Today’s reading from the Book of Revelation speaks of the Christ, the Lamb, who is surrounded by his chosen ones. Those assembled around the Lamb are being taught a ‘new hymn’. These chosen ones have the names of the Father and the Son written on their foreheads. They have been ransomed and are called the ‘first fruits’ of the human race for God and for the Lamb. This, and the other recent readings from Revelations can perplex me but they also invite me to dream—dream of what heaven will be like, what Jesus’ sacrifice means in a deeper way, or even what my life means at this very moment. If I am willing to stay with these Scriptures and consciously embrace the mystery and obscurity of these passages, God will surprise me! Today’s Gospel reading from Luke relates the story of the poor widow who places only two coins in the treasury while the wealthy offer what appears to be much more. As we know, Jesus points to the measure of her sacrifice---giving out of her need—rather than the monetary value of her contribution. On the face of it, this passage carries a much more obvious appeal—something any one of us can respond to. It is easy to pass over the Scriptures we cannot easily grasp in favor of ones we do. But we are surely short changing ourselves when we do this. By this I mean: when I read the Word of God do I truly believe it is an encounter with Christ? Or do I believe it is only an encounter with Christ if I grasp the meaning immediately?
Here is a quote from Pope Benedict’s Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Verbum Domini: “Origen, one of the great masters of (this way of) reading the Bible, maintains that understanding Scripture demands, even more than study, closeness to Christ and prayer.” Pope Benedict says that every encounter with Scripture should be an encounter with Christ. Can I allow myself to really believe this? Praying with a passage from the Word of God that I do not understand or relate to may answer this question. Praying is not only me speaking to God. Prayer is not only me reciting prayers that I have memorized. Prayer is not only a ‘feeling’ experience. In the same Apostolic Exhortation, Benedict quotes St Augustine saying “Your prayer is the word you speak to God. When you read the Bible, God speaks to you”. Am I willing to have the faith that I encounter God each and every time I encounter Scripture—despite the immediate intellectual grasp I can experience?
We are approaching the holy season of Advent. We are approaching the end of the calendar year. It is a time of reflection and traditionally a time of resolutions. Let us beg God for the willingness—the humility and the openness—to receive the Word in faith. Even though I may not immediately know or understand how this sacred WORD is an encounter with the One who has gained salvation for me, I can surely beg for the faith to truly believe it is so.
--Gail Lyman