Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

“The Seven Angels and Seven Plagues”
by Stephanus Garsia Placidus, 11h century

 
Readings for Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary: [3]
 
Reading 1: Revelation 15:1-4
 
I, John, saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring:
seven angels with the seven last plagues,
for through them God’s fury is accomplished.
 
Then I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire.
On the sea of glass were standing those
who had won the victory over the beast
and its image and the number that signified its name.
They were holding God’s harps,
and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb:
 
“Great and wonderful are your works,
Lord God almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O king of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
or glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
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Commentary on Rv 15:1-4
 
This part of St. John’s eschatological vision describes the victory of the martyrs (“who had won the victory over the beast and its image and the number that signified its name”). They are singing the same Canticle of Moses we hear in Exodus 15:1-18, as the Hebrew people escape the bondage of Egypt. St. Paul’s vision of the body of Christ applying God’s offer of adoption (and hence salvation) to both Jews and Gentiles is also supported by St. John as he conjoins Moses’ and Jesus’ messages: “the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.”
 
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Responsorial Psalm: Psallm 98:1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9
 
R. (Rev. 15: 3b) Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
 
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
 
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
 
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
 
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
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Commentary on Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9
 
The psalm selection supports the vision of St. John's Revelation (Revelation 15:1-4ff). Here we have a song of victory, sung in praise of God’s salvation. The imagery could have been borrowed by St. John: “Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it.”
 
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Gospel: Luke 21:12-19
 
Jesus said to the crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,v brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
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Commentary on Lk 21:12-19
 
The apocalyptic discourse from St. Luke’s Gospel continues as Jesus, who has just predicted the destruction of Jerusalem, now tells the crowd that this does not mean the end time has come. He predicts the great persecutions that will take place. The subject of how the Gospel message will divide families is once more brought up.  The Lord informs those present that persecution will take place within families as well as in society at large.
 
The Gospel being proclaimed by the Lord's followers will result in persecution from every side for the early Christian community. Jesus foresees this time of intense persecution and asks for a steadfast response. By not preparing a defense, he is asking that those persecuted not recant the faith and promises them the reward of the martyrs. The passage concludes with a restatement of the promise of salvation for those who remain faithful: “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
 
CCC: Lk 21:12 675
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Reflection:
 
As we move closer to the end of our liturgical year, we are once again reminded of both the challenge we chose to accept by being followers of Christ, and the ultimate reward of faithfulness. St. John’s Revelation shows us what Luke’s Gospel means when Jesus says: “not a hair on your head will be destroyed.” He is not referring to our physical body, but your spiritual body. Only by denying the Lord can we be destroyed in a spiritual sense.
 
The Gospel predicts that: “You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends.” The clear implication is that the Gospel message is so divisive that even family bonds can be shattered by it.  We see this now in the tremendous polarization occurring over issues surrounding respect for human life. Overt persecutions are increasing, even in the western world. (Many believe we are at a tipping point in the US. See Some Thoughts on Religious Persecution.)
 
Elsewhere in the world they are more blatant. Especially in China, where Christianity is suppressed, persecution takes a still more forceful form. In other parts of the world, specifically the Middle East, where radical Islam now flourishes, conversion to Christianity earns the death sentence, and resistance to ISIS receives the same penalty. We should not forget to give thanks for our freedom of worship, although it is under attack even in our great country.
 
We observe the rise in domestic persecution with the numerous lawsuits regarding religious displays that spring up at this time of year.  There is now even a flourishing organization, based in Wisconsin, whose sole purpose is to attack religious freedom.  Couple the attacks on the symbols of the Lord’s nativity with intensified secular attacks on core Christian values, the sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage, as most vividly evidenced by the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges and the aftermath of the overturing of Roe v. Wade, we see most clearly the divisive nature of the Gospel about which Christ spoke. 
 
There are many groups active in our society that wish to interpret the Bill of Rights’ guarantees of religious freedom as meaning only our freedom to attend church, not to live our lives in society according to the precepts of our faith.  They interpret separation of church and state to mean that all references to the faith of our founders must be eliminated from public view, contrary to its original intent, which was to preclude a state-supported religion as in England.
 
As families get together during this holiday season (if indeed we do because of the pandemic), we see how the long-held views of some family members clash with those who have been seduced by secular values.  It seems there is always more family tension at this time of year as a result of these differences, this year even more so due to the contentious presidential election.   It also seems that when families get together our normal “even-tempered” defense of the faith becomes much more vociferous, the attacks more personal.  It is especially at this time of year when we must recall Jesus’ own temperament, one of love, grace, and humility.  We must contain our zeal and allow our love to take charge (we should add, without coming across as patronizing). 
 
Our response to these situations and to this message must be one that is consistent with Christ’s message: “Love one another.” It is the only way we can respond, and the only way that leads to the “Peace of Christ.” Any other response opens the gates of hatred that comes from the one whose number is defeated in the last battle.
 
Pax
 

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[1] The picture today is “The Seven Angels and Seven Plagues” by Stephanus Garsia Placidus, 11h century.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.