Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 11-27-04

November 27, 2004
Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading I
Rev 22:1-7

John said:
An angel showed me the river of life-giving water,
sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God
and of the Lamb down the middle of the street,
On either side of the river grew the tree of life
that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month;
the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.
Nothing accursed will be found anymore.
The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,
and his servants will worship him.
They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,
for the Lord God shall give them light,
and they shall reign forever and ever.

And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true,
and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits,
sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon."
"Behold, I am coming soon."
Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book.

Responsorial Psalm
95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7ab

R (1 Cor 16: 22b, see Rev. 22: 20c) Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
For the LORD is a great God,
and a great king above all gods;
In his hands are the depths of the earth,
and the tops of the mountains are his.
His is the sea, for he has made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
R Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Gospel
Lk 21:34-36

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man."

From: Revelation 22:1-7

A New World Comes into Being. The New Jerusalem

[1] Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as
crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [2] through the
middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river,
the tree of lifer with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit
each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the
nations. [3] There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne
of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship
him; [4] they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their
foreheads. [5] And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp
or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and t hey shall reign for
ever and ever.

The Visions Come to an End

[6] And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the
Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to
show his servants what must soon take place. [7] And behold, I am
coming soon."

Commentary:

1-5. Because the water of life is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (cf.
21:6), some Fathers and modern commentators have, justifiably, read a
trinitarian meaning into this passage--interpreting the river which
flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb representing the Holy
Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

The trees whose leaves never fade (cf. Ps 1:3), with their fruit and
medicinal foliage, symbolize the joy of eternal life (cf. Ezek 47:1-12;
Ps 46:5).

The passage also takes up the prophecy in Zech ariah 14:11 that nothing
will be accursed--a reference to the terrible practice of anathema
(Hebrew "herem") which marked the Israelite conquest of Canaan: to
avoid being tainted by idolatrous pagans, the Israelites laid cities
and fields waste, putting them to torch and killing inhabitants and
livestock. Peace and security will now reign supreme. And the dream of
every man will come true--to see God (something impossible to attain on
earth). Now all the blessed will see God (cf. 1 Cor 13:12); and because
they see him they shall be like him (cf. 1 Jn 3:2). The name of God on
their foreheads shows that they belong to God (cf. Rev 13:16-17).

6-9. The author concludes his account of his visions by reaffirming
that everything he has written is true (vv. 5-9) and by issuing a
solemn warning: it will all come to pass and people will either be
blessed or rejected (vv. I0-I5).

The truth of what the book says is grounded on God, who is truth
itself. This is St John's usual way of referring to the authority and
reliability of his teaching (cf. Rev 1:1, 9; Jn 19:35; 1 Jn 1:1 ff). He
is acutely conscious of having written in the same manner as the
prophets spoke--inspired by "the God of the spirits of the prophets".
That is why he presents his book as "prophecy".

He also insists on the fact that the Lord's coming is imminent: he says
this no less than three times in this chapter (vv. 7, 12 and 20): this
is designed to make it quite clear that the Lord will come, and to
create a climate of vigilance and hope (cf. note on Rev 1:1, on the
imminence of the second coming).

Because this is a genuine book of prophecy those who read it and tell
others its message are described as "blessed". This is the attitude
which Jesus required people to have towards the word of God and towards
his own words: when a woman proclaims his Mother "blessed", our Lord
re plies, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep
it" (Lk 11:28), and he promises that a person who listens to his word
and keeps it is like someone who builds on solid foundations (cf. Mt
7:24). St James gives a similar warning: "be doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (Jas 1:22).

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

From: Luke 21:34-36

The Need for Vigilance

(Jesus said to His disciples), [34] "But take heed to yourselves lest
your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares
of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; [35]
for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.
[36] But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to
escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the
Son of Man."

Commentary:

34-36. At the end of His discourse Jesus emphasizes that every
Christian needs to be vigilant: we do not know the day nor the hour in
which He will ask us to render an account of our lives. Therefore, we
must at all times be trying to do God's will, so that death, whenever
it comes, will find us ready. For those who act in this way, sudden
death never takes them by surprise. As St. Paul recommends: "You are
not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief"
(1 Thessalonians 5:4). Vigilance consists in making a constant effort
not to be attached to the things of this world (the concupiscence of
the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes and pride of life: cf. John
2:16) and in being assiduous in prayer, which keeps us close to God.
If we live in this way, the day we die will be a day of joy and not of
terror, for with God's help our vigilance will mean that our souls are
ready to receive the visit of our Lord; they are in the state of grace:
in meeting Christ we will not be meeting a judge who will find us
guilty; instead He will embrace us and lead us into the house of His
Father to remain there forever. "Does your soul not burn with the
desire to make your Father-God happy when He has to judge you?"
([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 746).

FEAST OF THE DAY

St. James was a nobleman of Persia who lived during the fifth
century. When the king of Persia began to persecute the
Christians, James renounced his faith rather than lose favor in the
royal court. This greatly distressed his wife and his mother, and
they continually prayed for his conversion.

After the death of the king, James reexamined his priorities and
found that it would be better to place his trust back in the king who
could never die and whose reign would never end. He renounced
his position at court turned away from all the temptations of
leading a materiel life. James conversion attracted much attention,
and word of it reached the new king. James boldly confessed his
faith to the king.

After debating with the king and proving the strength of his beliefs,
James was sentenced to death. As the king deliberated about
how best to kill James, word of his sentence spread and a crowd
drew in order to be able to witness it. The king decided that James
should be cut into pieces starting with his fingers. James praised
God until he breathed his last. Some of the faithful took up the
pieces of his body and had them reverently buried. The final year
of James life was around 421.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender. -St. Therese of
Lisieux

TODAY IN HISTORY

399 Pope St Anastasius I begins his reign
1095 Pope Urban II preaches 1st Crusade

TODAY'S TIDBIT

The word rite can mean several things. First, it is used to distinguish
between the different liturgical traditions that have evolved in
different parts of the world. Secondly, it is used to designate a
specific part of the Mass

INTENTION FOR THE DAY

Please pray for all people experiencing major transitions in their lives.

The Word Among Us

Saturday, November 27, 2004

Meditation
Revelation 22:1-7

I’ve been granted a glimpse of heaven! No, I haven’t had a saintly vision, nor do I have the imagination of Dante. But I have seen heaven, and so have you!

“The river of the water of life” flows from God’s throne into our baptismal font. I’ve seen it give new life to a baby abandoned at the hospital and rescued by an adoptive family, to a young woman whose thirst wouldn’t let her remain agnostic, and to an adult who turned from drugs because someone loved him unconditionally.

I’ve seen the “tree of life” that grows a new fruit every month in an insecure child overcoming one fear after another through being affirmed and helped until he moved from failing all standardized tests to making the honor roll.

I’ve seen “leaves for healing” in hands gently laid on the forehead of a comatose loved one, in words of hope spoken though she seemed unresponsive, and in the smile that opened her eyes and lips just before she died.

I’ve seen “no more tears” in neighbors who gathered around as the fire truck left, putting their arms around the owner’s shoulder, carrying her treasures out of charred rooms, and offering a place for her to stay as long as she needed it.

I’ve seen “no more anything accursed” in a mother and teenager finding the courage to reconcile after both had spoken disowning words in anger.

I’ve seen “the throne of the Lamb” when a frustrated company manager gave up trying to control his employees and placed the company in God’s hands, beginning each day with voluntary prayer.

I’ve “seen his face” in babies with the same genetic disability being lovingly rocked in a nursery so their parents could attend an educational conference. I’ve “seen his face” in a ninety-nine-year-old man, veteran of many renewals in the church, yet eager to serve on the team for a new kind of parish retreat.

I’ve seen “the Lord God be their light” through seemingly dark days of disability, unemployment, and loneliness, inspiring others to offer just the encouragement, idea, or help they needed that very hour.

It is easy for me to believe Jesus is “coming soon” in fullness. I’ve already tasted heaven here on earth!

“Thank you, Jesus, for letting us glimpse your kingdom here and now, and for how much more you have in store for us.”

One Bread, One Body

All Issues > Volume 20, Number 6

<< Saturday, November 27, 2004 >>

Revelation 22:1-7

Psalm 95

Luke 21:34-36

View Readings

GOOD SPIRITUAL SHAPE

“Be on guard lest your spirits become bloated with indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares.” —Luke 21:34

Not only can our bodies become fat and bloated but even more so can our spirits. In this condition, we cannot protect ourselves from Satan or prepare ourselves for Jesus’ final coming. Because we are not in good spiritual shape, the Lord has delayed His coming and the end of the world (see 2 Pt 3:9).

The Lord has given us an extension to get in good spiritual condition. “Train yourself for the life of piety, for while physical training is to some extent valuable, the discipline of religion is incalculably more so, with its promise of life here and hereafter” (1 Tm 4:7-8). St. Paul declared: “What I do is discipline my own body and master it, for fear that after having preached to others I myself should be rejected” (1 Cor 9:27). Jesus is coming soon. He will take us up to meet Him in the air (1 Thes 4:17). Are you in any condition to fly?

“Since everything is to be destroyed in this way, what sort of men must you not be! How holy in your conduct and devotion, looking for the coming of the day of God and trying to hasten it!” (2 Pt 3:11-12) On this last day of the Church year, let’s repent of all our selfish indulgence and worldliness, and make a clean break with the world, the flesh, and the devil. “If by the Spirit you put to death the evil deeds of the body, you will live” (Rm 8:13). Let’s make a new beginning this Advent season. Let’s live both a life and a lifestyle in the Spirit and prepare not only for Jesus’ Christmas coming but also His final coming. Jesus says: “Remember, I am coming soon!” (Rv 22:7)

Prayer: Holy Spirit, get me in good shape. Through repentance and healing, may I lose the weight of sin, hurt, and resentment. May I build up the muscles of faith, hope, and love.

Promise: “They shall see Him face to face and bear His name on their foreheads.” —Rv 22:4

Praise: George goes to Confession frequently, usually every week.

ROMAN MISSAL -- DOUAY TEXTS

Seal not the words of the prophecy of this book
for the time is at hand.

-------------------J.M.J.-------------------
Saturday, 34th Week of Ordinary Time
-------------------A.M.D.G.-------------------

I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault
--strike the breast--
in my thoughts and in my words
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

FIRST READING -- Apoc 22: 1-7
Night will be no more, for the Lord God shall give them light

And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the midst of the street thereof,
and on both sides of the river,
was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits,
yielding its fruits every month,
and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

And there shall be no curse any more;
but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it,
and his servants shall serve him.
And they shall see his face:
and his name shall be on their foreheads.
And night shall be no more:
and they shall not need the light of the lamp,
nor the light of the sun,
because the Lord God shall enlighten them,
and they shall reign for ever and ever.

And he said to me:
These words are most faithful and true.
And the Lord God of the spirits of the prophets
sent his angel to shew his servants the things which must be done shortly.
And, Behold I come quickly.
Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.

8 And I, John, who have heard and seen these things. And after I had heard and seen, I fell down to adore before the feet of the angel, who shewed me these things. 9 And he said to me: See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them that keep the words of the prophecy of this book. Adore God. 10 And he saith to me: Seal not the words of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

11 He that hurteth, let him hurt still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is just, let him be justified still: and he that is holy, let him be sanctified still. 12 Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to every man according to his works. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. 14 Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb: that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15 Without are dogs, and sorcerers, and unchaste, and murderers, and servers of idols, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.

16 I Jesus have sent my angel, to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and stock of David, the bright and morning star. 17 And the spirit and the bride say: Come. And he that heareth, let him say: Come. And he that thirsteth, let him come: and he that will, let him take the water of life, freely. 18 For I testify to every one that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book: If any man shall add to these things, God shall add unto him the plagues written in this book. 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from these things that are written in this book. 20 He that giveth testimony of these things, saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
------------------------------------------------------------
10 "For the time is at hand"... That is, when compared to eternity, all time and temporal things vanish, and are but of short duration. As to the time when the chief predictions should come to pass, we have no certainty, as appears by the different opinions, both of the ancient fathers and late interpreters.

Many think that most things set down from the 4 th chapter to the end, will not be fulfilled till a little time before the end of the world. Others are of opinion, that a great part of them, and particularly the fall of the wicked Babylon, happened at the destruction of paganism, by the destruction of heathen Rome, and its persecuting heathen emperors. Of these interpretations, see Aleazar, in his long commentary; see the learned Bossnet, bishop of Meaux, in his treatise on this Book; and P. Alleman, in his notes on the same Apocalypse, tom. 12, who in his Preface says, that this, in a great measure, may be now looked upon as the opinion followed by the learned men.

In fine, others think that St. John's design was in a mystical way, by metaphors and allegories, to represent the attempts and persecutions of the wicked against the servants of God, the punishments that should in a short time fall upon Babylon, that is, upon all the wicked in general: the eternal happiness and reward, which God had reserved for the pious inhabitants of Jerusalem, that is, for his faithful servants, after their short trials and the tribulations of this mortal life.

In the mean time we meet with many profitable instructions and admonitions, which we may easily enough understand: but we have no certainty when we apply these predictions to particular events: for as St. Jerome takes notice, the Apocalypse has as many mysteries as words, or rather mysteries in every word. Apocalypsis Joannis tot habet Sacramenta quot verba-- parum dixi, in verbis singulis multiplices latent intelligentiae. Ep. ad Paulin, t. 4. p. 574. Edit. Benedict.

11 "Let him hurt still"... It is not an exhortation, or license to go on in sin; but an intimation, that how far soever the wicked may proceed, their progress shall quickly end, and then they must expect to meet with proportionable punishments.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM -- Ps 94:1-7ab
Marána tha! Veni, Dómine Iesu!
(1 Cor 16:22b, Apoc 22:20c) Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Come let us praise the Lord with joy:
let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving;
and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
For in his hand are all the ends of the earth:
and the heights of the mountains are his.

For the sea is his, and he made it:
and his hands formed the dry land.
Come let us adore and fall down:
and weep before the Lord that made us.

For he is the Lord our God:
and we are the people of his pasture
and the sheep of his hand.

Today if you shall hear his voice,
harden not your hearts:

ALLELUIA -- Luke 21:36
Vigiláte, omni témpore orántes, ut póssitis stare ante Fílium hóminus.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times,
that you may be accounted worthy to escape
all these things that are to come,
and to stand before the Son of man.
Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL -- Luke 21:34-36
Be vigilant that you may have the strength
To escape the tribulations that are imminent.

And take heed to yourselves,
lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness,
and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly.

For as a snare shall it come
upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth.

Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times,
that you may be accounted worthy to escape
all these things that are to come,
and to stand before the Son of man.

Lk 21:34-36
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
34	And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and the cares of this life: and that day come upon you suddenly.	adtendite autem vobis ne forte graventur corda vestra in crapula et ebrietate et curis huius vitae et superveniat in vos repentina dies illa
35	For as a snare shall it come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth.	tamquam laqueus enim superveniet in omnes qui sedent super faciem omnis terrae
36	Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come and to stand before the Son of man.	vigilate itaque omni tempore orantes ut digni habeamini fugere ista omnia quae futura sunt et stare ante Filium hominis

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