Great and Wonderful Are Your Works

November 26, 2008

Wednesday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

By Melanie Rigney

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.” (Revelation 15:3-4)

Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done marvelous deeds, Whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory. (Psalms 98:2)

(Jesus told the crowd they would be handed over to the authorities and called upon to testify and advised:) “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.” (Luke 21:14-15)

Piety

Lord, I thank you for all the joys and gifts you have brought into my life—family and friends, a roof over my head, food in my kitchen. Help me to remember these are but trappings and that you alone are worthy of my adoration.

Study

What a picture John paints in today’s first reading! A sea of glass. The victors holding harps and singing joyfully to the Lord. In commentary released May 11, 2005, the Holy Father called Revelation 15:3-4 “brief and solemn, incisive and grandiose in its tonality.” It’s appropriate that we consider this Scripture as we head into Advent, the period of waiting and the beginning of the new liturgical year that also leads into a promised new era of government in this country.

The pope identifies the canticle’s purpose as “a sign that invites all people of the earth to conversion. Nations must learn to ‘read’ in history a message of God. Humanity’s history is not confused and without meaning, nor is it given over, without appeal, to the malfeasance of the arrogant and perverse.”

Benedict’s comments dovetail nicely with the Gospel reading, in which Jesus warns the crowd that the road will not be easy for his followers, that they will be given up even by those they love, and that some will be put to death. However, Christ holds out the promise of comfort to the faithful: He will provide them with the words with which to defend themselves. Even those who are put to death will find their lives secured by their perseverance. In the same vein, the pope said in his discussion of the two verses from Revelation 15: “Thanks to fear of the Lord there is no fear of the evil that rages in history and one takes up again with vigor the journey of life.”

And so, as we head into the closing, dark days of this calendar year and the uncertainty that comes with any transition of power, let us resolve to celebrate what is to come, and take up with vigor the victory already won for us.

Actions

What works can you, just one person, take on to help Americans affected by our growing financial crisis? One option is a contribution to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development. The second collection at Diocese of Arlington parishes was devoted to CCHD last week, but it’s not too late to help. CCHD aims to help those in need to develop economic strength and political power. It seeks to educate the general public about the problems that face the poor. In the past thirty-six years, CCHD has given more than 7,800 grants for self-help projects developed by grassroots groups. Provide some time, talent, or treasure during Advent to one of these groups.