Sing a New Song

November 22, 2008

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr

Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, "Come up here." So they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies looked on. Revelation 11:12

Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war; My safe guard and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, My shield, in whom I trust, who subdues peoples under me. Psalm 144:1-2

Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise.” Luke 20:34-36

Piety

Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundations of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation. -- St. Augustine of Hippo

Study

Friends invite each other over to their homes. We see such exchanges today in our readings. Not only does Jesus invite us to experience heaven, but also his followers continue to ask for him to intervene on earth.

“Come up here.” With those simple words, Jesus invites us to get above the fray of the battle between “good” and “evil.”

Before reflecting on this Divine Invitation, let’s consider the first verse of Psalm 144. The Old Testament is filled with images of religious wars fought with God at the side of the Hebrews. However, today the psalmist (IMHO) is not talking about some kind of heavenly boot camp training soldiers to go into literal battles with human enemies. Yes, that is what it says. However, the battle here symbolizes two struggles.

First is humanity’s struggle with the forces of evil lead us into temptation (fill in your favorite of the seven deadly sins here). Second is the battle between life and death or what is human and what is truly divine.

Sometimes, we get too boxed in to our current way of thinking and seeing that we no longer can think or see. To open our minds and eyes, St. John in Revelation sets out to define the struggle. The “beast from the Abyss” may literally refer to Roman conquerors and political enemies of Israel.

Today, the beast from the Abyss could symbolize Wall Street, K Street, Wilshire Boulevard, Times Square and Disneyland. From all of these “abysses” flow forces of distraction, comfort and opiates that sidetrack us from the task at hand -- taking up our true cross in the battle.

The two lamp stands and olive trees symbolize those who stand by the Lord on earth. Are you ready to shine your light on the proverbial battle? With the right “training,” they will conquer the forces which attack them. However, the powers described go beyond human, earthly strength. The powers are not political, economic, or even religious. The powers are super-natural, overcoming rain, hunger and plaques.

When Jesus was in the desert (Luke 3) he faced the temptation of conquering hunger, political power and supernatural power over death as it was offered by Satan.

The psalmist is not referring to military “boot camp” training but to training in the practice of the teachings of Jesus to overcome death and not consider heaven like some simple continuation of life on earth but as something “completely different.” These teachings are the shield, protecting us in “battles” like those faced by Jesus in the desert. These lessons prepare us to battle to forces in society with which we will come up against. If we accept the training from Jesus, then we will be prepared to fend off the forces of the “abyss” which seek to conquer us.

The notes from the New American Bible explain that after the “martyrdom of the two witnesses, now called prophets, the ungodly rejoice for three and a half days, a symbolic period of time. Afterward, they go in triumph to heaven, as did Elijah.

After fighting the good fight or the fight for the good, these witnesses are invited into the kingdom. “Come up here.” These are very much like the words used in Jesus’ call to Phillip and Nathaniel, “Come and see.” They were being invited to see the heavenly at work in the temporal world. Today, St. John shares the invitation to experience the kingdom on a higher level.

Action

Psalm 144 goes on to make an invitation. The poet asks the Lord to come to earth. “Incline your heavens and come; touch the mountains and make them smoke (144:5).” Just as Jesus asks us to follow him so we can experience heaven, when we truly have a two-way relationship with the Lord, we also will invite him into our lives to guide us. Then, we are truly the children of God. Send out your invitation today.

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Where were you on November 22, 1963? Can you believe that JFK was assassinated 45 years ago today.

Image credit: Carlo Saraceni, Saint Cecilia and the Angel, c. 1610 - Oil on canvas, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome