Revelation 7.9-17

9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.
10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God,
12 singing,
‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honour
and power and might
be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’
14 I said to him, ‘Sir, you are the one that knows.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 For this reason they are before the throne of God,
    and worship him day and night within his temple,
    and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
    the sun will not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat;
17 for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

 

 

REFLECTION

John is given an insight into heaven. I am not sure everyone sees heaven this way and  it again does not entice the desire to go there. I think it is important to open a view people have in heaven. There are many who see that when you die you become an angel. I don't agree with that. Now I will never say that when a person is grieving the loss of a loved one, but here the Saints and Angels are two different beings. I accept there are those who may disagree with me and I am happy to talk about what is the Biblical references that suggest those who die become angels? I am happy that I will be in God's kingdom and I will have my place. I do not need wings to justify my place. I am living into the image of God at the center of life. 

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Psalm 34.1-10; 34.22

1 I will bless the Lord continually:

his praise shall be always in my mouth.

2 Let my soul boast of the Lord:

the humble shall hear it and rejoice.

3 O praise the Lord with me:

let us exalt his name together.

4 For I sought the Lord’s help and he answered:

and he freed me from all my fears.

5 Look towards him and be bright with joy:

your faces shall not be ashamed.

6 Here is a wretch who cried, and the Lord heard me:

and saved me from all my troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps round those who fear him:

and delivers them in their need.

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good:

happy are they that hide in him!

9 Fear the Lord, all you his holy ones:

for those who fear him never lack.

10 Lions may suffer want and go hungry:

but those who seek the Lord lack nothing good.

22 The Lord ransoms the lives of his servants:

and none who hide in him will be destroyed.

 

 

1 John 3.1-3

1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

 

REFLECTION 

John's letter gives us a good look at the motivation of living the Beatitudes. First, we are driven by the love of God. Second, we are living in to God's kingdom not the world's temptations. the issue for me is that John writes, '..., what we will be has not yet been revealed.' We will not understand or live into the fulness of God's love and purpose for us in this life. That is a long time to fight the temptations of this world and to value the blessings of God. 

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Matthew 5.1-12

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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REFLECTION

Jesus talks about the different attributes of a saint. Can you get all the blessings? Or is it that it is like the body of Christ. We are all different and therefore we receive differently? I wouldn't call it an enticing list. If this was for a job, I would be asking if this is what I am looking for. The understanding of these words requires the support of the other two readings. God reaches out to us to make God the center of our lives and to let go of this world. We don't have to perfect it, we just have to want it and be moving to it.

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