November 22, 2012 | Mass Of The Day

November 22, 2012 | Mass Of The Day

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr
Lectionary: 500

Reading 1 from the book of Revelations

Rv 5:1-10

I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne.It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice,"Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earthwas able to open the scroll or to examine it.I shed many tears because no one was found worthyto open the scroll or to examine it.One of the elders said to me, "Do not weep.The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed,enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals."

We return to the book of Revelations where St. John continues to describe his vision.  The one on the throne is God, the Father.  And in His right hand is His verdict for humanity.  An angel of God asks who is worthy to open this verdict and read it.  And no one answers.  So St. John cries.  But an elder, which I assume is a Saint which preceded St. John into heaven, tells St. John not to weep over that.  Because there is one who is worthy, Jesus Christ.

Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne
and the four living creatures and the elders
a Lamb that seemed to have been slain.

This is one of those WOW! verses.  A Lamb standing as though slain?!

Spiritually speaking, we know that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God.  We know He was crucified for our sins.  We know that He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.  Therefore the Lamb of God is still standing although He was slain.  He saw Jesus.

He had seven horns and seven eyes;these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world.

Now, St. John says the Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes.  But this is metaphorical.  Because he immediately explains that these seven horns and seven eyes are one and the same thing.  They are the seven spirits or Angels which God sent into the world.

Whether these are the same seven spirits which are also head of the Churches, I don't know.  But I don't think so.  They appear to be Angels.

He came and received the scroll from the right hand
of the one who sat on the throne.
When he took it,
the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb.

Then Christ stepped forth and received the verdict.  When He did so, those creatures and elders who were worshipping God the Father, began to worship Him.

Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense,
which are the prayers of the holy ones.

And the twenty four Saints (the elders) were receiving the prayers of the saints on earth.

They sang a new hymn:
"Worthy are you to receive the scrolland break open its seals,for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for Godthose from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,and they will reign on earth."

And the Saints sang a hymn to Jesus praising how He had saved a remnant for God the Father and established the Church, the Kingdom of God on earth.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a And 9b

R. (Rev. 5:10) The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.

R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.

R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.

R. The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Make a joyful noise people!  God, the Son has died for our sins that we may be saved to eternal life.

One time, a traditionalist Catholic asked me why the Mass was called a celebration when it is a Sacrifice?  I thought about it for a moment and responded, "Because God died in order that we might be saved from our sins."

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke
Lk 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
"If this day you only knew what makes for peace--
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."

This is a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70ad.  The Romans destroyed Jerusalme utterly.  And Jesus here reveals that it was because the Jews did not recognize Him and give Him due honor when He was in their midst.

Sincerely,

De Maria