Another reading from the Book of Revelation, again today’s second reading.
The angel took me in
spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy
city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven
from God.
It gleamed with the
splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that
of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as
crystal.
It had a massive, high
wall,
with twelve gates where
twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were
inscribed,
the names of the twelve
tribes of the Israelites.
There were three gates
facing east,
three north, three south,
and three west.
The wall of the city had
twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed
the twelve names
of the twelve apostles of
the Lamb.
I saw no temple in the
city
for its temple is the Lord
God almighty and the Lamb.
The city had no need of
sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gave
it light,
and its lamp was the Lamb.
-Rev 21:10-14, 22-23
This follows from last week’s meditation on the New Heaven and New Earth. Now we have the New City of Jerusalem floating down from heaven. Here is a wonderful homily on this beautiful passage by Bishop Robert Barron. This is a must listen.
This homily puts the
entire Bible into perspective. With the
Book of Revelation, it really does bring Judaism to conclusion. As I said last week, we don’t get enough
readings from the Book of Revelation.
