Fifth Sunday of Easter---Liturgical Cycle C

Lectionary Readings.

Homily
The second bible reading on the Fifth Sunday of Easter continues to present passages, like snapshots, from the Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse). Taken from Chapter 21, it is a vision of what God created us to be if humanity would but be faithful to the Way of Jesus. Our world would be like a holy city, come down from heaven.

Only the Lamb of God is found to be worthy to break the seven seals of the scroll of history and reveal God’s hidden plan for all creation: That God alone is ultimately in charge; he alone makes all things, even the vilest evil, work to accomplish His divine will. The famous Four Horsemen appear and usher in the world’s lamentations and wailings and woes, which become as sweet as honey in the mouth for those who remain faithful. We sense this in the breaking of the seventh seal when, in the vision, an angel stands forth before the throne of the Lamb bearing a censer and incense. (We recall the bit of incense required in declaring the Roman emperor Domitian as “lord and god.”)

From the angel’s hand the smoke of the incense went up before God, and with it the prayers of God’s people.
(Rev. 8:4)

Then there are the seven trumpets, the last of which ushers in the vision of the Woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. The woman gives birth to a child whom the dragon (read “Rome”) seeks to devour, a son destined to shepherd all nations (even evil Rome) with an iron rod. But the child is snatched up (raised up) to the throne of God!

Now have salvation and power come—the reign of our God and the authority of his anointed (Christed) one.
(Rev. 12:10)

Next comes the image of the two beasts, the first representing Emperor Nero and the second of “Nero-Come-Back-to Life” (Emperor Domitian).

The second wild beast was then permitted to give life to the Beast’s image (statue) so that the image had the power of speech and of putting to death anyone who refused to worship it. It forced all men, small and great, rich and poor, slave and free, to accept a stamped image on their right hand or their forehead. Moreover, it did not allow a man to buy or sell anything unless he was first marked with the name of the beast or with the number that stood for its name.
(Rev. 13:15-18)

(The number 666 is Hebrew cryptic for Caesar Nero.)

As mentioned above, today’s “snapshot” is a vision of the victory, not simply a vision of heaven but a dream of how people should and can exist in a fellowship of peace. The imagery comes out of the books of Isaiah and Ezekiel. (Is 65:17, Ez 38:27)

The gospel message for the Fifth Easter Sunday is the Lord’s command that people “love one another” and the reading from Acts testifies to the fellowship of community love at Antioch. The Lord God pitches his tent among His people gathered, assembled, churched. God is with us and the victory of faithfulness shall be ours for we are stamped, “sealed,” with the presence of God.

--Fr. Pat

Excerpt from "A Catholic's Companion: Liturgical Cycle C" (c)2000 C. Patrick Creed
Published by Watchmaker Press. Maggie Hettinger, editor