Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Good for Heaven, Bad for Earth

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Archangels

We meet Michael in the Book of Revelation, Gabriel in the Book of Daniel and later as the announcer in the Annunciation story, and Raphael as the healer of blindness in the Book of Tobit.

The reading from Revelation comes as the seventh (seven's are everywhere) angel, from the seventh seal blows his trumpet.  By now the reader is on image overload…a video game creator could not imagine this much action.  Finally John hears God's reign on earth being announced.  Bring out the champagne...John can finally get some rest.  But…it was a teaser.  War breaks out in heaven.  Michael leads the charge to banish that enormous red dragon with seven heads with crowns and horns that wants to gobble up the birthing woman.  Michael prevails!

Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them.  

It's not the end of the vision.  What was good for heaven is bad for earth.  This dragon doesn't give up easily.  The story is comforting to those whose lives are literally spent (as in totally) in fidelity to a baptismal discipleship that preaches the Gospel.


I wonder what turmoil my discipleship is being called to enter.  I wonder if I will ever really get this Book of Revelation.  Will my robe ever even get dirty enough to need bleaching?

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