Two Visions

Thursday, October 29, 2009 -- Week of Proper 25, Year One
James Hannington, Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa, and his Companions, Martyrs, 1885

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, 990)
Psalms 50 (morning) [59, 60] or 103 (evening)
Nehemiah 1:1-11
Revelation 5:11 - 6:11
Matthew 13:18-23

We experience a stunning contrast in today's reading from Revelation.

John's vision first takes us into the joy and harmony of God's presence, where "every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them" sing in praise. They praise the Lamb. The Lamb is an amazing image. The Lamb is a gentle animal, vulnerable and unthreatening. The Lamb is a sacrificial animal that takes on the suffering of others in liturgical rites of purification. The Lamb is a recipient of violence, not an initiator. The Lamb is a symbol of peace and nonviolence. John's climactic vision of heaven is a universal hymn of praise "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"

Four living creatures speak the "Amen" to this universal hymn. These four living creatures seem to symbolize the four orders of creation. One is like a lion; another like an ox; another like a human; another like an eagle. They have miraculous gifts of movement (six wings) and full understanding (eyes all around and inside). (4:6bf) The twenty-four elders bow in worship. (the number 24 double the symbolic number of God's people, 12)

That is John's vision of universal harmony and peace that accompanies God's presence.

Now the drama shifts. The Lamb opens the seals of the scroll. As each seal is removed, we see a glimpse of an aspect of the cosmic drama of human destructiveness, divine justice, and eventual peace. Today we experience the four seals of human destructiveness.

The four living creatures call out four horses and their riders. A rider with a bow rides a white horse; a rider with a sword rides a red horse; a rider carrying scales rides a black horse; and a rider named Death and Hades rides a pale green horse. The appearance of a military conqueror always leads to war which always leads to famine which always leads to death. Sword, famine, pestilence and wild animals hold authority over a fourth of the earth. (Future series of scrolls will increase in their damage.)

The contrast is extreme. Universal harmony with the Lamb. Violence and death with the activities of human warfare.

(One note about the passage "do not damage the olive oil and the wine." So much of the famine that is a consequence of warfare comes from the destruction of annual crops such as wheat and barley. Long-term crops such as olive oil and wine are not so susceptible to war-induced famine. Olive oil trees can grow for centuries. Yet, I heard a story the other day of some Palestinian residents mourning over the destruction of 1,500 olive trees that were burned by Israeli settlers in a retaliation strike. Israeli authorities had removed the settlers from an unauthorized outpost in the West Bank. The settlers retaliated by destroying the orchards of neighboring Palestinians. In the Middle East, an act of violence against olive oil trees is considered particularly outrageous.)

John will continue the drama that shows the apocalyptic consequences of human evil and violence. But it is a drama with a good and peaceful end. The Lamb will triumph, and will do so without violence.

Lowell

_____________________________________________

Audio podcast: Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week. Click the following link: Morning Reflection Podcasts

About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas