2022/01/03

20. The Connection

When the Lamb opened the first four of the seven seals in order, horses associated with the four Gospels appeared (Revelation 6:1-8). Thus, the first half of the Book of Revelation prophesied the establishment of the New Testament, suggesting its connection with the other books of the New Testament employing the coincidence in words and allusions. In addition, the "event" that appears at some important points announced at the end of chapter 11 that the Mass was ready.1 So, it is clear that the great sign that appeared in heaven in the form of a "woman" at the beginning of chapter 12 represents the image of the Holy Spirit and the Apostles collaborating in celebrating the Mass. The description that follows: "She was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery" (12:2), refers to the Apostles, who, amid the persecution and the daily hardships, celebrate the Mass with the Holy Spirit and try to bring forth the Eucharist by the Holy Spirit. We can see this from the fact that it corresponds to Jesus’ words at the last supper in John's Gospel: "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world" (John 16:20-21). Jesus compared the Apostles, who were to give birth to the Word as "helpers" of the Holy Spirit, to a pregnant woman. The Apostles, who had heard Jesus' words of instituting the Eucharist at first hand and had engraved in their memory these words by which the bread and wine became the Body and Blood of Christ, conceived the Word by which the Holy Spirit brought forth the Eucharist as "helpers" of the Holy Spirit. They indeed became like another Mary. Jesus could not afford to lose any of them, who had been set aside for the Holy Spirit in this way, until the Holy Spirit came.2 Jesus foretold to the Apostles that the time would come when they would be scattered and return to their homes, leaving him alone, and he kept them away from his suffering and death. And this warning came true, and the Apostles were protected. Only the disciple whom Jesus loved went to the foot of the cross of Jesus, taking Jesus' mother, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene, which was for establishing a parent-child bond between the mother of Jesus and the disciple, according to Jesus' command on the cross. At that time, the disciple must have been confident that the one of whom Jesus had said, "who will not taste death," was himself.3

Reference 1. this blog №18, 2. John 18:9, 3. Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27, John 21:23

Maria K. M.