2023/10/23

114. Successors of the Apostles Part 9

The fourth 'blessedness' in Revelation 19 prophesies the effect of the completed Mass liturgy. It was depicted with a white horse and its rider, an angel standing in the sun, and an angel holding the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain. In this scene, the faithful will clearly see their greed and man's accidental information that they have taken in as their own knowledge and will be purified. 

Eventually, they will develop the habit of distinguishing man's accidental information, as Jesus set an example in the wilderness (cf. Matthew 4:1-11). Thus, Revelation depicted that as follows: "Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed" (Revelation 20:4). This portrayal means that in the completed Mass liturgy, many believers will be able to clearly distinguish man's accidental information that occurs in the community, as well as in their own memories. 

This description of Revelation is the fulfilment of Jesus' following testimony in the manner of the Spirit of prophecy (cf. blog № 98): "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matthew 19:28). 

These words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew were his reply when Peter, on one occasion, asked Jesus, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?" (Matthew 19:27). 

Jesus continued, "And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29), and clarified the meaning of Peter's words "we have left everything." In this case, it was to leave their way of living as the people of the old covenant, who were waiting for the Messiah. By doing so, they would receive 'a hundredfold,' that is, they would be given the living Son of God as the Messiah and inherit eternal life. 

For the people after the Holy Spirit came down, the phrase, "when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne," refers to the time when the Eucharist presents himself to them, for the body of Christ is the throne of God. The expression "judging the twelve tribes of Israel" means that when believers in the Mass publicly confess the Eucharist as the Christ, the Son of God, they, as the people of the new covenant, who believe Jesus' words, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven" (John 6:51), will distinguish themselves from any other way of life. 

And on that day, the 'blessedness' in Jesus' words, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17), which were spoken when Peter, being asked by Jesus, "But who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15), replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16), will become that of many believers. 

To be continued.

Maria K. M.