2026/04/20

244. The Gospel of John and the Priesthood of the New Covenant: The Lord’s Prayer and the Seven Blessedness II

Continuing from our previous discussion. In order for believers who address God as "Our Father who art in heaven" to do so with the same heart as Jesus, and to make the petition "hallowed be thy name" their own, the Book of Revelation devotes more than half of its 22 chapters to training for this very purpose. As the first blessedness indicates—"Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein; for the time is near" (Rev 1:3)—by commencing this training promptly, the name of the heavenly Father is hallowed within the trainee. This is because, if one begins the practice of reading aloud and listening to the words of Revelation immediately, the purifying water flows into the innermost being of the trainee. In time, the trainee will come to see that their own voice, as they call out, "Our Father who art in heaven," becomes clothed with truth. 

The trainee who reads aloud the prophetic words of Revelation and hears that voice daily, as if drinking water, will realise that this practice overlaps with the daily routine, oriented towards the Mass. This is because they gradually begin to observe the events that unfold before them as they live out that routine. Influenced by the author of the Book of Revelation, the trainee begins to adopt an attitude within themselves of viewing the "information" that has entered their memory as distinct from themselves. Thus, the prayer "Thy kingdom come" grows in earnestness. This petition corresponds to the training of the second blessedness in Revelation. Through this discipline, recorded as "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!'"(Rev 14:13), the believer personally experiences the essence of the prayer "Thy kingdom come" and receives an answer. 

As the trainee learns to view "information" as distinct from themselves, they gradually become aware of the contradiction between the memories absorbed from that "information" and now held as their own knowledge, and the Word of God stored in their memory as their own knowledge, and they seek to resolve it. This not only causes inner anguish but can also bring about external toil and hardship when their attitude of seeking to obey the Word is reflected in their words and deeds before the people they encounter in their daily routine, oriented towards the Mass. That is because, just as the world treated Jesus, so too will they seek to reject the one who calls God "Father in heaven." This is the experience of "those who die in the Lord" for the trainee. It continues until they finally participate in the Mass. Within the Mass, the trainee is reunited with the Word and the Eucharist. This is what is meant by the words: "they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" 

Jesus, who had said, "I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Lk 22:18), announced the coming of the Kingdom of God by receiving the vinegar on the cross (cf. Jn 19:30). Jesus, who is present in the Eucharist together with the Father, beholds the moment when the Church, having received His blood and water, brings the Kingdom of God to fulfilment as Mass Liturgy. Even in the 21st century, Mass Liturgy remains a work in progress. However, the priesthood of the New Covenant, which Jesus conferred upon the Apostles at the institution of the Eucharist for the sake of the Holy Spirit sent in His name, is perpetuated through the kingship entrusted to the Apostles, and is constantly at service at the "Lord's table" (cf. Lk 22:30 / this blog No. 237). Therefore, the daily routine of the faithful can be directed towards the Liturgy of the Mass, which manifests the Kingdom of God that Jesus won for us on the Cross. 

The third petition of the Lord’s Prayer, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," finds its answer in the third blessedness of Revelation: "Lo, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is he who is awake, keeping his garments that he may not go naked and be seen exposed!" (Rev 16:15). Just as it is said, "Lo, I am coming like a thief," even baptised believers may fail to recognise opportunities to encounter the Holy Spirit, sent in the name of Jesus, in their daily lives. Unless they become aware of these opportunities and act in conscious communion with the Holy Spirit, their conduct before God is like that of a person who goes naked and is seen exposed. Therefore, the Father has shown Revelation. We must continue to practise reading it aloud and listening to its voice, thereby cultivating an affinity with the Holy Spirit. We must not forget the words written at the beginning of this prophetic book. 

They are: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants what must soon take place; and he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John" (Rev 1:1). Through the training of the Book of Revelation, one gains not only the blessedness of being "awake, keeping his garments." This training supports those who seek to remain ever awake to the truth and to work in unity with the Holy Spirit. Such a person is a Christian clothed with the garment of the Holy Spirit sent in the name of Jesus, and a believer who reveals Jesus Christ to the world through the Holy Spirit. Those who know how to work in this way and experience it earnestly pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," and strive to live in truth, abiding with the Holy Spirit within their daily routine, oriented towards the Mass, in order to put into practice the following words of Jesus: 

"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal" (Jn 6:27). 

Maria K. M.