- 30 Sarah Josepha Buell Hale, Editor and Prophetic Witness, 1879
May
· 2 Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria,
373 , also called Athanasius the Great, Athanasius the Confessor
or, primarily in the Coptic Orthodox Church, Athanasius the
Apostolic, was the twentieth bishop of Alexandria
· 4 Monnica
of Hippo, Mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387 also known as Monica of
Hippo, was an early Christian saint and the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo. She
is remembered and honored in most Christian denominations, albeit on different
feast days, for her outstanding Christian
virtues, particularly the suffering caused by her husband's adultery, and
her prayerful life dedicated to the reformation of her son,
FIRST READING: Acts 16: 9 - 15 (RCL)
Acts 16:9 (NRSV) During the night Paul had a vision: there
stood a man of Macedo'nia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to
Macedo'nia and help us." 10 When he had seen the vision, we immediately
tried to cross over to Macedo'nia, being convinced that God had called us to
proclaim the good news to them.
11 We set sail from Tro'as and took a straight course to
Sam'othrace, the following day to Neap'olis, 12 and from there to Philip'pi,
which is a leading city of the district of Macedo'nia and a Roman colony. We
remained in this city for some days. 13 On the sabbath day we went outside the
gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat
down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14 A certain woman named
Lyd'ia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyati'ra
and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to
what was said by Paul. 15 When she and her household were baptized, she urged
us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and
stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.
Acts 15: 1 - 2, 22 - 29
(Roman Catholic)
Acts 15:1 (NRSV) Then certain individuals came down from Judea
and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to
the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 And after Paul and Bar'nabas
had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Bar'nabas and some of
the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem
to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders.
22 Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of
the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send
them to An'tioch with Paul and Bar'nabas. They sent Judas called Barsab'bas,
and Silas, leaders among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: "The
brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin
in An'tioch and Syria
and Cili'cia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that certain persons who have
gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to
disturb you and have unsettled your minds, 25 we have decided unanimously to
choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Bar'nabas
and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the
same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and
to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain
from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is
strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do
well. Farewell."
PSALM 67 (RCL)
Psalm 67: 1 - 2, 5 - 6,
8 (Roman Catholic)
Psal 67:1 (NRSV) May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, [Se'lah]
2 that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. [Se'lah]
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
7 May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.
Note:
Verse numbering in Roman Catholic bibles is one greater than the above
67 Deus misereatur (ECUSA
BCP)
1 May God be merciful to us and bless us,
*
show us the light of his countenance and
come to us.
2 Let your ways be known upon earth, *
your saving health among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for
joy, *
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide all the nations upon earth.
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
6 The earth has brought forth her
increase; *
may God, our own God, give us his blessing.
7 May God give us his blessing, *
and may all the ends of the earth stand in
awe of him.
SECOND READING: Revelation 21: 10, 22 - 22: 5 (RCL)
Revelation 21: 10 - 14, 22 - 23 (Roman Catholic)
Reve 21:10
(NRSV) And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and
showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It has the glory of God and a radiance
like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It has a great, high
wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are
inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites; 13 on the east
three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the
west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on
them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord
God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to
shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their
glory into it. 25 Its gates will never be shut by day--and there will be no
night there. 26 People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the
nations. 27 But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices
abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of
life. 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as
crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of
the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with
its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of
the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 Nothing accursed will be found
there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his
servants will worship him; 4 they will see his face, and his name will be on
their foreheads. 5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp
or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and
ever.
God is revealing the events of the end-time to John. In his dream, an angel has carried him into the desert to see a whore and decaying “Babylon” ( 18:21), i.e. Rome; now he sees, in another vision, “the wife of the Lamb” ( 21:9), the spouse of Christ, i.e. the glorified Church, the new “holy city Jerusalem” ( 21:10). The “glory of God” ( 21:11, his presence) permeates the Church and transfigures her. The symbols are largely drawn from Ezekiel 40-48. John sees inscribed on the city gates “the names of the twelve tribes” ( 21:12), and on its foundations those of “the twelve apostles” ( 21:14): probably both faithful Jews and Christians are celestial citizens. The numbers in the vision are 3 (times 4), 12 and multiples of 12: twelve symbolizes the continuity between God’s people in the Old Testament and the Church in the New. The city’s cubic shape ( 21:16) is a symbol of perfection. In the Greek, it is 12,000 stadia long: a thousand is a very large number. The height of the city “wall” ( 21:17) is minuscule by comparison: it serves only to delimit the city from the land round it. The “foundations of the wall” ( 21:19) are adorned with precious stones, as is the priest’s breastplate in Exodus. The city is magnificent indeed.
The city lacks a physical temple, for the presence of God, Father and Son (“the Lamb”, 21:22) pervade the entire godly community, and they illuminate it ( 21:23). All peoples and all rulers will be guided by this light ( 21:24). Gates of an ancient city were kept closed against enemies, but those of the city of God will be open to give everyone free access at all times ( 21:25), for they will live in perfect safety. People will, in entering, reflect God’s “glory ... and honour” ( 21:26). While there will still be a distinction between those who trust in God and those who worship other gods (“abomination”, 21:27), the realm of those accepted by God will extend to all who dwell in the city, whose names are in Christ’s “book of life”. (God’s record of the faithful is mentioned numerous times in the Bible.)
In Ezekiel 47, a sacred life-giving stream runs from the Temple; here a “river” ( 22:1) flows from “God ... and ... the Lamb” (Christ). John’s vision includes both the original bliss of the Garden of Eden and the hoped-for restoration of Ezekiel. In the Greek, “tree” ( 22:2) is collective, so many trees will provide nourishment for the godly, for the “healing” of all: this is the goal and result of God’s new creation. There will be no sin in the city, so “nothing [will be] accursed” ( 22:3). In Exodus, to see God’s face was to die, but now the godly will see it joyously ( 22:4). Being marked with God’s “name”, God will protect them. Those who worship God will reign with him for ever.
21:10: “in the spirit”: John uses the same phrase in 1:10. John is in a state of prophetic illumination. [ NOAB]
21:10: “he carried me away”: In 17:3, an angel carries John into the desert to view a whore. [ NJBC]
21:10: “high mountain”: In Ezekiel 40:2, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Exile, Ezekiel is transported, in a vision, to see the restored Jerusalem, which is also on a high mountain. [ NOAB]
21:11: “the glory of God”: Isaiah 60:1-2 says: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you”. See also Isaiah 60:19; Ezekiel 43:5; Luke 2:9 (the Shepherds). [ CAB]
21:11: “like a very rare jewel”: See Clipping below on 21:19-21.
21:11: “jasper”: In 4:3, we read that God, “the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian”. [ NOAB]
21:11: “clear as crystal”: Note “clear as glass” in 21:18 and “transparent as glass” in 21:21. Both God and the city are valuable, and transparent. “Jasper” is also transparent. [ CAB]
21:12: “angels”: Being from God, the city has celestial guards. [ JBC]
21:12ff: The glory of the Church is compared with that of its source, the glory of God. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:6: “... it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. [ JBC]
21:13: Ezekiel 48:30-34 tells of twelve gates of the city, three per side. [ NOAB]
Comments: The numbers in the vision are 3, 12 and multiples of 12 : There are three gates on each side, adding up to twelve.
21:14: The preaching of the apostles is the foundation of the Church. Ephesians 2:19-20 says that “the household of God” is “built upon the foundation of the apostles ...”. [ NOAB]
21:16: Comments: The city’s cubic shape: After the Holy of Holies, which also had equal length, width and height: see 1 Kings 6:19-20. [ JBC] See also Ezekiel 43:16; 48:16-22. (John sees an infinitely larger city than Ezekiel.)
21:16: “rod”: See also Ezekiel 40:3-7, where the “rod” is a “measuring reed”. [ JBC]
21:16, 17: “fifteen hundred miles ... one hundred and forty-four cubits”: These measurements work out to 2,200 km and 66 metres (220 feet). Ezekiel 48:35 says that the circumference of the city shall be “eighteen thousand cubits”. While the city is a cube, it has relatively low walls. [ NOAB]
21:19-21: Isaiah 54:11-12 says “O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I am about to set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of jewels, and all your wall of precious stones”. [ NOAB] The precious stones listed here are not the same as those on the high priest’s breastplate in Exodus 28:17-21, but are those associated with the Signs of the Zodiac in John’s time. He lists them in reverse order, perhaps signifying that they must be reinterpreted.
21:21: “the street”: i.e. the paving of the streets. [ NOAB]
21:22: For the Temple being superfluous because the presence and glory of God permeate the entire community, Isaiah 24:23 says that on the Day of Yahweh: “... the moon will be abashed, and the sun ashamed; for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his elders he will manifest his glory”; [ NOAB] however, 3:12 hints that a physical earthly temple is not of ultimate importance in itself, but continues to have significance as a symbol of the hoped-for close relationship between God and humans.
21:22: “the Lamb”: In 5:9, a “new song” is sung to “the Lamb”: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth”. [ CAB]
21:23: “ the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it”: See Isaiah 24:23, quoted above. 1 John 1:5 tells us that “... God is light and in him there is no darkness at all”. See also Revelation 22:5; Isaiah 60:1-5, 19-20. [ JBC]
21:23: “its lamp is the Lamb”: In John 8:12, Jesus says “I am the light of the world”. [ NOAB] In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes: “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”.
21:25-26: Isaiah 60:11 says “Your gates shall always be open; day and night they shall not be shut, so that nations shall bring you their wealth, with their kings led in procession”. [ NOAB]
21:27: Those who come to the city will be one with those who dwell there. The realm of the holy was confined to the Temple and those who entered it; now the entire city is holy. Zechariah 14:20-21 says, in essence, “On that day” the whole city will be holy. [ CAB]
21:27: “unclean”: The Greek word is koinon, usually meaning common. [ NJBC]
21:27: “book of life”: i.e. the register of God containing the names of the redeemed. Such a book is also mentioned in 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; Exodus 32:32 (Moses to God); Psalm 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Daniel 12:1 (Michael rises at the end of time); Malachi 3:16; Luke 10:20 (where Jesus tells the seventy emissaries upon their return “rejoice that your names are written in heaven”). [ NOAB]
22:1: “river”: For the river of blessings from God, see also Genesis 2:10 (second creation story); Psalm 46:4; Ezekiel 47:1; Joel 3:18; Zechariah 14:8; John 4:10, 14 (the Samaritan woman at the well). [ NOAB] A sacred river is also known from Ugaritic (Canaanite) and Mesopotamian sources.
22:2: “On either side of the river ...”: Ezekiel 47:12 says “On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing”. [ NOAB]
22:2: “tree of life”: JBC says that because this verse is chiefly inspired by Ezekiel 47:7, 12, xylon, tree, should be taken as a generic singular. Instead of the single tree of life (Genesis 2:9; 3:22), the eschatological city contains many trees, offering plentitude of life, and all its citizens will have free access to them.
22:3: “Nothing accursed will be found ...”: Several interpretations (which are not mutually exclusive) are possible:
- The curses of Genesis 3:14-19 (in the Garden of Eden) will be reversed. [ NJBC]
- There will no longer be occasion for sin (see Daniel 7:26). [ JBC]
- No one will be threatened with destruction for idolatry, as in Zechariah 14:11. See also Exodus 22:20 and Deuteronomy 13:12-18. [ NJBC]
- God will be reconciled with the nations rather than cursing them and dooming them to destruction: see Isaiah 34:2, 5. [ NJBC]
22:4: “they will see his face”: The old warning of death on seeing God (see Exodus 33:20 and Isaiah 6:5) is repealed. [ CAB] See also 1 Corinthians 13:12; Matthew 5:8 (the Beatitudes); 1 John 3:2; Hebrews 12:14. John 1:18 says that this is unattainable in this world. 1 John 3:2 says “Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.” [ NOAB]
22:4: “his name will be on their foreheads”: See also 3:12 and 7:3. In 7:3, the servants of God will be marked with a seal on their foreheads. In Ezekiel 9:4-6, the seal marks those under God’s protection. On the other hand, in Revelation 13:16-17, sealing has a different connotation: there sealing shows those with whom trade can be conducted. Christians are not sealed, so are under economic boycott – probably on the orders of Nero.
22:5: “they will reign forever”: In Daniel 7:27, the “Ancient One” says “The kingship and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.”
GOSPEL: John 14: 23 - 29
(all)
John 14:23
(NRSV) Jesus answered him [Judas, not Iscariot], "Those who love me will
keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make
our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the
word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
25 "I have said these things to you while I am still
with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
28 You heard me say to you, "I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If
you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father
is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this
before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.
Jesus’ words will be complemented by the actions of the “Holy Spirit” (v. 26), who will be “Advocate”, i.e. helper and counsellor to believers. He will cause the disciples to remember (“remind”) what Jesus has said, and help them to understand the true significance of Jesus’ words and deeds (“everything”). Jesus gives to his followers “peace”, (v. 27, shalom) – a very different gift from worldly gifts. In loving God, we come to know him. If they really knew Jesus, they would rejoice at his coming departure (v. 28). The Father has sent him into the world to do his will, so in that sense “the Father is greater than I”. Jesus has told them this so that when they see his manner of leaving (“it”, v. 29), they “may believe”.
It is noteworthy that Judas’ question here recalls the challenge made to Jesus by his brothers in 7:4 to show himself to the world, and also has behind it the presumption: if you are the Messiah, surely you want to vindicate yourself to your enemies. [ BlkJn]
Verse 22: Judas may be asking, in confusion: What then of the glorious coming of the Son of Man?, as foretold in, for example, Mark 13:26. [ JBC]
Verse 23: Jesus repeats his statement in v. 21 with two changes:
- from “commandments” to “word”: thus generalizing the meaning to his message as a whole, and
- Jesus will be shown to the disciples by dwelling in them (“home” is literally place to stay in).
Verse 24: Jesus repeats what he has just said, in a negative form. [ BlkJn]
Verse 26: The “Advocate” does not bring teaching independent of the revelation found in Jesus’ words and actions. [ NJBC] For “Advocate”, BlkJn offers Champion. Per 16:13-15, the Holy Spirit will not add any new revelation of his own, since that given by Jesus is complete (see 14:9).
Verse 26: “remind”: 2:22 says: “After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” and 12:16 says: “His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.” [ JBC]
Verse 27: “peace”: More than the conventional meaning of shalom is intended. To give “peace” is a royal and a divine prerogative (see Numbers 6:26; Psalm 147:14; Isaiah 26:12; 45:7) which Jesus bequeaths as God’s Messiah, the Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6 and Ezekiel 37:26). Worldly peace comes through coercion. [ BlkJn] Isaiah 9:6 says: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.
Verse 28: “the Father is greater than I”: During the Arian controversy, this clause was used to support subortionist Christology. [ NJBC]
Verses 30-31: Some believe that these verses were originally at the end of the Last Supper discourse. [ JBC]
Verse 30: “the ruler of this world is coming”: The battle with the Devil now begins. It will end in his apparent victory, but his actual defeat: 12:31 says: “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out”. [ JBC]
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