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My baby sister loves science-fiction: Star Trek, the Matrix, you name it. I must confess that this is not “my cup of tea.” The Book of Revelation, a classic example of “apocalyptic” literature, is the first century version of sci-fi. I didn’t “get” the Matrix and I find it hard to “get” the Book of Revelation. On the other hand, Christians believed that it proclaimed the truth about Jesus and his disciples. They did not categorize it as “fiction.” So, I strive to understand it in spite of being apocalyptic-challenged. Many folks seem to get tripped up by it because they think they are reading a newspaper account from the future. I get tripped up because of the fantastic imagery that paints the truths of Jesus and his disciples. I never did think that a picture is worth a thousand words. I’ll take a few good words over a picture any day. Now that you have read my disclaimer, allow me to choose some words to paint today’s readings (the irony of this is duly noted). Throughout the Book of Revelation there are battles between the forces of darkness and the forces of the Lamb. In chapter 13 John sees a number of beasts. They boast and blaspheme God, wage war against God’s holy ones, deliver wonderful speeches, perform great signs, and brand their followers. The world follows and worships them. Then John sees another picture. A Lamb stands ready for battle on Mount Zion, the holy place of the King and Shepherd of God’s people. He has with him those who have not been branded by the beast but who have had “his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” They sing a new hymn. They follow the Lamb. The Lamb has ransomed them so they live a pure life in word and deed. There are a hundred and forty-four thousand of them but they are merely the “first fruits of the human race” who have been ransomed “for God and the Lamb.” Perhaps as astonishing is the picture painted by the psalmist of that same mountain and a people who long to climb it and see the face of God. They believe that God created all things and that everything belongs to him. They know that God is not mocked: only those who are sinless and clean may ascend the mountain of the Lord and stand in his holy place. They also know that if God does not ransom, bless, and reward them, they will never be able to seek him, let alone climb the mountain and stand in his holy presence. The Gospel reading seems at first to be on a totally different wavelength. It is the story of the poor widow. All she had to give was a couple of coins but Jesus commends her because she didn’t give some of her surplus but offered her whole livelihood to God. A theologian once said that “purity of heart is to will one thing.” From the Book of Revelation we see believers who are determined to live pure lives even if it leads to their deaths. From the psalmist we see a people who strive to live pure lives so that they are not weighted down and unable to climb the Lord’s mountain. From Jesus we see a woman who thinks not at all of herself but only of the glory of God. These brothers and sisters are simple and pure. In the midst of death, struggle, and poverty they will one thing: to see the face of God. |