We all have busy schedules. Between work, school, responsibilities and social lives, where can we squeeze in the time to focus on developing a deeper relationship with Our Heavenly Father? That’s why St. Juliana Parish has brought you the one spot where you can pray, learn and reflect!
I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne.
It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice,
“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth
was able to open the scroll or to examine it.
I shed many tears because no one was found worthy
to open the scroll or to examine it.
One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep.
The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed,
enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”
Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne
and the four living creatures and the elders
a Lamb that seemed to have been slain.
He had seven horns and seven eyes;
these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world.
He came and received the scroll from the right hand
of the one who sat on the throne.
When he took it,
the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb.
Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense,
which are the prayers of the holy ones.
They sang a new hymn:
“Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth.”
– – –
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Feast date: Nov 21
The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated annually on November 21st, commemorates the presentation of the Blessed Virgin as a child by her parents in the Temple in Jerusalem. Before Mary’s birth, her parents received a heavenly message that they would bear a child. In thanksgiving for the God’s gift of Mary’s birth, they brought her to the Temple to consecrate their only daughter to The Lord.The celebration of the Feast is first documented in the 11th century within the Byzantine Catholic Church. It was introduced into the Roman Catholic Church in the 15th century by Pope Gregory XI, then removed from the calendar by Pope Pius V in the mid 16th century. Pope Sixtus V later reestablished the feast in 1585, and it is still celebrated today, commemorating the faith of her parents, Joachim and Anne, and the purity of Mary.
The Psalm today says that “the Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God” (see Rev. 5:10). This is an easily glossed over but significant phrase.
Jesus, the Lamb, has made us a kingdom. This means that we have a king, and that we are under His authority. “Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king” (Ps 149:2). Israel was ruled by God through Moses and the prophets for a time, and then by kings who ruled in God’s stead. Now Jesus, the Lamb of God, has become the high priest of the New Jerusalem. Through His sacrifice on the Cross, He has atoned for all sins. Through His Resurrection, He has demonstrated His divinity. Through His Ascension, He has shown His authority in both His divinity and humanity, an authority which has implications on those who follow Him. Jesus is our King, and we are His kingdom.
As subjects of the King of the Universe (and we will celebrate that feast this weekend), we know that Jesus has a claim on our actions. We are to follow His precepts, the laws which He laid down in the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, and His other teachings and parables. Our primary allegiance is to Him. This is especially relevant when there is a conflict between earthly authorities and our heavenly king.
Christ has made us a specific type of kingdom, a “kingdom of priests to serve our God.” How are we priests? Although the ministerial priesthood is reserved for those men who have received holy orders, the universal priesthood is given to all people who are baptized into Christ. As laity we do not have the power to consecrate the Eucharist, celebrate matrimony, anoint the sick, regularly baptize, or hear confessions, but we are still incorporated into Christ, baptized into His death and Resurrection.
This makes us priest, prophet, and king, just as He is priest, prophet, and king. Focusing on the priesthood, as our psalm response does, we know that the essence of this role is sacrifice. A priest is one who sacrifices on behalf of the people, in expiation for their sins and his own. As a kingdom of priests, we serve our King and High Priest, and daily offer our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings for the atonement of our sins and those of the whole world, working with Christ to sanctify creation and bring it to the heavenly homeland for which it was created.
El Salmo Responsorial traducido del inglés dice: “El Cordero nos ha hecho un reino de sacerdotes para nuestro Dios” (ver Apocalipsis 5,10). Esta es una frase que se pasa por alto fácilmente, pero que es significativa.
Jesús, el Cordero, nos ha hecho un reino. Esto significa que tenemos un rey y que estamos bajo Su autoridad. “En su creador y rey, en el Señor, alégrese Israel, su pueblo santo.” (Salmos 149,2). Israel fue gobernado por Dios a través de Moisés y los profetas durante un tiempo, y luego por reyes que gobernaron en lugar de Dios. Ahora Jesús, el Cordero de Dios, se ha convertido en el sumo sacerdote de la Nueva Jerusalén. A través de Su sacrificio en la Cruz, ha expiado todos los pecados. A través de Su Resurrección, ha demostrado Su divinidad. A través de Su Ascensión, ha mostrado Su autoridad tanto en Su divinidad como en Su humanidad, una autoridad que tiene implicaciones para quienes lo siguen. Jesús es nuestro Rey, y nosotros somos Su reino.
Como súbditos del Rey del Universo (y celebraremos esa fiesta este fin de semana), sabemos que Jesús tiene derecho a nuestras acciones. Debemos seguir sus preceptos, las leyes que estableció en las Bienaventuranzas, el Sermón del Monte y sus otras enseñanzas y parábolas. Debemos a Él nuestra lealtad principal. Esto es especialmente relevante cuando hay un conflicto entre las autoridades terrenales y nuestro rey celestial.
Cristo nos ha hecho un tipo específico de reino, un “reino de sacerdotes para servir a nuestro Dios”. ¿Cómo somos sacerdotes? Aunque el sacerdocio ministerial está reservado para aquellos hombres que han recibido las órdenes sagradas, el sacerdocio universal se da a todas las personas que son bautizadas en Cristo. Como laicos no tenemos el poder de consagrar la Eucaristía, celebrar el matrimonio, ungir a los enfermos, bautizar regularmente o escuchar confesiones, pero aún estamos incorporados a Cristo, bautizados en su muerte y resurrección.
Esto nos hace sacerdotes, profetas y reyes, así como Él es sacerdote, profeta y rey. Centrándonos en el sacerdocio, como lo hace el salmo responsorial, sabemos que la esencia de este papel es el sacrificio. Un sacerdote es aquel que se sacrifica en nombre del pueblo, en expiación por sus pecados y los suyos propios. Como reino de sacerdotes, servimos a nuestro Rey y Sumo Sacerdote, y ofrecemos diariamente nuestras oraciones, obras, alegrías y sufrimientos para la expiación de nuestros pecados y los del mundo entero, trabajando con Cristo para santificar la creación y llevarla a la patria celestial para la que fue creada.
David Dashiell is a freelance author and editor in the Nashville, Tennessee area. He has three children, a degree in theology, and enjoys writing about philosophy, theology, culture, music, and comedy. You can find his personal blog, Serious Daydreams, on Substack. He is also the editor of the anthology Ever Ancient, Ever New: Why Younger Generations Are Embracing Traditional Catholicism, available through TAN Books.
Feature Image Credit: Isaac Israels, art.diocesan.com/stock-photo/procession-in-the-old-catholic-church-in-the-hage-12488/
