John of Patmos Sees the Risen Lord

Homily for Sunday of the Second Week in Eastertide

Human beings find it difficult to celebrate important events for a prolonged time. We find it much easier to endure the six weeks of Lent with its penances and voluntary abstinences. Yet, the Church asks us to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus for the seven weeks known as Eastertide. During this time, the church focuses our attention on specific books of the the Christian Scriptures. We read from the Acts of the Apostles every day during Eastertide. During the A Cycle of the Lectionary for Sunday Mass, the second reading during Eastertide is taken from the First Letter of St. Peter. During the B Cycle, the second reading is taken from the First letter of St. John; and during the C Cycle, which we are observing this year, the second reading comes to us from the Book of Revelation.

No other writing in the New Testament evokes the wide range of reactions and emotions than does the last book, the Book of Revelation. This work offers comfort to the grieving, encouragement to the oppressed, hope to the downtrodden, and a warning to the complacent. Teachers and preachers, as well as ordinary readers, often avoid dealing with this work. Some find Revelation too confusing and difficult to understand. It uses strange symbols and images; and in spite of its name, it often conceals more than it reveals. Many readers would agree with the assessment of St. Jerome in the fourth century when he said, “Revelation has as many mysteries as it does words.”

We must keep certain things in mind as we work our way through this last book of the New Testament. First and foremost, we must remember that most of this book is a record of a vision or dream which John of Patmos claims to have seen while asleep or in an altered state of consciousness. Think about how difficult it is for you to remember or interpret your own dreams. The Book of Revelation is even more difficult to interpret. Second, we must shy away from using this book of Scripture as a source for futuristic scenarios such as Armageddon or the advent of the Antichrist. This book is about the reality of the first and second centuries of the Church’s history and the suffering that early Christians suffered at the hands of their persecutors. Finally, it is helpful to remember that John of Patmos used the constellations of the stars when speaking of the images that come to him in his vision. He was something of a cosmologist or astronomer.

The Church needs to embrace the Book of Revelation because it is a powerful presentation of the message of our faith. Here is a work that challenges us to be faithful servants of God, regardless of the difficulties we may face. Here is a work that overwhelms us with its portrayal of a God “Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty,” while at the same time comforting us with a picture of a God who cares for God’s people and who “will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

The verses that we proclaim today from the very first chapter of Revelation speak of the vision that John has of “one like a Son of Man.” This man is wearing an ankle-length robe with a golden sash around his chest. The vision causes John to fall to the ground, as though dead himself. This man touched him and spoke to him identifying himself as one who was once dead but who is now alive forever and ever. In this respect, this vision is similar to the visions recorded in the Gospels – the appearances of Jesus to Mary Magdalene, to Simon Peter, to the disciples on the way to Emmaus, and to the apostles who though in a locked room, see Jesus walks through the locked doors and stands in their midst in the upper room. This man goes on to tell John that he holds the keys to death and the netherworld. Just as he did when he appeared to Mary Magdalene and to the disciples and the eleven apostles, he greets John by saying, “Do not be afraid. Peace. Shalom.” Today’s reading ends by asking John to write down all that he sees, all that happens, and all that will happen afterwards.

None of this should feel strange to us. Mary Magdalene fell to the ground when she realized that she was in the presence of Jesus. The people to whom Jesus appears do not immediately recognize him. Fear, doubt, and a lack of faith are very much a part of the stories of the appearance of Jesus after the resurrection. In the Gospel story that we read today, Jesus tells Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” That is a reference to you and me.

Let us also remember that John is on the island of Patmos, punished with exile, because he proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus. The same thing happened to Peter and John who were arrested for preaching the name of Jesus. Consequently, much that John sees in this vision concerns those who suffer because of their faith, the men and women that we venerate as martyrs for the faith. At the same time, their example helps us to preach the name of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins.

John’s vision of Christ standing among the lampstands conveys assurance to the early Christians of Christ’s continuing presence in the Church. The Book of Revelation should also offer us the same assurance. Just as the first appearances of Jesus after the resurrection left the disciples trembling, fearful, and bewildered, many Christians are fearful today. We live in tense times where the familiar seems to have given way to discord and a lack of unity. Yet the Church proclaims that Christ is still present among us. We must remind ourselves of this truth every day as we struggle to make our way to the glories that await us in the next life.