Thursday, November 18, 2010
> >Dedication of the Churches
of Sts. Peter & Paul
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
frustration or revelation?
"I wept bitterly because no one could be found worthy to open or examine the scroll." —Revelation 5:4
The human race wept bitterly in frustration because it knew there was a meaning to life but that it was impossible to discover this meaning. The scroll in God's hand indicates life has meaning, but the seals symbolize its inaccessibility to us. We are naturally depressed and weeping to know that we can't know what we must know. Can anyone save us from this impossible situation? Is anyone "worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" (Rv 5:2)
The answer to life's questions is: "Do not weep. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has won the right by His victory to open the scroll with the seven seals" (Rv 5:5). The Lion is the Lamb — the "Lamb That had been slain" (Rv 5:6), Jesus. He broke all the seals and opened the scroll. By His death and resurrection, He revealed the meaning of life.
To receive this revelation, we must believe in Him with all our heart. Two ways of expressing our faith in Jesus are prayer and praise. Those before the Lamb's throne had in one hand vessels filled with incense and in the other harps. The incense represents "the prayers of God's holy people" (Rv 5:8), and the harps our praises to God. To receive Jesus' full revelation for your life, pray and praise Him.
Prayer: Father, give me "full knowledge" of Your will "through perfect wisdom and spiritual insight" (Col 1:9).
Promise: "Sing to the Lord a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful." —Ps 149:1
Praise: At the age of seventy-one, St. Rose began a school for Indian children. She had strength for everything in Jesus (Phil 4:13).
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 6, 2010
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