Saturday, August 2, 2014

Revelation 4:1-11

¹After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, 

“Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” ² At once I was in the Spirit,  and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. ³ And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

⁴ Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. ⁸ Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy,

holy is the Lord God Almighty, ’who was, and is, and is to come.” ⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:¹¹ “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Reflection

The Revelation of St. John gives us a glimpse at what our praise achieves. In Revelation 4 we see that the praise of God is never ending. It does not stop to take breaks but our God is eternally praised. When we let go of our own wants and  focus on the heart of God, our praise becomes a part of the eternal praise of God. This should remind us that

worship is much larger than us. Through Jesus Christ we are able to tap into the eternal praise of God and this is not something to take lightly. Worship is all about Jesus and the marvelous things God has done for us. What has God done for you?