Saturday after Jubilate
Posted on May 14, 2022 by under
Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17 (NKJV)
7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Devotion
In today’s reading, Jesus’ words to His disciples in Sunday’s Gospel find their ultimate fulfillment: “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you” (John 16:22).
It is for good reason that this life is referred to as the “great tribulation” for Christians. We are surrounded by sin, including our own. We are hounded by the devil and hated by the world. There are wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, and pestilences, false prophets, and faithless friends. But St. John was allowed to see how the story ends for those who, in the midst of this great tribulation, have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For those who have believed in Christ Jesus and have been united with Him in Holy Baptism, there is endless joy after this time of sorrow. There is perfect peace and rest, perfect praise and worship. When those baptized believers fall asleep here, they awake to that endless joy, and to the face of the One who will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Let this vision of the glory that awaits all believers accompany you in every time of sorrow. The words are true. The witness is faithful. And the joy will be both real and permanent.
Prayer: Almighty God, Who showest to them that be in error the light of Thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness: Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
