Sunday 25 May 2025 - A great, high mountain

Sunday 25 May 2025

Today is Sunday the 25th of May, beginning the 6th week of Eastertide.  St Augustine’s Music sings, ‘Job’.    Who formed the earth's foundations?  Marked off its dimensions?  Who laid the stone?  Who wrapped the earth in darkness?  Spread out the stars around us?  Surely you know?     Who lit the constellations?    Mapped out their rotation?  Who made it so?  Who gave the dawn its orders?  Who fixed the oceans' borders?  Who made our home?     I spoke of things I did not understand  I'm unworthy  My ears have heard  But now my eyes see  Creation's glory     Holy, magnificent  Worthy, magnificent     We delight in all we don’t know  We know we’re not in control  Would you fill us with wonder  Fill us with wonder  Today’s reading is from the Book of the Apocalypse.    Apocalypse 21:10-14, 22-23  And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.  St. Ignatius invites us to enter into scripture, not as distant observers but as participants. Take a moment to place yourself alongside John in this wondrous vision, as he is lifted up to this great mountain and is shown a city of pure radiance, its foundations gleaming with divine light. What emotions arise in you from this vision?  Now, imagine stepping into this holy city. A city illuminated entirely by the presence of God. There is no need for artificial light - no sun, no moon - only the brilliance of divine glory and the radiance of the Lamb. What does it feel like to imagine God’s presence?    Might there be parts of yourself that resist such light? This passage may call us to reflect on where we find our ‘light’. The temporary lights of success, recognition, or human affirmation? Or Christ as our light, illuminating our path even in uncertain times?  As you listen to the passage again, consider that John’s vision of the new Jerusalem is not a vision of a future reality - it is an invitation to live in God’s light today.   Apocalypse 21:10-14, 22-23  And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.  On this day, may we be reminded that our home is in God. In this time of prayer, rest in God’s love. Ask the Lord to help you to walk as a child of light. Amen.  Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.   As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be  World without end  Amen