Monday, June 24, 2013
Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Deacon Robert Banet
My cousin Charlie is all excited about a book he read.
Namely?
It’s by a convert. The author talks about the book of Revelation.
I never could get much out of that book. Too much symbolism, too dreamy.
Yes. Well, it’s that all right. But it’s also a description of the Mass.
What? I never heard that before. Tell me about it.
Well, there are many mentions of the Lamb, you know, the Agnus Dei that we have in every Mass. And then there’s the place where all the people kneel down and cry, Holy Holy Holy Lord.
That’a got to be the Sanctus. You’re getting me more and more interested.
Well, at the end of Chapter 14, the angel of God takes the vintage of the earth and pours it into the wine press.
You mean the grapes are put into the place where they squeeze out the juice and make wine.
Right. And then what comes out of the wine press?
You got me. Wine?
No! Blood flows out! It’s a reference to the Mass. Wine is poured into the chalice and is turned into blood. The prophecy in the book of Revelation is fulfilled in every Mass that we attend.
That’s great! But wait a minute. I remember another verse from Revelation. “Behold I stand at the door knocking. And if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in to him and have supper with him.”
That’s right. A clear reference to the Last Supper. And of course the Mass is a re-presentation of the Last Supper
I’m going back to Revelation and see if I can find more references to the Mass.
Good idea.