[GUITAR THEME MUSIC] WELCOME TO SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION. I AM FATHER MITCH AND THIS IS A PROGRAM WHERE WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE WORDS OF SACRED SCRIPTURE. WE DO OUR BEST TO UNDERSTAND IT IN LIGHT OF THE APOSTOLIC TRADITION. WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE LAMB OF GOD IN THE BOOK REVELATION TODAY. WE WANT YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SHOW AND THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS TO DO THAT. ONE IS BY CALLING INTO THE SHOW ON TUESDAYS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 PM EASTERN TIME. WHEREVER YOU ARE FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU ARE IN RELATION TO EASTERN TIME. BETWEEN 2 PM AND 3 PM EASTERN TIME. YOU MAY CALL HERE. CALL IN QUESTIONS: (IN THE USA) 1-800-221-9460 OR OUTSIDE THE USA, CALL 1-205-271-2980 YOU MAY ALSO SEND QUESTIONS BY EMAIL. SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES. YOU CAN POST YOUR COMMENTS THERE. ALL THAT INFORMATION IS ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU RIGHT NOW. IN THIS BIBLE STUDY WE ARE CONTINUING TO USE A BOOK I WROTE CALL THE EUCHARIST. A BIBLE STUDY GUIDE FOR CATHOLICS. YOU CAN STILL GET IT AT THE EWTN RELIGIOUS CATALOG. . (FR. PACWA'S BOOKS) AVAILABLE FROM EWTN RELIGIOUS CATALOGUE WWW.EWTNRC.COM 1-800-854-6316 TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH AND THE LAMB OF GOD WHO IS IN THAT NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH. THE BOOK OF REVELATION. IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING ALONG WITH US IN MY BOOK WE ARE ON PAGE 59. AGAIN TO REMIND YOU THE IDEA OF THE LAMB OF GOD GOES BACK TO ISAIAH 53 WHERE THE MESSIAH IS GOING TO SUFFER AND THEN DIE, BE BURIED AMONG THE WICKED AND RISE AGAIN. AND HE IS DESCRIBED AS THE LAMB WHO TAKES AWAY OUR SINS UPON HIM. HIS SUFFERING WILL HEAL US AND REDEEM US. THAT THIS IDEA OF THE LAMB OF GOD IS PICKED UP 1ST BY JOHN THE BAPTIST IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN CHAPTER 1:29. AND THEN IT APPEARS ELSEWHERE IN THE GOSPEL AND IN THE EPISTLE AND NOW WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE BOOK THAT IDENTIFIES JESUS OUR LORD AS THE LAMB OF GOD MORE THAN ANY OTHER BOOK. NAMELY THE BOOK OF REVELATION. AND WE ARE NOW GETTING TO THE LAST 2 CHAPTERS OF THAT BOOK. THE CONSUMMATION OF ALL HISTORY. IN THESE LAST 2 CHAPTERS, ST. JOHN DESCRIBES THE NEW AND HEAVENLY JERUSALEM WHICH IS THE ETERNAL DWELLING PLACE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB. IN ADDITION TO THE GOD AND THE LAMB BEING IN THE NEW JERUSALEM ALL OF THE REDEEMED ARE WITH THEM AND 1 OF THE PURPOSES OF HIS BOOK IS TO GIVE A CHURCH THAT WAS UNDERGOING ITS 2ND ROMAN PERSECUTION. THE 1ST 1 WAS UNDER THE EMPEROR NERO WHO MADE CHRISTIANITY ILLEGAL. IN THE MID 60S A D. THAT DECREE BY NERO HELD A LEGAL FORCE ALL THE WAY UNTIL 313 JANUARY 313 WHEN CONSTANTINE, THE NEW EMPEROR MADE CHRISTIANITY LEGAL. AND GAVE FREEDOM OF RELIGION FOR EVERYBODY. SO ALL THE DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS HAD EQUAL FREEDOM TO WORSHIP. SO THAT IS WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE. BUT IN THE 2ND PERSECUTION THE ONE AFTER NERO, UNDER THE MICHIGAN, DOMITIAN WAS EMPEROR IN THE LATE 80S AND INTO THE 90S BEFORE HE WAS EVENTUALLY ASSASSINATED. BEING A ROMAN EMPEROR WAS A DANGEROUS JOB AND HAD A LOT OF ENEMIES AND HE DID. IT WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN THAT KILLED HIM IT WAS 1 OF HIS OTHER ENEMIES. BUT THIS HOPE FOR THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH CAME AT A TIME OF PERSECUTION. PART OF THE LASTING IMPORTANCE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS THAT WE SEE NOT ONLY A GREAT DEAL ABOUT JESUS OUR LORD BUT WE ALSO FIND IN THEIR CHRISTIAN HOPE. HOPE AT TIMES OF GREAT DIFFICULTY. LIKE PERSECUTION. THIS HOPE IS NOT THE SAME AS OPTIMISM BECAUSE OPTIMISM COMES FROM HUMAN IDEAS. HOPE IS A GIFT OF GOD'S GRACE. HE GIVES US THAT VIRTUE AS A GIFT. IT IS BASED ON HIS REVELATION. AND WHAT WE WANT IS FOR OUR HOPE TO CONFORM TO WHAT THE LORD TEACHES. SO HERE WE SEE THAT ON THE ONE HAND THE OLD HEAVENS AND THE OLD EARTH, THE ONE WHERE WE LIVE, THIS EARTH, IS NOT CAPABLE OF BEING A PLACE FOR THE REDEEMED. THE RESURRECTED BODY OF ALL OF THE REDEEMED. THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD WILL NOT BE SOMETHING THAT IS PRIMARILY ORIENTED TOWARDS THIS WORLD. THIS WORLD STILL HAS ITS WEAKNESSES AND PROBLEMS. FOR THAT REASON I KNEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH ARE NEEDED SO THIS IS WHY AN ANGEL STARTS TO SHOW ST. JOHN AROUND THIS NEW HEAVEN AND THIS NEW EARTH THIS VISION OF IT. THE ANGEL SAID TO HIM AND THIS IS AS IT SAYS IN REVELATION 21:9. THAT THIS IS 1 OF THE 7 ANGELS WHO HAD THE 7 BOWLS FULL OF THE 7 LAST PLAGUES AND HE CAME AND SAID TO ME, I WILL SHOW YOU THE BRIDE, THE WIFE OF THE LAMB. NOW WE HAD SEEN THIS IDEA OF THE LAMB HAVING A BRIDE. CHRIST THE LAMB OF GOD HAS A BRIDE. AND IT IS THE CHURCH. WE GOING TO CHAPTER 21:10 - 11. IN THE SPIRIT, HE, THE ANGEL, CARRIED ME AWAY TO A GREAT, HIGH MOUNTAIN AND SHOWED ME THE HOLY CITY JERUSALEM COMING OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD. IT HAS THE GLORY OF GOD AND A RADIANCE THAT IS LIKE A VERY RARE JEWEL, LIKE JASPER, CLEAR AS CRYSTAL. SO THIS IS THE VISION THAT HE HAS OF THE BRIDE OF THE LAMB. WE HAVE SEEN IN CHAPTER 19 THAT IT IS THE CHURCH AND NOW HERE AGAIN IN CHAPTER 21 IT IS DESCRIBED AS THIS NEW JERUSALEM. WHERE THE CHURCH DWELLS. THIS IDEA OF THE LAMB HAVING A BRIDE GOES BACK TO THE TEACHING OF CHRIST. THINK BACK IN THE GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW I BELIEVE IN CHAPTER 9 WHEN PEOPLE SAY TO HIM THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN AND THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES FAST, WHY DO YOUR DISCIPLES NOT FAST? HIS RESPONSE IS, HOW CAN THE FRIENDS OF THE BRIDEGROOM FAST WHILE THE BRIDEGROOM IS STILL WITH THEM? HE IS THAT BRIDEGROOM. HE UNDERSTANDS HIMSELF AS BEING THAT BRIDEGROOM. THAT PASSAGE DOES NOT MENTION WHO THE BRIDE IS. BUT IT ALSO SHOWS UP IN A LATER PARABLE A PARABLE THAT JESUS HAD SPOKEN BETWEEN PALM SUNDAY AND HOLY THURSDAY IN JERUSALEM. HE DESCRIBES HOW A KING INVITED THE GUEST TO A WEDDING FEAST OF HIS SON. SOME DID NOT WANT TO COME AND OTHERS, THE POOR DID COME. ONE GUY HE DID NOT HAVE ON THE RIGHT WEDDING GARMENT. BUT THE POINT IS THAT IS POINTING TO THIS IDEA OF THE WEDDING FEAST. THIS OF COURSE HAS ROOTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. BECAUSE THE PROPHET HOSEA HAD DESCRIBED HOW THE LORD IS A GROOM AND ISRAEL IS HIS BRIDE. HOSEA DESCRIBES ISRAEL AS A FAITHLESS WIFE BUT THEN HE PROMISES TO BRING THEM BACK TO THE LORD AND THAT THE LORD WILL REMARRY HER. THIS IDEA IS PICKED UP BY JEREIAH AND EZEKIEL AND THE RABBIS TEND TO INTERPRET THE BOOK OF THE SONG OF SONGS. THE SONG OF SOLOMON, I LOVE POEMS, TO INTERPRET THAT BOOK AS BEING ABOUT THE LOVE BETWEEN THE LORD GOD AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. OUR LORD IS PICKING THAT UP IDENTIFYING HIMSELF AS THE BRIDEGROOM. AND THE CHURCH IS HIS BRIDE. AND THIS IS THE PICTURE THAT HE HAS AND THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A PARTY BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ETERNAL CELEBRATION OF THE WEDDING BETWEEN THE BRIDE, AND JESUS OUR LORD EXCUSE ME THE BRIDEGROOM JESUS OUR LORD AND THE BRIDE WHICH IS THE CHURCH. HE GOES ON WITH THAT IN MIND. HE ALSO PICKS UP FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH. I BELIEVE CHAPTER 54 WHERE HE ALSO SPEAKS OF ISRAEL AS THE BRIDE AND DESCRIBES THE NEW JERUSALEM THAT THEY ARE HOPING TO HAVE. THAT PASSAGE OF ISAIAH WAS WRITTEN WHEN THEY WERE IN EXILE IN BABYLON. THEY'RE HOPING FOR THIS NEW JERUSALEM. BUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION BECOMES MORE SPECIFIC. IN REVELATION 21:14 IT SAYS THAT THE WALL OF THE CITY HAS 12 FOUNDATIONS AND ON THEM ARE THE 12 NAMES OF THE 12 APOSTLES OF THE LAMB. IF YOU HAD ANY DOUBTS ABOUT THE IDENTITY OF THE LAMB THIS WOULD CERTAINLY DRIVE IT AWAY. THIS IDEA IS THAT THE CHURCH IS FOUNDED ON THE APOSTLES. THIS IS WHY IN THE CREEDS WHETHER IT IS THE APOSTLES CREED OR THE NICENE CREED THAT WE SAY ON SUNDAYS. IN EITHER CASE WE TALK ABOUT THE CHURCH AS BEING APOSTOLIC. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT WE GO BACK TO THE APOSTLES AS THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE TEACH. WE CANNOT SWERVE AWAY FROM THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES. AND THIS IS VERY KEY. THE SAME IDEA SHOWS UP IN ST. PAUL'S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2 WHEN HE DESCRIBES THE CHURCH AS A TEMPLE. THE CHURCH IS A TEMPLE. AND IT IS BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE PROPHETS AND THE APOSTLES WITH JESUS CHRIST AS THE CORNERSTONE. SO THIS IMAGERY WAS PART OF THE PREACHING OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS. THAT THIS CHURCH IS A BUILDING BUILT ON CHRIST, BUILT ON HIS APOSTLES. WHY IS IT BUILT ON THE APOSTLES? BECAUSE JESUS HAD FORMED THEM. HE TAUGHT THEM. THEY OFTEN DID NOT UNDERSTAND BUT HE KEPT TEACHING THEM AND THEN THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THEY BECOME HIS WITNESSES. SO IT IS BASED ON WHAT THEY ARE TEACHING TO US. AND WE GO BACK TO THEM. IN THIS IS VERY KEY. FOR UNDERSTANDING. IN ADDITION WE SEE THAT TO BEING BASED ON THE APOSTLES WE SEE ANOTHER VERY DISTINCTIVE ELEMENT. REVELATION 21:22 - 23. IT SAYS, 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. NOTICE HERE IT IS SO INTERESTING TO ME. MANY OF US HAVE PEOPLE WHO COME TO OUR HOMES REPRESENTING THE ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS THE KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH WITNESSES. THEY ARE VERY STRONGLY INTERESTED IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. BUT THEY DO NOT PAY ATTENTION ENOUGH TO THIS BOOK. HERE WE SEE THAT THERE IS NO TEMPLE BECAUSE GOD AND THE LAMB ARE THE TEMPLE. HOW WOULD THEY BE PLACED, SIDE-BY-SIDE UNLESS THE LAMB IS EQUAL TO GOD? AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE MEAN AGAIN IN THE CREED WHEN WE SAY THAT HE IS CONSUBSTANTIAL WITH THE FATHER. THAT MEANS HE HAS THE SAME SUBSTANCE AS THE FATHER. WE DO NOT USE CONSUBSTANTIAL VERY MUCH IN EVERYDAY LINGO. BUT IT THAT IS NOT A BAD IDEA TO INCLUDE IT MORE ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE SPEAKING OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JESUS CHRIST AND GOD THE FATHER. AND WE SEE ONE MORE INDICATION OF THAT CONSUBSTANTIALITY SHARING THE SAME DIVINE NATURE RIGHT HERE WHEN THE TEMPLE IS GOD AND THE LAMB. AND THEN IT GOES ON FROM THERE IN CHAPTER 22. 1 - 4. HERE WE SEE THAT THE DIRECT PRESENCE OF GOD IS IN THE NEW JERUSALEM. THEN THE ANGEL SHOWED ME THE RIVER OF THE WATER OF LIFE, BRIGHT AS CRYSTAL, FLOWING FROM THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET OF THE CITY. ON EITHER SIDE OF THE RIVER IS THE TREE OF LIFE WITH ITS 12 KINDS OF FRUIT, PRODUCING ITS FRUIT EACH MONTH AND THE LEAVES OF THE TREE ARE FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. NOTHING ACCURSED WILL BE FOUND THERE ANYMORE. BUT THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB WILL BE IN IT AND HIS SERVANTS WILL WORSHIP HIM. THERE WAS SEE HIS FACE. HIS NAME WILL BE ON THE 4 HEADS. WE WOULD NOT WORSHIP THE LAMB UNLESS HE IS GOD BECAUSE THE SCRIPTURE SAY CLEARLY YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND WORSHIP HIM ALONE. BUT HERE THE ANGEL OF GOD ARE WORSHIPING CHRIST THE LAMB AND THIS IS A GOOD PASSAGE TO BRING UP WITH FOLKS FROM THE KINGDOM HALL BECAUSE CHRIST, LIKE GOD THE FATHER, IS WORSHIPED AND ADORED GO EQUALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSUBSTANTIAL. THEY SHARE THE SAME DIVINE BEING SUBSTANCE. LET US TAKE A BREAK AND COME BACK TO THIS PASSAGE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT FROM THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. [GUITAR THEME MUSIC] [GUITAR THEME MUSIC] ALL RIGHT SO WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT REVELATION 22:1 - 4. 1 OF THE PARTS I DID NOT DISCUSS IS THAT THERE IS THIS RIVER OF THE WATER OF LIFE FLOWING FROM THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB. THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET OF THE CITY AND ON EITHER SIDE OF THE RIVER IS THE TREE OF LIFE WITH 12 KINDS OF FRUIT. NOW THIS IS AN IMAGE THAT COMES FROM EZEKIEL CHAPTER 47. IN WHICH YOU SEE A VISION THAT THERE WAS A RIVER COMING FROM THE THRESHOLD OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM. THEN IT FLOWS DOWN IT KEEPS GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER AND IT GOES DOWN TO THE DEAD SEA AND IT MAKES THE DEAD SEA INTO SWEET WATER AND THIS IS AMAZING. BECAUSE THAT DEAD SEA IS EXTREMELY SALTY. THE OCEAN, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE OCEAN AND YOU TASTE THE WATER AND IT IS VERY SALTY, RIGHT? IT IS 3% SALT. THE DEAD SEA IS 27% SALT. 9 TIMES AS SALTY AS THE OCEAN. THAT IS REALLY SALTY. BUT THIS RIVER OF LIFE CAN TURN THE SALTY WATER SUITE. AS A MATTER FACT THE DEAD SEA IS SO SALTY THAT IT IS DEAD. THERE IS NOTHING THAT GROWS THERE. THEY FINALLY FOUND TO MICRO MICRO ORGANISMS. NOT EVEN A A BACTERIA COULD LIVE IN IT. IF YOU WANT TO SHELTER FROM THE VIRUS GO TO THE DEAD SEA THERE IS NO VIRUS IN THE WATER THERE CANNOT BE IT CANNOT LIVE NO VIRUS CAN LIVE IN THAT WATER. OF COURSE IF YOU STAY IN THE WATER YOU WILL DISINTEGRATE BECAUSE THE SALT WILL EAT AWAY YOUR SKIN. IT HAPPENED SOME OF GOT STUCK IN THE MUD OVER THERE. BUT I DIGRESS. BUT THIS IS THE POWER OF THE RIVER COMES FROM THE TEMPLE. BUT THAT IS EVEN A WEEK IMAGE COMPARED TO THE RIVER OF LIFE THAT IS IN THE TEMPLE THAT COMES FROM THE THRONE OF GOD. THAT VISION OF EZEKIEL WHICH IS A VISION FROM WHAT YOU CALL IT? THE JUBILEE YEAR. IN 570S. 570S. THAT JUBILEE YEAR WAS RIGHT AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CITY AND HE HAS THAT VISION. NOW WHEN IT COMES TO HEAVEN WE HAVE THIS VISION OF THIS RIVER OF THE WATER OF LIFE. THIS ALSO GOES BACK TO SOMETHING ELSE CHRIST SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE GOSPEL. FOR INSTANCE. TAKE A LOOK JOHN 4:10 WHEN OUR LORD IS AT THE WELL UP NEAR SAMARIA IN THE SAMARITAN WOMAN IS THERE AND SHE WANTS, HE IS ASKING HER FOR WATER AND IN VERSE 10 JESUS ANSWERED HER. IF YOU KNEW THE GIFT OF GOD AND WHO IT IS THAT IS SAYING TO YOU, GIVE ME A DRINK, YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM AND HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU LIVING WATER. LIVING WATER REFERS TO SPRINGWATER. NOT WATER THAT COMES OUT OF A CISTERN. IN FACT THE WATER AT THAT WELL THE WELL IS STILL THERE. I HAVE BEEN TO IT MANY TIMES. I HAVE DRUNK THE WATER RIGHT OUT OF IT IT COMES FROM AN AQUIFER THAT IS WAY DOWN. WAY DOWN BELOW. 350 FEET DOWN I THINK. CHRIST HAS LIVING WATER THAT COMES FROM HIM. HE REPEATS THIS MESSAGE IN JOHN CHAPTER 7:37 WHERE IT SAYS ON THE LAST DAY OF THE FESTIVAL, THE FESTIVAL OF TABERNACLES, THE GREAT DAY, WHILE JESUS WAS STANDING THERE, HE CRIED OUT, LET ANYONE WHO IS THIRSTY COME TO ME AND LET THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME DRINK. AS THE SCRIPTURE HAS SAID, OUT OF THE BELIEVER'S HEART SHALL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A WATER THAT COMES FROM CHRIST. NOW WE SEE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION THIS IS PORTRAYED AS COMING OUT OF THE THRONE OF GOD AND IT IS THE WATER OF LIFE AVAILABLE TO EVERY BODY WHO IS IN THIS TEMPLE. WE ALSO SEE THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE IN THIS NEW JERUSALEM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MARKED AS BELONGING TO THE LORD. SO FOR INSTANCE WE SEE THEM ALREADY MENTIONED IN 1 OF THE LETTERS IN REVELATION REVELATION 3:12. IT SAYS, IF YOU CONQUER, I WILL MAKE YOU A PILLAR IN THE TEMPLE OF MY GOD AND YOU WILL NEVER GO OUT OF IT. I WILL WRITE ON YOU THE NAME OF MY GOD AND THE NAME OF THE CITY OF MY GOD, THE NEW JERUSALEM THAT COMES DOWN FROM MY GOD OUT OF HEAVEN AND MY OWN NEW NAME. SO THIS IS ONE THING THAT WE WILL BE PERMANENTLY IN HEAVEN. YOU WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE ANYMORE TEMPTATION IN HEAVEN. THE FULL OF FACTS OF ORIGINAL SIN WILL BE COMPLETELY ERADICATED AND YOU WILL ONLY DESIRE WHAT IS GOOD. YOU WILL STILL HAVE FREE WILL BUT YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE DISORDERED DESIRES THAT ALL OF US HAVE HERE ON EARTH. THEN WE ALSO SEE IN JOHN 14:1 EXCUSE ME REVELATION 14: 1. IT SAYS I LOOK AND THERE WAS THE LAMB STANDING ON MOUNT ZION AND WITH HIM WERE 144,000 WHO HAD HIS NAME AND HIS FATHER'S NAME WRITTEN ON THEREFORE HEADS. THIS IS A PICTURE OF THOSE WHO WILL BE THE REDEEMED DWELLING WITH THE LMB AND THE NEW AND HEAVENLY JERUSALEM. THEY WILL BE NOURISHED BY GOD AND THE LAMB. HE WILL FEED THEM AND GIVE THEM DRINK. THIS WILL BE IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL OF US WHO GET THEIR WORSHIPING GOD AND THE LAMB. THIS IS BEEN SOMETHING PORTRAYED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION. SO WE CAN SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PRAISE GOD. THAT THE BOOK OF REVELATION ALSO HAS RELEVANCE FOR US. WHILE IT PRESENTS TO US HOPE FOR ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN, WHILE WE HAVE THAT HOPE, WE CAN ALSO SEE THAT THROUGHOUT THAT HOPE, THE HOPE MUST BE SUSTAINED BY WORSHIPING GOD. AND OUR WORSHIP OF HIM IS ESSENTIAL. NOW THIS IS IN 2 WAYS HELPFUL FOR UNDERSTANDING THE EUCHARIST. WE SAY AT MASS WHEN THE PRIEST PICKS UP THE HOST AND SAYS BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD BEHOLD HIM HE TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD, BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO THE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. WE ARE CALLED TO ALREADY EXPERIENCE A FORETASTE OF THAT NOURISHMENT HERE ON EARTH. WE ARE MEANT TO HAVE SOME OF THAT NOW AND THAT IT IS THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST THAT WE RECEIVE NOW. THIS IS A PREPARATION AND A FORETASTE FOR EATING THE FRUIT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE AND DRINKING FROM THE SPRING OF THE WATER OF LIFE THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY AND THAT THE WATER OF LIFE AND THE TREE OF LIFE ARE SYMBOLS OF THE EUCHARIST AND THE EUCHARIST IS A PREPARATION FOR HEAVEN. AND IT IS ENTERING INTO THAT RELATIONSHIP. BUT THEN JUST AS THE MASS IS THE SUPPER OF THE LAMB, AND THAT WE ALSO NEED TO SEE THAT IT SHOULD BE FILLED WITH WORSHIP THE WAY THIS WHOLE BOOK OF REVELATION FROM BEGINNING TO END PORTRAYS WORSHIP IN HEAVEN. IN MANY WAYS, WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE MASS AS SOMETHING OF A REFLECTION OF THE WAY WE CELEBRATE HERE ON EARTH AND OFTEN TIMES THE USE OF MUSIC FROM FOLK MUSIC AND THAT KIND OF MUSIC IS MEANT TO REFLECT OUR OWN EXPERIENCE AND WE ALSO SEE AND THIS IS WHERE I FIND, YOU SAY OKAY FOLK MUSIC, SOMETIMES UNDERSTAND, BUT IT IS NOT ALWAYS THAT GREAT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WE SEE THAT THERE IS A FALSE NOTION OF THE KIND OF MUSIC THAT WE HAVE AND THE ATTITUDE WE HAVE WHEN WE SING HYMNS AT MASS THAT ARE CELEBRATING US. THEY HYMNS THAT CELEBRATE HOW GREAT WE ARE VERSUS HYMNS OF WORSHIP THAT CELEBRATE GOD HOW GREAT THOU ART. THIS IS A KEY DISTINCTION. PAY ATTENTION TO THE WORDS. NOT JUST THE MELODIES. THIS IS NOT AMERICAN BANDSTAND. WHILE IT HAS A GOOD RHYTHM AND I CAN SWAY TO IT. A MINUTE BE ABLE TO DANCE BUT I CAN SWAY. THAT IS NOT A CRITERIA. THE WORDS MEAN SOMETHING. AND IF THE WORDS ARE PRAISING US AND OUR EGOS WE SHOULD GET RID OF THOSE HYMNS. MUSIC DIRECTORS I AM SPEAKING TO YOU. LISTENERS SPEAK TO YOUR MUSIC DIRECTORS. WE WANT TO HEAR AND SING HYMNS THAT WORSHIP GOD. THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF THE ORDINARY PARTS OF MASS. LORD HAVE MERCY AND THE GLORY. I WAS AT ONE COLLEGE CAMPUS WHERE THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO SING OR SAY THE GLORIA AND AFTER I SAID THE GLORIA AND THE NICENE CREED ON THE FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION I WAS AS THEY PUT IT INVITED NOT TO CELEBRATE MASS THERE ANYMORE BECAUSE THIS WAS FORBIDDEN. BUT THESE ARE HYMNS OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP AND THEY APPARENTLY FOUND THAT OBJECTIONABLE. THE SAME WITH THE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY AND THE LAMB OF GOD. THESE ARE ALL HYMNS OF PRAISE. WE ENTER INTO THE MASS PRAISING GOD FOR HIS GREATNESS AND HIS GLORY AND HIS WONDERS AND IN THAT WAY WE ALLOW OUR CELEBRATION OF THE MASS TO REFLECT THE WORSHIP THAT GOES ON IN HEAVEN AND ALL OF THIS IS SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE OURSELVES TO BE IN HEAVEN. WE WILL FIND OURSELVES TO BE COMFORTABLE THERE. IF WORSHIPING GOD MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE YOU WILL NOT LIKE HEAVEN. AND IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE THERE TO WORSHIP HIM YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER OPTION. I ASSURE YOU. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD PREFERRED THAT OPTION OF SELF OVER THE OPTION OF WORSHIPING GOD. BUT THIS SHOULD CHARACTERIZE US THAT WE ARE INVITED TO THE SUPPER OF THE LAMB AND WE ARE BLESSED BECAUSE WE ARE CALLED TO THE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. OF COURSE WE RESPOND PROPERLY. LORD I AM NOT WORTHY THAT YOU SHOULD ENTER INTO MY HOUSE. BUT ONLY SAY THE WORD AND I SHALL BE HEALED. WE USE THE LITERAL TRANSLATION. ENTER UNDER MY ROOF. WE THINK OF OURSELVES AS TEMPLES AND WE ARE NOT WORTHY TO HAVE CHRIST IN US. BUT ST. JOHN FELT THE SAME THING DURING HIS VISION OF HEAVEN. HE DID NOT FEEL WORTHY. BUT GOD GRANTED HIM WORTHINESS AND PURIFICATION AND THIS IS ALSO WHAT WE DO IN THIS LIFE WHEN WE GO TO MASS AND REPENT OF SINS AND WORSHIP GOD AND RECEIVE THE BREAD OF LIFE. THIS IS THE PREPARATION FOR THE NEW AND ETERNAL JERUSALEM. DO NOT NEGLECT THAT. DO NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT. KEEP IT IN THE FOREFRONT AND REMEMBER THIS IS WHERE GOD WANTS US TO BE. ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF YOUR EMAILS. WE FINISHED UP CHAPTER 3. NEXT WEEK WE START CHAPTER 4 IN MY BOOK ON THE EUCHARIST WHICH IS GOING TO BE ABOUT JOHN CHAPTER 6. A VERY IMPORTANT PASSAGE. LET US TAKE A LOOK AT SOMETHING WE GOT FROM FACEBOOK. (PACWA) JOHN, IN THE ROMAN RIGHT AND IN A NUMBER OF THE EASTERN RITES, THE MARONITE RIGHT, YEAST IS NOT USED. WE DO NOT DO THAT. BUT IN THE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM WHICH IS USED BY THE GREEK ORTHODOX AND BY GREEK CATHOLICS THEY DO USE 11. NOW, IT HAS A DIFFERENT MEANING. WE LOOK AT THE 11 AS A SYMBOL OF SIN WHICH SOMETIMES IT IS. ST. PAUL SAYS REMOVE THE LEAVEN, THE YEAST, OF WICKEDNESS FROM YOU. HOWEVER IT ALSO IS USED AS A SYMBOL OF THE WAY THAT WE ARE TO INFLUENCE THE WORLD. REMEMBER THE PARABLE WHERE OUR LORD SAID THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A WOMAN WHO PUT A LITTLE YEAST INTO A LUMP OF DOUGH AND IT BECAME MUCH LARGER. SO ALSO THE KINGDOM OF GOD GROW. THIS IS WHY THEY USE THEY LOOK AT THAT PASSAGE AND WANT TO SEE THEMSELVES AS A YEAST IN THE WORLD. WE LOOK AT ST. PAUL AND SAY THE YEAST SYMBOLIZES EVIL AND WE WANT TO REMOVE THAT EVIL FROM OUR LIVES. AND HAVE JUST PURITY OF CHRIST. NOW THIS IS 1 OF THE REASONS THAT POPE ST. JOHN PAUL SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHURCH BREATHING WITH BOTH LUNGS. THE EASTERN LONG AND THE WESTERN LONG. THE EASTERN CHURCH AND THE WESTERN CHURCH. THEY ARE NOT AT OPPOSITES OF EACH OTHER BUT THEY ARE COMPLEMENTARY. SOMETHING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT TONIGHT AT 8 PM EASTERN TIME, I WILL BE ON FACEBOOK ON EWTN ONLINE. I WILL BE DOING A BROADCAST WITH FATHER CHRIS WHO IS A GREEK ORTHODOX PRIEST AND WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE COMMON TO US AND THIS WILL BE, IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF US TRYING TO VERY MUCH YOU KNOW MAKE SURE THAT THE 2 LUNGS BEGIN BREATHING TOGETHER AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANTED TO DO. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH FATHER CHRIS A NUMBER OF TIMES. A WONDERFUL MAN. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DISCUSSION AND IT WILL ALSO BE BROADCAST WITH THE GREEK ORTHODOX TELEVISION NETWORK. SO WE WILL HAVE THE 2 OF US TOGETHER. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A CALL. HELLO ART. >> HELLO FATHER HOW ARE YOU? (PACWA) IS THIS ART PERRETTI. >> YES. (PACWA) ART WAS 1 OF THE EARLY PEOPLE HIRED BY MOTHER ANGELICA TO HELP US THROUGH THE MARKETING OF THE NETWORK AND HE HAS RETIRED. BUT HE IS DONE A LOT OF WONDERFUL WORK AND STILL DOES. WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU? >> THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL. IT IS A LITTLE BELATED BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY. ANYWAY MY QUESTION. IT HAS TO DO WITH APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. TRACING THE POPES BACK TO SAINT PETER WITH DIRECT AND PROPER SUCCESSION AND JESUS SAID TO SAINT PETER YOU ARE ROCK AND PETER UPON THIS ROCK I FOUND MY CHURCH AND HE DID SO AND WE HAVE THE EARLY FATHERS THEY STOOD VERY MUCH BY WHAT JESUS SAID AND JESUS WAS EITHER A LIAR OR WE STILL HAVE THE ONE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ALL THE OTHER DIVISIONS THAT SPLIT FROM THERE ARE FALSE. WOULD LIKE YOU TO COMMENT. (PACWA) THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT. WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS THAT OUR LORD SAID TO PETER SINGULARLY, YOU ARE PETER AND ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH. NOW IN CATHOLICISM WE DO ACCEPT FOR INSTANCE ST. AUGUSTINE AND OTHERS SPEAK ABOUT AND MARONITE LITURGY WE SAY THIS ALSO, THAT THE ROCK REFERS TO PETER'S ACT OF FAITH THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. THAT FAITH IS A BEDROCK, BUT THE SAME ST. AUGUSTINE ALSO WRITES THAT THE ROCK IS PETER HIMSELF. IT IS NOT ONLY PETER'S PROCLAMATION OF FAITH THAT JESUS IS CHRIST THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD BUT IT IS PETER HIMSELF THAT IS A ROCK UPON WHICH JESUS BUILDS HIS CHURCH. ONE DOES NOT EXCLUDE THE OTHER. SOME PEOPLE TRY TO MAKE IT THAT WAY. NO IT IS JUST HIS FAITH. NO. HE IS THE ROCK. THEY EVEN TRY TO SAY WELL IT SAYS THAT YOU ARE PETROS AND ON THIS PETRA I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH. THAT IS THE WORD THAT MEANS ROCK. AND IN FACT IN GREEK THEY ARE USED INTERCHANGEABLY. WHY WOULD THEY USE PETROS FOR PETER BECAUSE IT IS MASCULINE. IT WOULD BE LIKE INSTEAD OF CALLING A GUY ROCKY. 1 OF THE KIDS I GREW UP HIS NAME WAS ROCKY. INSTEAD OF CALLING THE GUY ROCKY IT SAYS YOU ARE ROCKETTE. NO I AM NOT GOING TO SAY THAT. SO PETER IS PETROS. AND THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IT IS A VOCABULARY THINK IN ARAMAIC THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE ANYWAY. - - - -. I BUILD MY CHURCH. - -. THIS IDEA THAT CHRIST IS THE CEPHA AND ON THAT CEPHA HE BILLS THE CHURCH. HE ADDS IN THIS IS YOUR POINT. THE GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. ARE THERE PROBLEM PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH? ABSOLUTELY. ARE THERE PROBLEM PEOPLE IN THE HIERARCHY? YES. BEGINNING WITH SAINT PETER AND THE OTHER 11 APOSTLES. THEY ARE ALL PROBLEM PEOPLE. BUT CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO GUARANTEES THE FIRMNESS OF THE CHURCH. NOT PETER ON HIS OWN. NOT ANY POPE ON HIS OWN OR ANY BISHOP ON HIS OWN OR ANY PRIEST OR LAYMAN. THAT IT IS VERY MUCH THAT CHRIST GUARATEES THE CHURCH AND GOING BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER, THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. IF THE CHURCH IS HIS BRIDE, ONE NEEDS TO BE SOMEWHAT CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE WAY YOU CRITICIZE THE CHURCH. IT IS ONE THING FOR A MAN AND WIFE TO HAVE AN ARGUMENT AMONG THEMSELVES FOR A MAN TO CRITICIZE HIS WIFE OR WIFE CRITICIZE HER HUSBAND. IT HAPPENS. IT IS ANOTHER THING IF SOME GUY COMES ALONG AND STARTS CRITICIZING A GUY'S WIFE. AND SAYS YOUR WIFE IS UGLY ISN'T SHE? LET ME ASSURE YOU, GUYS DO NOT TAKE THAT AND SAY THAT IS OKAY. THAT CAN REALLY TICK A GUY OFF. IMAGINE THAT YOU DO THAT TO CHRIST'S BRIDE THE CHURCH. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE INTERNAL CRITICISM OF THE LEADERSHIP AND THE LAITY AND EVERYBODY. WE ALL ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPENTING BUT IF YOU GO AROUND INSULTING THE BRIDE OF CHRIST YOU WILL ANSWER TO THE CHURCHES SPOUSE, JESUS HIMSELF. HE DOES WANT TO MAKE HER PURE AND WORKS TO MAKE HER WITHOUT SPOT AND TO MAKE HER CLEAN AND WE SHOULD ALL COOPERATE WITH THAT FROM WITHIN THE CHURCH. THE CLERGY, THE LAND EVERYBODY HAS TO DO THAT BUT I WOULD BE VERY, I AM CAUTIOUS ABOUT SOME OF THE WAYS THAT I GO AROUND CRITICIZING THE CHURCH AND ALSO JUST AS AN ASIDE POINT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE WAY WE CRITICIZE INDIVIDUALS. SOMETIMES, IF WE CANNOT DO THE CRITICISM THE WAY CHRIST TELLS US, BY GOING TO THE PERSON, WE SHOULD BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT WE SAY IN PUBLIC. THE IDEA OF CRITICISM IS THE CORRECTION OF THAT PERSON. THAT IS THE GOAL. THE HEALING OF THEIR SOUL. THROUGH REPENTANCE. IF IT BECOMES SOMETHING BANTERED ABOUT THE WAY PEOPLE IN THE NEWS MEDIA BANTER EVERY POSSIBLE BAD THING THEY CAN ABOUT THEIR POLITICAL OPPONENTS BECAUSE FRANKLY THE NEWS PEOPLE ARE POLITICIANS MINIONS. THEY ARE PROMOTING ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. THAT IS WHAT THEY DO. YOU HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THAT. THEY WANT TO SAY WHAT YOU DID THIS AND HE DOES LIKE THIS. NO. YOU DO NOT WANT TO IMITATE THEM. THIS IS NOT OUR CALL. THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER KIND OF CHERISH AND LOVE FOR THE SINNERS AS INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH SO THAT OUR CRITICISM BECOMES EFFECTIVE AND IS NOT MODELED ON THE POLITICIANS TACTICS. OF CONTROL AND INSULT ETC. THERE'S A LOT OF THAT GOING ON AMONG CATHOLICS. A LOT OF IT REALLY NEEDS TO STOP. SO THAT WE CAN DO WHAT WE MUST DO TO BRING TRUE REPENTANCE. SO THAT IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT. LET US TAKE A LOOK AT AN EMAIL THAT WE RECEIVED FROM CHRIS. (PACWA) THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A BIT CONFUSING. ST. JOHN IS PROBABLY ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST THAT IS PROBABLY 1 OF THE 2 DISCIPLES THAT WAS CALLED, ANDREW AND JOHN, NOTICE THEY WERE DISCIPLES OF JOHN THE BAPTIST 1ST AND JOHN CHAPTER 1 IS SHOWING THAT THEY MADE THE TRANSITION FROM FOLLOWING JOHN THE BAPTIST TO NOW FOLLOWING JESUS. IN THE OTHER 3 GOSPELS YOU SEE ANOTHER MOMENT AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH DESCRIBED OVER THE CENTURIES. THAT IN YOU ALSO SEE THAT JESUS CALLS THEM TO TURN THEM AWAY FROM BEING FISHERMEN. FISHERS OF FISH. THAT IS A 2ND CONVERSION. SO FOR THESE 2 IT IS GOING TO BE AN INITIAL CHANGE FROM FOLLOWING JOHN THE BAPTIST, THE FOLLOWING JESUS. THEN IN THE OTHER 3 GOSPELS IT IS A TURN FROM THE REGULAR WORK OF BEING FISHERS OF FISH SO THAT THEY THEN BECOME FISHERS OF MEN. THAT IS GOING TO BE THE PROCESS. SO IT IS CONFUSING BUT THINK OF IT IN THOSE TERMS AND WHAT JOHN AND WITH ANY EVENT WHEN YOU GET TWO PEOPLE DESCRIBING YOU GET DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND JOHN EMPHASIZED THE CONVERSION AWAY FROM JOHN TO JESUS. WE HAVE A CALLER. >> HI FATHER. NICE TO TALK WITH YOU. (PACWA)WHERE ARE YOU FROM? >> NEW JERSEY (PACWA)WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION? >> YEARS AGO THERE WAS AN ELDERLY PRIEST WE HAD AND HE WAS AN HISTORIAN LIKE YOU AND HE WOULD HAVE THESE STUDIES AND I USED TO GO TO A FEW BUT ONE HE DID WAS ON THE PSALMS. I FOUND IT TO BE I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW WONDERFUL THOSE PRAYERS WERE. THERE IS LIKE A SONG FOR EVERYTHING THAT AILS YOU. (PACWA) THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT >> HE WENT BY A BOOK CALLED THE PSALMS THE NEW TRANSLATION THE SINGING VERSION. IT EXPLAINS WHAT THEY MEANT EACH 1. BUT IT WAS SO INTERESTING. WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER DOING A STUDY ON THE PSALMS? I KNOW YOUR VIEWERS WOULD BE ENRICHED. (PACWA) 2 THINGS. YES. I AM CONSIDERING IT. IN FACT I HAVE A ROUGH DRAFT OF THE MANUSCRIPT. I HAVE TO FINISH TWO OTHERS 1ST AND THEN I WILL GET TO THE PSALMS. BUT ALSO I HAVE ALREADY DONE 39 EPISODES ON THE PSALMS. IF YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR EWTN I BELIEVE YOU CAN ACCESS THOSE. THEY ARE ON THERE. IT WAS 2 DIFFERENT SERIES. ONE WAS 13 EPISODES AND ONE WAS 26 EPISODES. SO I HAVE SOME OF THAT ON THERE ALREADY. BUT I WANT TO DO IS MORE OF THAT ON THE PSALMS. THANK YOU FOR THAT SUGGESTION. I THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA. ALL RIGHT. SOMEBODY DID ASK A QUESTION QUICKLY, ABOUT THE NAMES OF THE 12 APOSTLES THAT ARE ON THE 12 COURSES OF STONE FOR THE FOUNDATION OF THE NEW AND HEAVENLY JERUSALEM. IT STANDS FOR THE 12 APOSTLES BUT NOT JUDAS. ABSOLUTELY NOT JUDAS. REMEMBER AFTER HE COMMITTED SUICIDE HE WAS REPLACED BY MATTHIAS. SO THE NAME OF MATTHIAS GOES ON THERE. IT COULD'VE BEEN JUDAS HAD HE REPENTED OF HIS BETRAYAL OF CHRIST BUT HE DID NOT. IN BETRAYING CHRIST WITH A KISS AND DOING SO FOR MONEY IS A VERY SERIOUS THING BUT HE COULD BEEN FORGIVEN IF HE HAD TURNED CHRIST BUT HE WAS TO PRIDEFUL TO DO THAT. ALL RIGHT. THE LORD BLESS YOU ALL AND KEEP YOU AND CAUSE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU. MAY HE LEAD YOU AND ALL OF YOUR WAYS BY HIS PEACE. MAY CHRIST THE LAMB OF GOD LEAD YOU TO IS ETERNALLY GREEN PASTURES. THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. DURING THIS VIRUS WE REALLY REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT. YOU HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP PRESENTING PROGRAMS TO YOU AND PLEASE DO KEEP US BETWEEN YOUR UTILITY BILLS. WE WILL KEEP ON PAYING OUR BILLS AND DOING THE SHOWS. THANK YOU. [GUITAR THEME MUSIC]
