Worship in Two Realms

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, December 15, 2021

The week of the third Sunday in Advent

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection in today’s reading:

8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.’

Ember Day

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 939)

AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]

Zech. 3:1-10; Rev. 4:1-8; Matt. 24:45-51

Today we celebrate the Feast of Nino of Georgia. (See below.)

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Office Epistle, Revelation 4:1-8

4:1After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ 2At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne! 3And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald. 4Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. 5Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God; 6and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal. Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle.

8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.’

David’s Reflections

In today’s reading, the seer who wrote the Revelation, shares the third movement of his visionary experience. After having seen a vision of the risen Christ and received messages for the seven churches of Asia Minor (Revelation 1-3), he found himself in the throne room of heaven. His vision of God and the heavenly court stretches the available language and incorporates motifs and images from Hebrew Scripture.

What strikes me today comes in the last two verses. Each Sunday we sing The Sanctus during the Eucharistic Prayer:

“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.”

Prior to singing that the presider says, “Therefore, we praise you, joining our voices with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, who forever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name.” (BCP, 362) The Sanctus is founded on passages like this one and others (Isaiah 6 for one).

In today’s epistle lesson we find the first instance in Revelation of that 24/7 worship in the heavenly court. Worship in the liturgical traditions (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran) takes us out of ordinary time and space and unites us with the heavenly chorus in their praise of God. As the church militant (the church on earth engaged in mission), we join in that praise being offered continually by the heavenly court and the church triumphant (those in the nearer presence of God).

The Holy Eucharist itself anticipates the day when we all shall see God and those we love who have died and shall share with them in a great heavenly banquet of salvation and celebration. The Eucharist brings into our experience the presence of Christ in bread and wine, so that we experience forgiveness, transformation, and nurture. We experience in present time the benefits of Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice and resurrection—a foretaste of that future banquet.

At the heavenly banquet, our Eucharistic hope will be realized. Forgiveness will be complete, and transformation and nurture then will take place in the presence of Christ himself. Next Sunday during the Eucharist, I will think of my parents, Bill and Ruth, my brother, John, my grandparents, Delta and Elizabeth, Charles and Isabel, beloved friends, and beloved friends, relatives, and parishioners who have died. My voice will be joining with theirs and with those in the heavenly court as we praise God and give thanks for our salvation. One day we will reunite around Christ’s table.

Collect of the Day, The third Sunday of Advent

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you an the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 212)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Nino, missionary (died ca 338 CE).

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Nino.html

Collect of the Feast of Nino

Almighty God, who called your servant Nino to be your apostle to the people of Georgia, to bring those wandering in darkness to the true light and knowledge of you; Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of your everlasting day; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

For a Church Convention

Almighty and everlasting Father, you have given the Holy Spirit to abide with us for ever: Bless, we pray, with his grace and presence, the bishops and the other clergy and the laity (Diocesan Council in January in Reston, VA) to be assembled in your Name, that your Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, may fulfill all the mind of him who loved it and gave himself for it, your Son Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 255)

A Collect for Early Evening

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)