APRIL 28, 2019
10:30 AM, 5:30 PM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES
“The Big Reveal” is a literary device … an unexpected plot twist … that exposes the reader (or the audience) to a previously unknown element … resulting in a radical change in the expected outcome in a novel or story. Such a surprise ending may have been foreshadowed earlier in the work in a subtle or hidden way.
A “spoiler,” on the other hand, is an article or a review which gives away “The Big Reveal” in advance. Even letting on that there is a plot twist or surprise ending is controversial since it modifies the audience’s expectations … if not their enjoyment of the work.
Today is the Second Sunday of Easter.
The First Reading speaks of the growth of the early Church in Jerusalem. While “great numbers” of people joined the disciples, there were still “others [who] dared [not] join them.” Yet people were doing unexpected things – laying sick people where St. Peter’s shadow might touch them … “and they were all cured.”
The Second Reading is from the beginning of the Book of Revelation.
Revelation, sometimes known as the Apocalypse, is a series of mystical visions with symbolic images. Because it is symbolic, it is open to various interpretations – from being an explanation of heavenly worship before the Throne of Almighty God … to being a code book for the end of the world. Some see it as an explanation of all of Creation History – from Creation to Redemption, while others consider it to be an allegory of first century persecutions of the Church.
In today’s pericope, the author finds himself in the presence of “one like a son of man” who identifies Himself as
the first and the last, the one who lives.[Who o]nce … was dead, but now … [is] alive forever and ever.… [and] hold[s] the keys to death and the netherworld.This mysterious person is Jesus Christ – risen, ascended, and glorified in heaven.
We see a similar scene occurring in an earthly realm – in the familiar story of Doubting Thomas. Who despite his initial firm disbelief, makes a bold profession of Faith in the presence of Christ Jesus, saying
My Lord and my God!In each of these three readings we find something important “revealed” in some way to individuals.
The power of God working in the members of Christ’s mystical Body is revealed in the First Reading; the revelation of the Son of God in all of His glory in the Second Reading; and the appearance of the Risen Christ to the disciples, and then revealed to Doubting Thomas.
The words “revelation” and “apocalypse” both refer to an un-covering … or an un-veiling … of something that had previously been unknown or hidden.
Today we complete the Octave of Easter, and after our Lenten preparation, we move forward into the Easter Season.
Despite the “spoiler” of knowing the Gospel stories of Jesus’s passion, death, and resurrection, our Lord gives us countless surprises … revealing Himself each day in countless unexpected ways.
As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ … may He reveal to us the power of God and the great ocean of God’s mercy in the graces we receive today, and every day, through His Presence in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar … the Eucharist.
