Today is Nov. 27, Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time.
In the readings at today’s Mass, we hear: “I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. On the sea of glass were standing those who had won the victory over the beast and its image and the number that signified its name. They were holding God’s harps, and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb” (Rv 15:2-3).
In Revelation 15:1-4, we are given a glimpse of heavenly worship, a scene that invites us to contemplate the eternal joy and reverence we will experience in God’s presence.
The passage begins with seven angels carrying the final plagues, marking the completion of God’s judgment. These plagues recall the Exodus story when God liberated the Israelites from Egyptian slavery through powerful signs. The Church Fathers remind us that the events of Exodus are “types” or prefigurements that will be fulfilled in the fullness of time. Heaven will be the final liberation, an entrance into the freedom of eternal worship.
Next, we see the “sea of glass mingled with fire.” Venerable Bede interpreted the sea as the waters of baptism, which are sanctified by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Standing on this sea are those who have “won the victory over the beast,” symbols of the forces of sin and worldly oppression. Baptism is the first and great grace that conquers sin.
Then comes the beautiful imagery of the “song of Moses” and the “song of the Lamb.” The song of Moses, sung by the Israelites after crossing the Red Sea, echoes the celebration of deliverance from oppression. The “song of the Lamb,” however, adds a new dimension — celebrating the ultimate deliverance brought about by Christ’s sacrifice. This unity of the Old and New Covenants in worship highlights how all salvation history points to the redemptive work of Christ. In heaven, our worship will be a harmonious union of all God’s works, from the covenant with Israel to the Church’s mission, united in a song of thanksgiving for Christ’s eternal redemption.
In this glimpse of heaven, we find a profound invitation: to live each day in anticipation of this eternal worship, where our souls, perfected by God’s grace, will join in a song of victory forever. This vision encourages us to let our lives now be a prelude to that heavenly worship, where, together with the angels and saints, we will forever exalt the greatness of God.
Prayer for today:
Stir up the will of your faithful, we pray, O Lord, that, striving more eagerly to bring your divine work to fruitful completion, they may receive in greater measure the healing remedies your kindness bestows. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
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