2nd Week after Holy Cross

Revelation 4:1-11
After 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.” At once
I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated
on the throne! And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian,
and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald. Around
the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twentyfour
elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads.
Coming 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; and 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: the 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. 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.” And whenever
the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one
who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twentyfour
elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship
the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the
throne, singing, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory
and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they
existed and were created.”

Matthew 12:33-37
The Lord Jesus says:
“Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and
its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How
can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person brings good things out
of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil
treasure. I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an
account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will
be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

I love the image of weeping. Do we care enough about our faith, about our world, and about our neighbors to weep for them? Weeping is a way to express that we need help. God sees our tears. “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.” There are some injustices which we need to act upon, there are some over which, in addition to acting, we must weep for the help of God. If we take the faith seriously then we will weep over our sins, over those who refuse the grace of God, over those who cause others to stumbke, and by the help of God the impossible will become possible.

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O Good Master and Ruler of all,
your kindness is felt even by evil doers.
Grant that we may always respond to your goodness and
accomplish deeds of justice.
On the Day of the great manifestation of your justice
may we not be cursed,
rather, let your grace surround and protect us.
Glory be to you forever.
Amen.