In a passage in the Book of Revelation, it presents the followers of the beast, the agent of Satan, as branded on the hand or on the forehead with their name and number. This is similar to how cattle are branded with the sign of their owner. The beast is identified with the number 666. We know that even in our popular culture today, this number 666 is identified with the Devil.
In the reading we have today from the 14th chapter of Revelation, the followers of the beast are contrasted with the followers of the lamb, who are marked with their name and their of the Father. We remember how there was a remnant in Israel that returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonia exile. Just so, the followers of the lamb are the remnant of the New Israel, those faithful Christians who survived persecution and who will restore the kingdom of God after God’s enemies have been destroyed.
Today, we celebrate the feast day of Pope Clement I, who was pope for 11 years in the last part of the first century. He is considered the first of the apostolic fathers. There is a letter written by Clement to the Christian community in Corinth that asserts the authority of the presbyters who serve in that community. It is one of the oldest existent church documents outside of the Scriptures of the New Testament. According to Church tradition, Clement was imprisoned by the Roman Emperor Trajan. During his imprisonment, it is said that Clement ministered devoutly to his fellow prisoners. He was killed by Trajan by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea. Clement is the patron saint of mariners. Let us ask for the prayers and intercessions of St Clement as we remember him on his feast day today.
No comments:
Post a Comment